Multiple directors, separate stories, one film — each segment 15–30 minutes. Festival format; each auteur demonstrates style economically.
Several directors under one roof — each tells their own story, no connection between the episodes, but a common framework. That's the core idea of the omnibus film, and it works on set very differently than with a classic feature film. You don't have one director dictating the overall vision, but several authors realizing their 15- to 30-minute segments in parallel or sequentially. Some productions even use the same team (camera, sound, lighting) for all episodes — others let each director bring their own crew. This significantly changes the workflow.
The practical challenge lies in the continuity of the look. If five different cinematographers shoot one after another, the image format can diverge — color temperature, grain, depth of field. Some productions therefore work with a mandatory lookbook or fixed lensing specifications. Others consciously accept the stylistic mix — this can be a strength if each director brings their visual universe. This becomes clear in the edit: you immediately recognize where the boundary between episodes lies, not just in the story, but in the visual rhythm.
In the festival context — and that's where the omnibus film thrives — this format works perfectly. Each director can show their handwriting without having to finance a 90-minute feature film. Berlinale, Venice, Locarno feature such projects in their programs because they allow newcomers and established names to coexist. The duration is calculable, the budget divisible, the risk fragmented. It's ideal for retrospectives by studios or streaming platforms: you watch four to six short films in one package, not one long narrative.
The biggest pitfall: tonality and audience experience. If the first episode is drama and the second is hard-hitting comedy, the edit needs a sense of rhythm and pacing between segments — similar to anthology series (see there), but on a smaller scale. Some omnibus films work with a mandatory prologue or epilogue that frames the episodes and smooths out tonal inconsistencies. This creates psychological continuity, even if everything is narratively separate.