The Story Behind Monthly Indie Shorts
The story of Monthly Indie Shorts began during the early days of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, when cinemas, festivals, and cultural spaces around the world were forced to close. At a time when filmmakers were isolated and audiences were unable to gather, we created Monthly Indie Shorts with a simple idea: films should not stop being seen just because the world had stopped moving. We wanted to give independent filmmakers a safe online space to screen their work, connect with audiences, and keep their passion alive.
What began as a small initiative slowly grew into a genuine international community. Year after year, trust was built between Monthly Indie Shorts and independent filmmakers from around the world. At its peak, the platform was receiving more than 500 film submissions per month, while hundreds of films were reviewed and discussed, with our work also gaining an IMDb-verified presence.
Then, Lebanon’s devastating financial crisis made it increasingly difficult to sustain the platform. After years of building a community we believed in, we were forced to make the difficult decision to close Monthly Indie Shorts.
But a festival built around independent filmmakers was never meant to disappear quietly.
Today, we are bringing Monthly Indie Shorts back—not simply to reopen a website, but to reignite an idea. An idea born during a global crisis, built by filmmakers, and carried forward by a community that believes every story deserves a chance to be seen.
This comeback is a new chapter. We are rebuilding, reconnecting, and opening the doors once again to filmmakers from every corner of the world. The screens are coming back on. The stories are coming back. And Monthly Indie Shorts is ready to begin again.
Because independent cinema never really stopped. It was only waiting for the next screening.
