Should Filmmakers put short films on VOD after film festivals?

Should I, as a filmmaker, put my short films on a VOD platform once the festival run is done?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot.

Instead of the film just disappearing, what if it lives on behind a small paywall? A dollar. Two dollars.

Not to get rich, but to build value. To collect audience emails. To know who actually wants to watch my work.

Platforms like Fourthwall, Stan Store, Whop, Olyn, Vimeo On Demand, even Gumroad make this possible now. It’s less about selling a film and more about building a direct audience.

And honestly, that feels like a smart long game.