These are the main methods we used to make our Mini DV short La Santa look like it was shot on film. There are many other aspects we could have played with, including: color correction, adding film-style grain, manipulating the gamma, shooting in PAL (25fps), frame blending, frame mode setting, adjusting shutter speed, edit with cuts and cross dissolves only and de-interlacing, to name a few. Good audio will help sell the effect and you could even use a damaged film filter (such as hair in the gate, scratches or dust), if that's the effect you want.
We entered La Santa in about fifteen festivals. It was accepted in over half and won five awards. Most of the success of this short is due to Juliana's writing, directing and the efforts of our crew. I was most pleased, however, when a critic or fellow filmmaker leaned toward me at a screening and asked if I shot it on 16 or 35.
Composition Tips for 16:9
Deceptive Shooting Part 1
Deceptive Shooting Part 2
Depth of Field
Standard and Widescreen, what's the Diff? A Primer on Aspect Ratios
Basic Training: Format Terminology
Directing: Directing Documentaries
Tips and Tricks - Depth of Field
Basic Training: Composition Tips for 16:9
Tips and Tricks - Depth of Field