Film festivals are programming more short-form features, a category that sits between a traditional movie and a long episode of prestige television. Distributors say the format is appealing because it lowers risk while giving creators room for ambitious storytelling.

Exhibitors are adapting too. Some theaters are pairing short-form features with filmmaker Q&As or curated double bills, while streamers pitch the same titles as “one-sitting” releases that fit modern viewing habits.

Industry veterans caution that the format is not new; what is new is the commercial logic aligning across theaters and platforms at the same time.