Guides
Practical, plain-spoken guides to writing, shooting, funding and submitting short films.
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How long should a short film be?
The official limits that define a short film, what festivals actually prefer and why shorter is usually better for a first film.
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How to choose the right short film festivals
How to build a festival list that fits your short film, from award-qualifying festivals to genre, local and student events, without wasting your budget.
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How to make a short film on a low budget
Where the money goes on a short film, what you can do without and how to make a first short look and sound good for very little.
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How to make a short documentary
How to find a subject, gain trust, film observationally and shape a short documentary in the edit, with lessons from a Young Greenhorn award winner.
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How to fund a short film in the UK
The realistic options for paying for a short film, including public funds, crowdfunding, schemes for new filmmakers, in-kind support and your own money, and how to apply for each.
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How to make an animated short film
Choosing a technique, planning with storyboards and animatics, scheduling the work and finishing an animated short, with examples from Greenhorn's archive.
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How to write a short film script
How short film scripts differ from features, how to find an idea that fits the form, how to adapt existing stories and the mistakes programmers see most.
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When to put your short film online
How online release affects festival eligibility and awards, how to time it after a festival run, and where to release a short film for the biggest audience.
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How to write a short film synopsis and press kit
Templates and examples for the logline, short and long synopsis, director's statement, bio and stills that every festival submission needs.
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How to submit a short film to festivals
A step-by-step guide to festival submissions for first-time filmmakers, covering materials, platforms, fees, premiere rules and what happens after you press submit.