The main 2 things I look for in a short film are:
Good Theme/moral etc
Clever "Show don't tell" scenes/shots
Other things I look for
Simplicity
Subtext
And I don't mind the old twist or ironic ending either!
The film can be about anything in any genre, with any story and varying types characters, if it ticks the above boxes it's a winner IMO. I love clever subtext and clever show don't tell scenes too, like Vin Diesel's short film multi facial:
A new found respect for the man:
Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBeuyjlbes8
Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBeuyjlbes8
But I find myself liking the arty drama type short films over your typical "empty" genre short, like action or horror for example, maybe I just haven't seen one well done? I dunnno, but it seems like too many people are attempting to emulate what they see on the big screen and it doesn't quite work.
Here's a couple of other good ones I've seen lately:
Lemonade Stand (love this one, it's so cute and quirky)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JL82j-l6hM
Inja is probably one of my absolute favourites, ticks all the boxes of what I like, subtext, show don't tell, ending etc. would love to find one with proper subtitles, but it has very little dialogue anyway and you should be able to get it without subs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRK1r1DEQok
Since short films are what they appear to be, short, what do you look for in them? Since we do not have the luxury of a full feature film where we can get to know the characters and build relationships with them, what do you look for in a short film? (5-20 minutes long).
Do you focus more on detail to character or detail to setting? Do you prefer a descriptive cinematic view of the setting or one that focuses more on the character? Do you prefer a dark lit them or a heavily lit theme?
I disagree with the statement that you can't get to know the characters in a short film, why not? Maybe it's just me but in the above example "Inja" short film I was really rooting for the protag's and hated the antagonist
Most feature length films that I've seen will employ a tactic very very early on in the movie to get you on the side of the Protagonist, often within the first 5 minutes or so, he does a good deed or something bad/unfair happens to him so you feel sorry for him (basic examples)