I need a VERY COMPREHENSIVE background on the short film industry over
the last 20 years.  This would include economics (how much money they
typically make and how), typical costs associated with creating, who
bankrolls them, typical distribution channels, profile of audience
that watch, names of successful short films, etc.

No animation films.  Reports, articles and in-depth analyese
preferred.

It seems to me that such information, especially relating to audience
profiles, would be considered private marketing data.

Comprehensive reports of such usually start at around $1500/copy. 
Each.