The Mixtape: Short Films about Musicians

With the release of Big Man  – the highly anticipated Apple Original film from S/W favorite Aneil Karia (The Long Goodbye, Work, BEAT) featuring Stormzy – on Thursday, June 18th, we’re once again reminded of the enduring appeal of musicians in short film storytelling. Over the years here on S/W, we’ve featured imaginative narratives about fictional bands (We Forgot to Break Up, Ex Disposer), animated documentaries capturing the real lives of music legends (Cosmic Debris), and even a short film that reimagines one of music’s most enduring conspiracy theories (Paul is Dead).

Filmmakers like Todd Haynes and Hiro Murai have been drawn to the emotional landscapes and cultural significance that music and its creators offer. But these stories aren’t just using musicians as a convenient narrative hook; they turn to artists and their worlds as a lens through which to examine larger, universal themes: identity, belonging, connection, and the often messy beauty of creative expression.

With that in mind, we figured it was high time to gather a collection of our favorite short films centered on musicians – both real and imagined.

THE MIXTAPE: SHORT FILMS ABOUT MUSICIANS

Click on Image to view the Collection on Shortverse.