Despite notable year, mainstream success eludes short films

The short has enjoyed a year of mainstream attention.

As a prelude to "The Darjeeling Limited," Wes Anderson created the 13-minute "Hotel Chevalier." Earlier this year "Paris, Je T'Aime" assembled 18 well-known directors to each make a short film set in a Paris arrondissement. And Pixar again released a highly anticipated animated feature ("Ratatouille") with a memorable short played beforehand ("Lifted").

Yet widespread popularity has proved elusive for the short film. While the short story remains a great tradition in literature, the cinematic equivalent is largely marginalized.

Shorts predate …