PRESS RELEASE
The 48 Hour Film Project, the world’s largest timed filmmaking competition, today announced that its ninth annual tour will expand to nearly 80 cities in 2009, including the first-ever local contests in Beijing, Lisbon, Prague, Savannah, and Paducah, Kentucky.
The 48 Hour Film Project’s 2009 Tour will challenge a record 35,000 people worldwide to complete the entire filmmaking process – from writing and casting to shooting and editing – in a mere 48 hours. Since its 2001 launch in Washington, D.C. by filmmakers Mark Ruppert and Liz Langston, the project has become a global cultural phenomenon, with more than 130,000 participants producing nearly 9,000 short films. (An archive of past films can be found at www.48.tv)
The 48 Hour Film Project’s 2009 tour will kick off at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show in Las Vegas from April 17-19, then go on to visit nearly 80 cities through November. An expected 2,800 teams will rely on inspiration, adrenaline, and gallons of coffee to complete short films of up to seven minutes in only two sleepless days. Films submitted even one minute late are disqualified.
“The fact that we continue to expand to new cities every year confirms that the project has truly struck a nerve with filmmakers and audiences around the world,” said Langston, co-executive director of The 48 Hour Film Project. “We’re thrilled to be bringing the tour to new cities like Beijing, Lisbon, and Prague in 2009.”
“While the tight deadline may seem like an obstacle, ultimately it places the emphasis on creativity and teamwork, and gooses participants into making their films rather than just talking about them,” said Ruppert, co-executive director of The 48 Hour Film Project. “More importantly, it breaks down barriers by allowing anyone with a free weekend, a video camera, and boundless creative energy to experience the fun, exhilaration, and satisfaction of producing a fully-realized film.”
Filmmaking teams of all levels begin at 7 PM on a Friday and deliver a finished 4- to 7-minute film by 7:30 PM Sunday. Each team is assigned a genre, character, prop, and line of dialogue that they must work into their film. They are responsible for putting together a cast and crew, and getting equipment and anything else necessary to make a film/video in just a weekend. Any team, regardless of skill level, is eligible to participate in this competition.
Films will be screened in each city just days after the competition. Each city’s Best Film team will receive a trophy, Movie Magic Screenwriter software, and will go on to compete for top honors at Filmapalooza, an awards event honoring the 2009 tour’s top film submissions. Filmapalooza will take place for the first time at the NAB Show in 2010. Honors will include Best Director, Best Acting, Best Script, Best Musical Score, and Best Film of 2009. The 2009 Grand Prize winner will receive $3000 cash and a Panasonic AG-HPX170 camera (list price $5695).
Organizers also announced that 14 of the 2009 tour’s best films will be screened at The Cannes International Film Festival’s Short Film Corner in 2010, as well as appear on a nationally distributed DVD.
For a complete tour schedule and instructions on how to participate, please visit: www.48hourfilm.com.
About the 48 Hour Film Project
The 48 Hour Film Project is the oldest and largest timed film competition in the world. The 48 Hour Film Project’s mission is to advance filmmaking and promote filmmakers. The tight 48-hour deadline puts the focus squarely on the filmmakers, emphasizing creativity and teamwork and “doing” instead of “talking.” The emphasis is also on building communities of local creative people – facilitating making new connections, showcasing skills, and celebrating what creativity and teamwork can accomplish in just one weekend. In 2008, more than 30,000 filmmakers in 70 cities participated in the festival.
John August: Behind the Scenes Filmmaker Series
Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting 2009 Competition
Student Academy Awards 2009 Deadline