There has been increased professionalism in the short film sector in recent years, yet it is only since 1998 that the genre has begun to be recognised. There are signs of growing interest from the institutions: the press has emphasised that Erick Zonca's first feature length film, La Vie Révée des Anges (The Dreamlife of Angels) was not his 'first film', the publication of a book on young French cinema that devotes a significant amount of attention to shorts, and the creation of the Lutins prizes awarded by professionals to the best shorts of the year. The short film agency, as the principle distributor of these films, has played an important role in the evolution of the profession. Created in 1983 by a group of professionals (authors, directors and producers led by François Ode), the Agence is dedicated to the promotion and distribution of short films. Receiving annual subsidies from the Centre National de la Cinématographie, the short film agency provides the link between those who make the films and those who show them. As shorts do not have access to the network available to feature length films (producer, distributor and the cinema), the agency bridges the gap between the infrastructure and the spectator. However it does not act as a distributor: a large part of the work of the agency is carried out without the reproduction of copies of films entrusted to them by producers. Activities subsidised on a large scale enable far reaching involvement: the R.A.D.I. (Réseau Alternatif de Diffusion), the alternative network of distribution, created in 1989, distributes to the 230 subscribing cinemas (6,000 FF a year) a support film a week. To do this the agency puts together an annual catalogue containing 45 titles, buys the rights and makes 7 copies on 35mm. The films are selected after consultation with the subscribing cinemas. Two-thirds of the cost of this activity are subsidised by the CNC as a corrective to the lack of distributors who, to a large extent, have abandoned support films. Whether fiction, animation or documentary, all French films of less than an hour on 16mm or 35mm, can be registered with the agency. Shorts can also be offered to the selectors of the numerous festivals which exist in France (20 are dedicated solely to shorts and more than 60 include competitive sections for shorts). These festivals have become the first place for distribution of short films. Many of them provide important audiences for the selected films, which many films won't find again. For professionals festivals are also places to meet and exchange ideas. Competitions offering prizes allow directors and producers to pay off debts or to finance their next projects. Among the most important festivals are Clermont-Ferrand, Pantin, Brest, Grenoble, Villeurbanne, Belfort...etc. Since its creation the agency has therefore enabled the increased circulation of films in cinemas and contributed to the development of festivals. The income generated as a consequence of this distribution has contributed to support production, thus creating an inner circle which enables around 450 films to be made every year, mostly on 35mm and in professional conditions, a situation much envied throughout the world. Supported by its operating arm, Régie TV Câble, the agency explores equally the markets in France and abroad in the name of the makers who have given it the authority to do so.

The short film tradition
What is a short film? The response could resemble the opening of Alain Resnais's film, Mon oncle d'Amerique (My uncle from America). From a multitude of voices emerge fragments of the words, 'apprenticeship', 'humorous sketches', 'experimental', 'documentary', 'oh yes, the films that you used to see at the beginning of a programme'... Everyone has an idea of what a short film is but it's not sure that it means the same to everyone...