A web film is a film made with the medium of the Internet and its distribution constraints in mind.[1] This term aims to differentiate content made for the Internet from content made for other media, such as cinema or television, that has been converted into a World Wide Web-compatible format. Web films are a form of new media.
There are broadly three forms of films that can be encountered on the Internet:
| Form | Description | Defining Features | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional promotion | A digitised version of films shot with the same production methods and technology used for TV/Cinema. | Often 35mm or high definition digital footage. (Usually highly compressed when on web.) | Cinema trailers online, for example the trailer for Lord of the Rings.[2] | |
| Films not made for, but distributed via the Internet | A film taking advantage of the Internet for distribution. | Often large files and/or designed to be downloaded not streamed. | The short film 405 The Movie or releases in file sharing communities.[3] | |
| Web films | Films made with the medium of the Internet and its constraints in mind. | Made in harmony with Internet & computer technologies such as streaming or Flash or After Effects. | The short film Distance Over Time.[4] |