What makes a good short film?

Who is the main protagonist?

The main protagonist needs to be someone that the audience can connect to. They need be able to connect to the protagonist otherwise the story you are telling will be meaningless.

What is their problem?

One of the most challenging prospects for a filmmaker is conveying the protagonists inner problem into the heart of the film. This is the skill that is needed to be a filmmaker and not just a story-teller. If the audience is unaware of why the character is doing the things he is doing, it becomes difficult to follow the story which would ultimately cause the audience to become uninterested in the film.

Are the stakes high enough?

There needs to be something at stake so the audience can understand what the character stands to loose or gain from their endeavour. The audience needs to know the importance of the charters task so the audience cares about if the character succeeds or not. There should also always be an obstacle to their goal, whether it is a large distance to travel, a limited amount of time, or someone they must get past, making there goal ore difficult and therefore more entertaining.

What is the best point of view?

When making a short film you need to consider the best point of view in which to tell the story. For instance if you were to to tell the story of Red riding hood from the point of view of the wolf you would have a completely different point of view to the story's events.