Cliff House Compilations is a not-for-profit group whose goal is to bring the independent short film to the general movie viewing audience. We do this by compiling our anual festival onto video format (DVD one day) and distributing this Compilation to independent video stores nation wide.

Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco Site of the 1st Cliff House Compilations Screening

Cliff House Compilations started with the idea that the short film should not be a calling card to Hollywood, but the end product of the independent filmmaker's vision and labor in and of itself. We think that we've created a means to bring these films to the general viewing audience by creating this "floating-film-festival" of independent short films.

The short film is the principal work product of the everyday filmmaker for whom filmmaking is a work-a-day passion and labor. The sad reality is that it is only the rare moviegoer, moviephile or moviebuff who is able to take advantage of and view these products of hard work, ingenuity and creativity.

We hope that you will enjoy our first Cliff House Compilation. It should be available in your local independent video store, so go get it. If that store doesn't have it, ask them to get the Cliff House Comps.

Keep your eye out for the next Cliff House Comp; expected release is soon.

Meet and get to know the filmmakers from the first Cliff House Comps on our Filmmakers Page. You'll be introduced to the makers of the films, their vision, and the circumstances underwhich they managed to complete their visions.

There are some good short films out there, we want to bring them to the movie viewing masses. Not have them kept for the select viewing audience.


Cliff House Compilations are currently available in video rental stores in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and other cities across the U.S. They are available for purchase through Cliff House Productions and Facets Multimedia.

Call for Entries

Cliff House is currently accepting submissions for its annual compilation of short films. For an application, click here.