Lengths of Documentaries?

[Tom Lowe]

I have an idea for a documentary I can shoot around LA, but I'm wondering what lengths most documentaries are, short of features? This material is not appropriate for a full feature, probably better for like 30 or 50 minutes. What are proper documentary lengths, for entry into festivals or sale to cable TV? 30 mins? 45 mins? 50 mins?

Thanks for any info.

 

[Rob Gardner]

PBS is 55 minutes. Commercial cable is 45 minutes. Free form web/festival length is whatever your big behind wants it to be...

 

[Tom Lowe]

But I imagine most festivals have some rough boundaries for documentary shorts vs feature documentaries, etc?

 

[Gavin Greenwalt]

I've always been told "the shortest it can possibly be and still be all that it can be."

If it's 10 minutes you're more likely to be accepted than if it's 60. More spots open usually for the shorter stuff. Of course if you make it too short then quality will suffer.

I can't personally vouch for that advice. But that's what I've been told and it makes sense.

 

[Grinner Hester]

Most festivals have a 20 minute imaginary line for longform. Don't make your running time according to anything but how long the piece needs to be.

 

[Liam Hall]

Tom, you'll find oodles of useful advice here:

http://www.britfilms.com/festivals/

 

[Tom Lowe]

Thanks, guys.