Don't ever use autofocus.
Learn to use all the manual everything you can on whatever camera you're using.
Handheld cam isn't the same thing as shaky-cam, which looks terrible.
There's no money to be made in short films, so budget accordingly.
There's no such thing as the magic money tree filmmakers can go to to get money to make films.
You can't tech you way out of a cr@ppy film.
Typically a film's problems are somewhere between FADE IN: and FADE OUT:
Write films you HAVE or can REASONABLY OBTAIN the location, cast, crew, equipment, and budget resources for.
Don't write pie-in-the-sky "Tranny Zombie Martians From Uranus Invade the White House" and then try to get anyone to fund it.
And take a look at this and the thread it came from (which I've sorely neglected for quite a while):
http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=44510&page=8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFbGDtlaNTQ
Pay as much attention to your audio as you do your visuals. GIGO is big here.
Your "on camera" audio will be grossly insufficient for anything beyond sit down interviews.
Getting your work accepted into film festivals is a long shot and only good for a few good feelings.
Consider filmmaking a hobby, like dirt bike racing or horseback riding.
It's easy to spend money, not so easy to make money.
Filmmaking is most often a collaborative effort. Hope you're friendly, or wealthy.
Here's a free screenwriting format program, makes PDFs to share:
http://celtx.en.softonic.com
