How to Find an Idea for a Short Film or Feature Film?

Every film begins with an idea — and for many filmmakers, finding that idea is the hardest part. Not writing. Not shooting. Just finding something worth telling.

The truth is, good film ideas are everywhere. They are not always logical, polished, or even realistic at first. Sometimes they are strange, emotional, absurd, or incomplete. What matters is learning how to notice them and shape them into stories.

Here are practical and creative ways to find strong ideas for both short films and feature films.

1. Start With Your Dreams

Dreams are one of the most underrated sources of film ideas.

They are:

• Illogical

• Emotional

• Symbolic

• Visually powerful

A dream might not make sense as a full story — and that’s okay. Many powerful films begin with a single dream image or situation.

For example:

• Being trapped in a familiar place that suddenly feels hostile

• Talking to someone who is no longer alive

• Repeating the same moment again and again

Dreams may feel absurd, but absurdity is often what makes them cinematic. Write them down immediately when you wake up. Even if the logic is broken, the emotion is real — and emotion is what cinema needs.

2. Ask Your Friends for Their Craziest Stories

Real life is often stranger than fiction.

Ask friends, family, or coworkers:

• “What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you?”

• “What moment changed your life?”

• “What secret do you never talk about?”

You’ll be surprised how many incredible stories people carry quietly.

These stories don’t need to be copied exactly. Use them as inspiration, then reshape them:

• Change the ending

• Combine two stories into one

• Alter the point of view

Truth gives your film authenticity, even when the story becomes fictional.

3. Look Into History

History is full of forgotten, hidden, or misunderstood stories waiting to be rediscovered.

Instead of focusing only on famous events, look for:

• Small personal stories inside big historical moments

• People history ignored

• Moral dilemmas instead of victories

For example:

• A soldier who refused to fight

• A woman erased from official records

• A family divided by political change

History provides built-in conflict, stakes, and context — perfect foundations for feature films and short films alike.

4. Observe Everyday Life Carefully

Great ideas often come from ordinary moments.

Watch people:

• On buses

• In cafés

• At airports

• In hospitals or waiting rooms

Ask yourself:

• What is this person afraid of?

• What are they hiding?

• What happens if something small goes wrong?

A short film can grow from a single situation:

• A missed phone call

• A delayed train

• An unexpected visitor

Cinema turns the ordinary into the meaningful.

5. Explore “What If?” Questions

Simple “what if” questions are powerful idea generators.

Examples:

• What if someone couldn’t tell the truth for one day?

• What if a person met their younger self?

• What if a city suddenly lost electricity forever?

Short films often focus on one idea, one twist, one moment. Feature films expand the consequences of that idea.

6. Use Your Own Fears, Regrets, and Obsessions

The most personal ideas are often the strongest.

Ask yourself:

• What scares me the most?

• What do I regret?

• What can I not let go of?

When an idea connects to something emotional, it gains depth. Audiences may not share your experience, but they recognize honesty.

7. Combine Unrelated Ideas

Sometimes one idea isn’t enough — but two together are.

Try combining:

• A dream + a real-life event

• A historical moment + a personal relationship

• A genre + an emotional theme

For example:

• A love story set during a political crisis

• A dreamlike film based on a real breakup

• A thriller built around a simple family argument

Unexpected combinations often lead to original films.

8. Let Bad Ideas Exist

Not every idea needs to be good immediately.

Write everything down:

• Absurd ideas

• Incomplete thoughts

• Scenes without context

Many strong films begin as weak or strange ideas that improve over time. Creativity grows through volume, not perfection.

Final Thoughts

Finding a film idea is not about waiting for inspiration — it’s about paying attention.

Your dreams, your conversations, your fears, history, and everyday life are already full of stories. Some will be strange. Some will fail. Some will surprise you.

An idea doesn’t need to be perfect. It needs to be alive.

The rest is filmmaking.

Mehmet Guney

Synergy Motion