How Long is a Short Film? Well, That Depends…

How Long is a Short Film? 

The length of a short film really depends on where it is going to be broadcast, but typically they are less than forty minutes. They can be live action or animated.   

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With the advent of video sharing platforms such as YouTube, there are a lot more opportunities for filmmakers to get their work in front of a large, international audience.   

Short films are nothing new; they have been produced and experimented with since the beginning of cinema. Check out Films Fatale for a list of The Best 100 Short Films of All Time. 

Do the Academy Awards Have a Short Film Category? 

They do; entries must be 40 minutes or less (including the credits), to be considered. They do have some restrictions, for example short films cannot be an unsold TV pilot or a sequence from a larger film.  

The Academy Awards have two categories for short films:  

• Best Achievement | Animated Short Film 

• Best Achievement | Live Action Short Film 

You can familiarize yourself with the Academy’s full list of entry requirements here.  

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Where Can I Watch Films of a Shorter Length? 

You can view them on YouTube channels such as: 

• DUST (science-fiction short films) 

• Crypt TV (short horror films) 

• Six Sigma Films (short films, documentaries, and more) 

• ShortsTV (billed as “high quality short films”) 

• Pocket Films (Indian short films) 

• Omeleto (short horror films) 

• Short of the Week (groundbreaking short films) 

• CINEHUB (Korean short films) 

• Directors Notes (short films with filmmaker interviews providing a behind-the-scenes look at how the film was made)

The above are just some examples of YouTube channels that air short films, there are many more. Each will have their own rules about the criteria required for submission, including the maximum length the film must not exceed.

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You can also view short films at film festivals such as the: 

• Toronto Shorts International Film Festival: animation, docs, comedies, grad short films and more from around the world. 

• Vancouver Short Film Festival: showcasing Canada’s short films, documentaries and animated films. 

• Montreal Shorts: unique festival with a variety of categories where winners get a shot at possibly expanding their short into a series.

• Tribeca Film Festival: short film categories are part of Tribeca’s regular festival, the event is held in New York City (narrative, documentary, and animated shorts). 

• Sundance Film Festival: short film categories are part of the regular festival, held in Salt Lake City (fiction, documentary, and animated shorts). 

• Chicago International Reel Shorts Film Festival: a range of categories with unique awards, open to international participation.

• Canada Shorts Film Festival: online, all genres, with entries open to international short films. 

• Palm Springs International ShortFest: all genres. 

• London Short Film Festival: international short films of all genres plus workshops and panels. 

• Tokyo International Short Film Festival: a wide range of categories, divided into ‘International’ and ‘Asian’ sections.

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There is usually a fee for entering a film into a festival, but the rates are typically not expensive, they range anywhere from US$30 to US$150. You may find some festivals that don’t charge anything at all. 

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Why Make a Short Film? 

Aspiring filmmakers often produce films of a shorter length as a springboard for feature-length projects. These smaller productions act as a hands-on learning experience, allowing them to familiarize themselves with all three stages of film production: pre-production, production, and post-production.   

Producing and directing a short film is a terrific opportunity for those inexperienced with the process to experiment with the creative (scripting, casting, directing talent, music, etc.) and technical aspects of filmmaking (camera, lighting effects, blocking, editing, post audio, etc.) while developing their craft.  

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Shouldn’t I Just Make a Feature-Length Film?

Jumping into a feature-length production is no small task, and you will find that films with a shorter running time cost a fraction of what a feature does. They also take far less time to produce.

Often new filmmakers will find volunteers to assist in production, or even to act in them.  

A successful short film, one that has received positive word of mouth, is a great way for an aspiring filmmaker to make a name for themselves in the industry because it showcases their capabilities.

Short Film Examples 

Here are links to some examples of short films, as produced by former students of Toronto Film School:  

Meet the Trinitalians by Writing for Film & TV program graduate Kyle James.  

Jab Jab Explained by Film Production program graduate Chevon Francis. 

Back to Reality by Film Production program graduate Xiaoyu Chen. 

Solo by Film Production program graduate Felipe Guzmán. 

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Can a Film With a Shorter Running Time Be Expanded into a Longer Film? 

District 9, The Evil Dead, and What We Do in the Shadows all started out as short films. This is a smart way to see if the original idea has potential to become a feature-length movie or series. Industry professionals call this “proof of concept.”

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How Do I Make a Short Film? 

It’s best to start with an education, a program that will teach you the creative, technical and business of the film industry. Choose a program that will give you hands-on practice with industry-grade shooting equipment.  

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Make sure the program also teaches you the entire production process (this doesn’t mean if you ultimately want to direct you need to be a whiz at editing, you just need to understand the limitations of the software).   

Make contacts. Join groups with similar interests, whether in person or online. Subscribe to film industry newsletters. And practice the craft as often as you can. 

Garry Murdock

Born in Montreal, Garry Murdock is the marketing copywriter for Toronto Film School. He got his start in television production at YTV, and then later worked as a promo producer and commercial director for a number of television networks. He was the supervising producer of Cineplex’s national in-theatre pre-show, providing creative direction and leadership on over 600 produced segments, and directed on-location interviews around the world with Hollywood celebrities such as Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise, Ben Affleck, Chris Evans, Kermit, Miss Piggy and many more. He has a bachelor’s degree in Radio and Television Arts from Toronto Metropolitan University and a certificate in Digital Marketing Management from the University of Toronto.