Normal Short Film Duration?

Ram Almighty · Mar 5, 2014

Hello Everyone,

I have just joined the forum.

I feel really good and satisfied that I have taken my very first step for film making.

I am planning to create a short film. Script is in mind. Can you advise what is the normal short film duration? If I make a movie in 4 to 5 mins, is it considered good duration for short film? or is it too short..?

sfoster · Mar 5, 2014

Start as short as possible for your first time. Even 1 minute would be okay for your first attempt
My first short was 3 minutes and barely finished .. production time doubled because it was 2 days and people didn't show up the second day.. or the third day.. or the forth day. looked like it wasn't even going to get done at one point

Ram Almighty · Mar 5, 2014

Thanks sfoster. I will keep this in mind.

J.T. Harvey · Mar 5, 2014

I don't think there is a "normal" duration for a short film. I say it's as long as it takes to tell the story you're wanting to tell.

Having said that, if you plan on entering film festivals with your short film they will give you the time limits. Typically a "short" is up to 45-50 minutes I believe.

Let us know when you're finished, we'd like to see it!

Alcove Audio · Mar 5, 2014

According to AMPAS a short is 40 minutes or less.

For film festivals many seem to prefer 10 minutes or less. That is purely a "marketing" decision; if they can show 10 (or more) shorts in 90 minutes there will be more butts in the seats for each screening.

Zensteve · Mar 5, 2014

How long have all the short films been, that you've watched? That's how long it should be. :bag:

It's as long as the story is; no more, no less.

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jax_rox · Mar 5, 2014

Zensteve said:
It's as long as the story is; no more, no less.

.

This.

As a frame of reference, Cannes doesn't accept shorts longer than 15 minutes. Having said that, I've shot shorts with a runtime of 20 minutes, and shorts with a runtime of 6 minutes. It's as long as the story is, really.

ChimpPhobiaFilms · Mar 5, 2014

Short films all vary in durations, it all depends on how duration is most effective when telling your story. You should also have an idea of how you are going to do with your film once made. If you're putting it on a short film site, they might require a certain length or be against a certain length. If you are sending your work to a festival (which you should research beforehand), you should research if they have certain limits or other criteria regarding length that must be followed.

5-10 minutes is generally a good runtime. Many people online have short attention spans, and most festivals generally accept films of that length.

Two shorts you should check out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OY1EXZt4ok
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wuc_zrg79IE