How to Write a Short Film Script: A Step-by-Step Guide With Example
By Gireesh Shanbbhag, Actor | Filmmaker | Screen Writer | Editor · Published 2026-10-15
Quick answer: To write a short film script, pick one simple idea built around a single moment of change, limit it to one or two main characters and very few locations, and keep it between 5 and 15 pages (about 5–15 minutes). Open on an image that hooks immediately, build to one turn or reveal, and end as soon as the change lands. Format it like any screenplay, then table-read and cut before you shoot.
Key takeaways
A short is not a compressed feature — it is one strong moment.
Write for what you can actually shoot: locations you can access, actors you can get.
Shorter shorts (under 10–15 minutes) are easier to programme at festivals.
Every line of setup must pay off; there is no time for subplots.
Step 1: Find a short-sized idea
Good short film ideas are small in scope and big in feeling: a decision, a confession, a misunderstanding, a last conversation. Test the idea with one question: What changes for the character between the first and last shot? If the answer needs years or many locations, it is a feature.
Step 2: Write it for your resources
List what you have — a house, a friend's shop, a bike, a free weekend, two actors — and build the story around it. Constraints make better shorts. Every new location adds a company move; every extra actor adds a schedule. Read how to plan a shooting schedule before you finalise.
Step 3: Structure the short
Hook (page 1): an image or line that raises a question.
Setup (pages 1–3): who the character is and what they want right now.
Complication (middle): something blocks them or reveals new information.
Turn (near the end): a choice, a reveal or a reversal.
Resolution (last page): show the change and cut out.
Step 4: Write tight scenes
Start every scene as late as possible, rely on images over dialogue, and give actors subtext to play — see how to write dialogue. If a scene can be removed without losing the ending's meaning, remove it.
Example: the opening of a short
INT. AUTO-RICKSHAW - MOVING - NIGHT
The meter ticks. SHANKAR (60s), the driver, watches his passenger in the mirror: ANU (20s), clutching an admission letter.
SHANKAR
Hospital or hostel?ANU
(beat)
I haven't decided.
In four lines we have two characters, a location, a question and a ticking clock.
How long should a short film script be?
Use one page ≈ one minute. Many festivals define shorts as under 40 minutes, but programmers often find shorts under 15 minutes easier to fit into a programme. For a first short, 5–10 pages is a strong target. See how many pages a screenplay should be.
Pre-shoot checklist
Table read with actors; cut anything that drags.
Lock the script and break it down (cast, props, locations).
Write the shot list and storyboard key moments.
Make a one- or two-day schedule and a call sheet.
Register the script before sharing it widely.
Write and plan your short for free
Kathe Kaara takes a short film from first draft to shoot day: formatted screenplay, beat board, character bibles, breakdown, shot list and storyboard, schedule and call sheets — all free, in Kannada, English or 68+ other languages.
Frequently asked questions
How many pages is a 5-minute short film?
About 5 pages.
Do short films need a title page?
Yes — title, "Written by", your name and contact details.
Should a short film have dialogue?
Only as much as it needs. Many strong shorts use very little dialogue and work across languages at festivals.
How many locations should a short film have?
As few as possible — one to three is ideal for a low-budget short.
Cover photo: Small crew filming a short film at night — by Jakob Owens on Unsplash.