If you’re a cinephile like myself, or simply tuned into the cinematic zeitgeist, you’ll know that short films have long been some of the most inventive, emotionally powerful, and artistically daring pieces of cinema. They dominate festival circuits like Cannes and Venice, earning awards, praise, and prestige – but after their brief time in the spotlight, they often become quite difficult for audiences to find. A handful might make their way onto YouTube, or find themselves tucked into obscure corners of larger platforms, but there's been no dedicated home for short films to not only be celebrated, but also easily discovered. That is, until now.
What is Rover?
Rover is a newly-launched streaming platform built exclusively for short films, described by its creators as “the new home for short films, built to ungatekeep filmmaking.” Instead of treating shorts as secondary to feature-length work, Rover positions them at the centre of the viewing experience. The platform wants to elevate short-form storytelling and make it accessible to everyone – not just festival attendees, industry insiders, or those who happen to know the right links.
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What can I find on Rover?
On the platform, you'll find a curated selection of festival-winning and festival-calibre shorts from around the world – works that have screened at major festivals, including Cannes and Sundance. The offering is ever-changing, with new films being added to the platform each week. It’s a space where award-winning filmmakers, emerging voices, and storytellers can sit together, offering audiences a diverse catalogue of short films. Besides the shorts themselves, you'll also have access to screenplays.
Where can I subscribe to Rover and how much is it?
You can visit their website to subscribe for only $2.99 a week at Rover.stream. While the platform is still new and details like subscription tiers or regional availability may continue to roll out, Rover already presents itself as a much-needed home for one of cinema’s most underrated formats.
