In an era where mobile devices dominate how we consume media, the vertical 9:16 filmmaking format continues to make a pathway of it’s own. Some filmmakers today are increasingly embracing this orientation, creating short films and stories tailored to fit the dimensions of a smartphone screen. This trend is being fueled by the rapid rise of social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.

Malia Obama, the 26-year-old daughter of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, recently won the Young Spirit Award for her directorial debut, a short film titled The Heart. In the film's credits, she opted to use only her first and middle names, Malia Ann, leaving out her well-known last name.

The animated short film ‘A Cow in the Sky,’ premiering at the Tribeca Festival, is based on a chilling crime in 1988 that took the life of an Ethiopian man who came to study in the United States.

Sony Pictures Animation made a groundbreaking debut at the Annecy International Film Festival with its captivating short film, "The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story," which delves into the realm of mental health.

Danielle Nicolet (The Flash) is set to write and executive produce a feature adaptation of her short ‘Black Karen’ for Kevin Hart‘s multi-platform media company, Hartbeat.