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48Hours is NZ’s largest guerrilla filmmaking competition! There is nothing quite like it.

It started in 2003 as a sidebar to the Becks Incredible Film Festival with just 44 teams in Auckland only. The competition is now in its 19th year and has spread nationwide. In 2014 over 800 teams took part right across New Zealand. 2020 saw the special VF48LOCKDOWN edition after the main competition was cancelled due to Covid-19.

48Hours is responsible for more fun than a 1000 monkeys could shake sticks at.

Over 6000 shorts have been produced for 48Hours. An enormous amount of people have had a lot of fun. Each year there’s been equipment/rental facilities selling out, actors suddenly cancelling commercials, celebrity friends being abused, broken bones, relationships ending, moments of pure ecstasy, absolute exhaustion, extreme bonding, annoyed armed defenders, production gear disappearing, cars stolen, meltdowns – but the future of NZ film looks to be very healthy and appears to be incapable, if a little shaky, hands.

How does it work?

It’s very simple; filmmakers have just one weekend to make a short film.

Filmmakers don’t know what genre (thriller/romance etc.) they will be shooting until the start of the competition. All creativity: writing, shooting, editing and adding a musical soundtrack, must occur within the 48Hour window beginning Friday evening at 7 pm and ending Sunday at 7 pm. To add to the mayhem, they must also include some random elements.

In previous years, these elements have included lines of dialogue, props, characters and special camera moves. This year – who knows? A few days later, the completed films are all screened in heats to an eager audience. The best films are selected by judges to compete in the city finals. Then the judges select the best of the best and along with Peter Jackson’s Wildcards, compete in a massive Grand Final offering fabulous prizes and glory.

48Hours is a serious challenge for both first-time filmmakers through to experienced directors.

Why?

Make a short film in 48 hours?! You’d have to be mad. Fortunately, temporary insanity is one thing this competition isn’t lacking; we’ve been attracting movie maniacs since year one. Apart from being a bit loopy, other reasons to compete in 48Hours include, getting to see your creation on the big screen with an enthusiastic audience, meeting fellow movie freaks and of course the chance to win fabulous prizes. After the competition, you will have a completed film to add to your portfolio.