15 great ideas for short documentaries for college students | Film school for beginners (2023)

Is your next project a documentary? It has to be exciting and challenging. Perhaps the most daunting task is finding a good theme. In this article, I'll help you find great documentary ideas.

As a student, there are many topics to base your documentary on. You must ensure that his documentary meets the following designations:

• Important
• Committed
• developer

You have the opportunity to cultivate people's minds with your next series. It will be challenging, but it will also be fun and educational.

15 short ideas for documentaries

Here's a rundown of 15 great tracks that will make you rock.good documentary🇧🇷 I will also share tried and true tips to get you started.

1. Climate change

Climate change is one of the most prominent issues in the current global discussion. It is changing politics in Europe and is one of the main topics of discussion for politicians in the United States. The planned climate protection measures will radically change the way we live and work. These are some of the crucial factors that make climate change an excellent subject for a documentary.

Picture ofstefan stefancikForpixel

Climate change would be a simple, relevant and insightful documentary. There is a lot of material to work with, and most of the research has already been done. Focus on bridging the gap between climate change proponents and detractors using scientific information.

2. Pollution

Climate change is directly related to environmental degradation and pollution. For example, rising global temperatures are attributed to air pollution, specifically the release of carbon into the air.

Pollution happens all around us: you don't have to travel to far countries to get your stuff. You can cover all forms of pollution or focus on a specific one that affects your community the most. Remember that you are witnessing the relentless destruction of our environment. So expect some depressing views. However, the awareness created will be worth it.

3. Recycling

There is growing concern that humanity is consuming more resources than are available to us. Some of these resources are threatened with depletion. Experts have found several solutions, one of which concerns recycling.

Recycling is an excellent idea. First, it will delay the depletion of the Earth's natural resources. It also creates jobs and subsidizes the cost of products made from recycled materials. Unfortunately, most people don't realize this. Therefore, a documentary on recycling would be educational for its audience.

4. Renewable energy sources

Most of our energy comes from non-renewable sources like oil. These resources have been blamed for much of the pollution and climate change. However, renewable energy is considered clean, and many stakeholders have come up with creative ways to harness renewable energy sources.

The younger generation will lose the most due to continued environmental degradation and climate change. As one of those affected, you should consider contributing to the ongoing debate on renewable energy.

5. Connections of mental well-being with technology

There is concern that the young and future generation will not be as happy as they should be or as previous generations were. Young people today have a lot to deal with. They have access to a lot of information, and that comes at a price. Young people do not communicate as much as they should, basing most of their interactions on social networks and the Internet.

There is a lot of research on the impact of technology on mental health. This topic would make an excellent and relevant documentary. It would also be a revelation to you and your colleagues.

6. Health

Like climate change, health is a hot topic around the world. Developing countries are trying to find better healthcare solutions for their citizens. Some of the developed countries already have excellent health plans, but some are still developing strategies.

Health is one of the crucial pillars of human progress. Adequate medical care is essential to improve the standard of living and mortality rates. You can ignore annoying politics and create a documentary about scientific discoveries in medicine and health. Alternatively, you can try to balance the two and have people have common ground.

7. Opioid crisis

Lack of medical care is one reason for the current opioid crisis plaguing the United States. People take opioids for a variety of reasons, including to calm mental conditions like anxiety and to deal with physical pain. Many people have become addicted to these drugs and most have lost their lives in the process.

Recognition -US Department of Health and Human Services

When it comes to the opioid crisis, there are many angles to consider. I suggest you look at how doctors and medical institutions made the crisis possible through prescriptions. You can also research the companies behind the opioid influx.

8. Substance abuse

Americans are looking for more than opioids to deal with things that can be mentally overwhelming. In particular, a sizeable population of Americans turns to illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and opium.

Drug abuse was a plague in America. Today, it represents a greater risk as more and more young people become trapped. That is why the community and the relevant authorities should speak about it. A documentary would add to the conversation and perhaps inspire those in positions of power to do more to contain the crisis.

9. Smoking and vaping

Smoking is an unhealthy habit. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of millions of smokers around the world. Many are trying to stop. "Vape" is considered a great way to quit smoking.

Vaping is a close alternative to smoking. It uses technology to vaporize flavored juices that produce smoke eerily similar to tobacco smoke. Helps calm the urge to smoke. At first, vaping was marketed as a healthier alternative to smoking. However, there is growing concern that vaping is just as unhealthy. This concern is growing after several deaths and chronic health complications related to vaping. As a college student, a documentary on smoking and vaping would be perfect, since most "vapers" are college students.

10. Legalization of marijuana

Marijuana was once frowned upon as an illegal drug. Today, however, people around the world are changing their attitude towards marijuana. Science has discovered many health benefits of marijuana and has even promoted it as a potential treatment for some types of cancer. It is also credited with helping to treat chronic conditions such as anxiety and Pearson's disease.

Marijuana is gaining popular acceptance around the world. Several countries have legalized it, and the United States is considering federal legalization. Since marijuana legalization is still new, this would be an excellent documentation of the expected benefits and consequences of the change.

11. Immigration

Immigration is another hot topic that dominates the world news. There is an influx of immigrants to Europe and the United States. Most of these immigrants come from North Africa and the Middle East. The issue generated controversy in the host countries, as some welcomed the immigrants, while others saw it as an invasion.

Continued immigration will drastically change the world. It has its pros and cons for everyone involved. There's a lot to explore here, and it's important to talk about it. Be objective in your search and provide a fresh look at immigration in one placeshort and insightful documentary.

12. War and Destabilization

There are several wars in the country. Most of the conflicts take place in the Middle East, and some North African countries are also at risk of destabilization and war.

In an ideal world there should be no wars. World leaders come to power promising to end ongoing conflicts, but nothing is done. However, one should not stop talking about the war, because continued pressure will one day lead to positive results. It would be wise to make a short documentary about the negative effects of the war. I suggest you examine how the ongoing wars and destabilization campaigns around the world are contributing to the global immigration crisis.

13. Cybersecurity and Privacy

Technology has been instrumental in most of today's advances. He made communication perfect. Thanks to the Internet, people thousands of kilometers apart can communicate with each other in real time. Information is also much easier to obtain today. However, technology also comes at a price. It seems that people have to compromise their privacy in order to enjoy the convenience that technology offers.

The younger generation is more dependent on technology. Unfortunately, most young people are unaware of the dangers they face. A short documentation on this topic would be an excellent revelation to your colleagues.

14. Gender and gender identity

Attitudes towards sexual freedom and gender identity have changed. Those in the LGBTQ community continue to come out with more confidence. People have also changed their gender identity to fit their lives. It's a hot topic and worth talking about so more people are aware of different gender preferences and identities.

Your documentary should focus on normalizing differing opinions and making these small groups feel more accepted and connected to society.

15. Technology and Education

You can also take a closer look at your home and explore how education and technology are intertwined. Technology has changed almost every aspect of our lives. The education sector, like many other sectors, is closely linked to technology. You can fascinate your peers by giving them a glimpse of what education will look like in the future.

There are many angles on how technology has shaped education. Using virtual and augmented realities in the classroom is a great angle. You have all the resources at your disposal from your school.

Related questions

Can a short film be a documentary?

Yes, oneshort filmcould be a documentary However, the film must meet certain requirements. First of all, it must be factual and based on reality. It must have reliable search results. Also, the film should be educational and informative. It would also help if the short film was based on a topic that is relevant to your audience.

How do I find documentary themes?

The best way to get onedocumentary themeis to find a relevant topic that dominates the discussions in their circles. As already mentioned, the documentation should focus on reality. You can also get great advice from experts in the field.It's videohelps you get started.