Here we go! That time of year where we look back at all the amazing work sent over to us in the last 12 months. In this post we bring you the Top 5 trailers of the year, voted by our team. What did we look for? Without any influences from the actual films, we judged the trailers on originality, creativity, editing and story. But most important of all, we looked for teasers that left us with a tingly feeling and exciting, and certainly with an urge to see the full film.

Take a seat and enjoy our Top 5 Trailers of 2018 selected from our Featured Trailers.  

5. So I Watch You From Afar

This trailer carries an eerie isolated tone just like its title suggests. A family is terrorized by a drone that starts surveilling their property, pushing them to the brink of sanity and unearthing a dark secret.

Read more on So I Watch You From Afar

4. They Wait For Us

In an end-of-life care facility, a reclusive hospital worker starts to believe a coma patient is secretly communicating with him.

An ambitious little piece in terms of creative exploration. Placed in a really bizarre situation with little explanation, we are driven by the dynamic cinematic style and pounding soundtrack. Created by George Thomson and Lukas Schrank (Warsnare – Syndrome, Nowhere Line: Minus Island)

Read more on They Wait For Us

3. The Salvation

Mischa Rozema makes our top lists again, starting with Sundays three years in a row, the trailers in  2013 & 2014 and then the film  in 2015. The Salvation simply mesmerizes by its unique concept and setting. Not necessarily a short film, but rather a long-form episodic content by Post Panic Pictures.

On the surface, David Miller, a PTSD ridden Iraq war veteran is trying to come to terms with his present. Deeply scarred by his experiences in Iraq he tries to hold on to every scrap of his humanity. As his world unravels from within, he is shepherded into the past by a fringe network of black project government ghosts and captains of industry. In order to keep his own present intact, he has to look inward to amend the past at the behest of his saviours.

Learn more about The Salvation

2. Metta Via

Deliverance is initialized in Warren Flanagan’s Metta Via. Setting itself apart from other Sci-Fi films with its flagrant visual style and concept. 

Set in the future It tells the story of a young woman who wakes up in a mysterious ‘temple like’ room and must figure out what her purpose is there.

Read more on Metta Via

1. Ballistic

Ryan Connolly; the master of creating Hollywood-like short films! Ballistic’s trailer is incredibly explosive, thrilling and breath-gasping. Accompanied by a pounding soundtrack to create a resonating, appealing and endlessly exciting. We want to see more of it! And you can! The full Ballistic short is featured on Film Shortage. Ryan also reached our first ever TOP 10 with his thriller ‘Tell’

Congratulations Ryan for topping this year’s Top 5 Trailers on Film Shortage. Keep on making these awesome films – and most of all keeping your process accessible!   

Watch Ballistic fully on Film Shortage

Bonus Must-See Trailer

A few trailers did not make the top 5, but definitely deserve a high mention.

Top 5 Trailers of 2017
Top 5 Trailers of 2016
Top 5 Trailers 2015
Top 5 Short Film Trailers 2014
Top 5 Short Trailers of 2013
Top 5 Trailers 2012