The cultural value of short film is enormous— It can be a statement of creative purpose for important new voices. It can be a proving ground for narrative and formal exploration.

If you’re a writer, a musician, a podcaster—or pretty much any kind of content-maker you can think of—there’s a good chance you’ve at least heard of the “creator economy.” Think of it as a buzzword for going direct, or transacting with your audience without any distribution or other middlemen. …