Information & Rules

Star Trek gave us the Flip Phone, Blade Runner gave us Digital Billboards, and thanks to Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey we can walk around our homes giving orders to a much nicer version of HAL 9000, now called Alexa, Siri or Google!  We’ve been introduced to new technology through science fiction films for decades.  (Happy 55th Birthday to 2001: A Space Odyssey!) Now filmmakers will have a chance to integrate current and new innovative technology as a required element into an original sci-fi short film and compete for "Best 48 Hour Sci-Tech Film of the Year!" The 48 Hour Sci-Tech Film Challenge is presented by The Atlanta Sci-fi Film Festival and produced by The Multicultural Sci-fi Organization - MCSFO.

This Sci-Tech Film Challenge is unlike most 48 Hour challenges, for each competition, we’ll partner with different tech companies around the world to integrate their tech product or service in our 48 hour film challenge!  This year’s first challenge is sponsored by OVHcloud, a Global Cloud Infrastructure Provider.

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The Challenge

The 48 Hour Sci-Tech Film Challenge, hereafter referred to as ("Challenge") will begin Friday August 25th at 7:00 PM EDT and end Sunday August 27th at 7:00 PM EDT!   All teams will receive the TITLE of the film you will make, as well as a required element that must be incorporated into the final film. These elements will be emailed to everyone at the start of the challenge.  

You and your team will write, shoot, edit and deliver your completed short film (3-5 min in length) in just 48 hours!  Document your shoot to prove when and where you filmed.  Remember to take group shots with your team and share your experience on social media using #48HRSciTech2024.  We’re looking forward to seeing the results!   Get ready for a fun, sleepless weekend of filmmaking!

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Your Team

Start gathering your team Now!  If you don’t have a team yet, attend several of our In-person Networking Events coming up around the country and abroad! Follow our FB page for location listing and details and check the sidebar on this page!  You can also find film professionals on The Filmmakers Glue, a new Virtual Networking platform on Discord!  Meet and mingle with actors, directors, film composers, musicians, VFX, costume/wardrobe, cinematographers, crew and More!

After you have a solid team, select a Team Leader! The team leader referred to as (“Contestant”) will set up a profile on FilmFreeway with your TEAM NAME as the project title and sign the Agreement during registration.

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Eligibility

The Film Challenge is an international challenge and is open to filmmakers around the world.  Contestants must be over the legal age of 18 years or the legal age of majority in your state of residence, at the time they register. Student filmmakers cannot use School or University Resources and/or Equipment for this challenge!

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Registration

Read the RULES, TERMS & CONDITIONS here prior to registering and make sure you understand what the requirements are for a successful entry into the 48 Hour Sci-Tech Film Challenge.  Check this page frequently for updates as organizers may add or amend information, rules, terms and conditions at any time prior to the beginning of the challenge start time.

In order to compete in the Film Challenge you must register on FilmFreeway.  Registration opens Apr 21st, 12 AM EDT and closes August 11th, 12 AM EDT. Registration Fees are:  Standard Fee $13.99 or Gold Member Fee $10 per team.  Registration fees are used for the production of this event and are non-refundable.

The Team Leader, referred to as (“Contestant”) will enter their contact details: a valid email address, phone number, city, state, country, etc… on FilmFreeway.  Contestants must provide a valid email address to which the Film Challenge organizers will send the official competition requirements.  Contestants should use an email address that can be accessed on multiple devices and is checked regularly.  Then select the Film Challenge from the list of festivals, and submit using your team’s name to register your team in the challenge.  Do Not Upload Anything to FilmFreeway, this is just for registration purposes only! Complete registration by checking the box to accept the terms and conditions, and confirming payment. You will receive a "confirmation email" when your participation in the challenge is confirmed.  After receiving the confirmation email, the team leader will also be required to upload a 10 second video introducing their team,allowing you to test out the upload process! Team introduction videos will be shared on social media, so create something fun! When registering for this challenge the Contestants must agree to the rules, terms and conditions outlined on FilmFreeway, as well as our website, and must be over the age of 18 years or the legal age of majority in your state of residence, at the time of registration.

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48 Hour Kickoff

The Film Challenge will commence on Friday August 25th at 7:00 PM EDT and end Sunday August 27th at 7:00 PM EDT. The organizers will Email the official competition requirements to the email address that was given during registration.  Contestants should use an email address that can be accessed on multiple devices and is checked regularly.

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Filmmaking

Films using A.I. technology will be not be accepted into this competition! All completed films must be no longer than five (5) minutes and no shorter than three (3) minutes, including titles and credits.  Maximum run time for the film must not exceed five minutes.  Maximum File Size is 2GB.  Films should be submitted as H264, MP4, in 1080P and in a standard film ratio. (4:3, 16:9 or cinema wide) All footage must be shot within the 48-hour period (no stock footage or footage created at any other time is permitted).  Animation and special effects are permitted, but must be created during the 48-hour period. Only original music, creative commons music, or music with documented granted permission can be used.  You must secure, clear and show proof of all rights and proper licenses for the music in the film, in perpetuity, worldwide. Please Read the Full Rules and Regulations Here

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Uploading Film

Contestant will UPLOAD their film on this page in the Filmmaker's Bucket in the Sidebar, on or before the deadline! You are allowed to upload an updated version of your film if there"s time to do so.  We will only judge the last movie file that started uploading before the deadline.  Be sure to double check your internet connection to ensure a fast and smooth upload process!  All films will have a timestamp at the start of the uploading process.  Contestants are only allowed to upload the Promotional Film and supporting documentation: BTS (behind the scenes) still images documenting the day and time of your shoot for proof and a Group shot of your team in jpeg file formats.

Do Not upload anything on Filmfreeway including the regular Atlanta Sci-fi Film Festival Submission Page!  Films that were shot for this Film Challenge and submitted to the regular Atlanta Sci-fi Film Festival on FilmFreeway, will be disqualified from all competitions!

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Selecting Winners

Film entries will be competing at the City, National, and International levels, with each level winner eligible for the Best 48 Hour Sci-Tech Film Award!  A panel of film professionals detailed on the 48 Hour Film Challenge page of the Atlanta Sci-fi Film Festival website, will judge entries in categories such as: Adherence and Best Use of Required Element,  Artistic Merit (e.g., Creative, Engaging Story), Technical (editing, sound, audio etc...). The finalists will compete and be screened at the Atl SF Film Festival.  The winners will be announced during the awards ceremony, (dates, location and time to be announced.)

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Awards & Prizes

A total of $5,000 USD Cash will be divided between the top 3 winning teams with the best short film made in 48 Hours!! Competing films will be judged in categories such as: Best Use of the required element, Best film, Actor, Cinematography, etc.… There will also be an Audience Choice Award for best 48 Hour short!  Members of the winning team(s) will be invited to speak on a panel at the festival. Also, the winning films will be heavily marketed and promoted. Other prizes and trophies will also be awarded to top films.

Contestant Agreement
As a condition of registration and entry, Contestant must acknowledge and sign the agreement outlining the terms and conditions which sets forth the rights of the entrant and The Producer, the Multicultural Sci-fi Organization - MCSFO, with respect to use and ownership of Entries to the Film Challenge.  This will be executed upon registration.

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Final Screening

It will take us a few weeks for the judges to deliberate.  We will try our best to make room to screen all films received (on-time and a little late), presuming they meet the eligibility requirements, but it’s not guaranteed.  The best films that meet the criteria will be nominated for the 48HR Sci-Tech Award and screened as part of the Atlanta Sci-fi Film Festival in front of an audience of film industry professionals, corporate sponsors, partners, filmmakers, friends and families.  Following the screening, attendees are invited to join us for an award ceremony, where we’ll announce the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, (date and time TBA).   

Join in on the excitement as the teams come together to support each other's films, celebrate all their hard work and congratulate the winners!  The entire festival will be documented with video and photography, so come dressed to impress!Competing films will be judged in categories such as: Best Use of a Prop, Best film, Actor, Cinematography, etc.… There will also be an Audience Choice Award for best 48 Hour short! 

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Filmmaking Tips

We recommend that you make sound levels relatively even throughout your film. (If your film has uneven sound or sound that peaks, we may need to modify it to protect the playback equipment.)

Projection specs vary from theater to theater and are beyond the control of the ASCIFFF. If your film is very dark, it may be difficult to see in some theaters.  If the subtitles are positioned too low in the video, it may be difficult to see in some theaters.

Choose your tool wisely, use anything from mobile phones to domestic DV cameras to Black Magic’s Pocket Cam or you can even shoot on film if you want to!  Keep in mind, projection specs vary from theater to theater and are beyond the control of the ASCIFFF.  If your film is very dark, it may be difficult to see in some theaters.

Please Read the Full Rules and Regulations Here