NFFTY 2022

48-Hour Film Off Challenge

Welcome back to the 48-Hour Film Off from NFFTY!

In this popular challenge, high school teams compete to make the best possible film, from conception to post-production, in just 48 hours. The films screen during the NFFTY festival, and winners are awarded based on a combination of audience voting and jury deliberation. The winning school gets a cash prize to help support their film program!

In order to ensure that all films are made within the set 48-Hour period, teams will be provided with specific prompts that must be reflected in the finished film (line of dialogue, prop, etc.) Full details will be provided to all registered teams prior to the challenge weekend.

Challenge Details

The 2022 48-Hour Film Off Challenge will run from Friday, April 1 - Sunday, April 3, 2022.

In order to compete in this year's challenge, you must complete the registration form (below) no later than March 18, 2022. The registration form should be filled out by the representing educator. All registered teams will receive final instructions and details in the week leading up to the challenge.

Any educators who are interested in setting a game plan for the challenge weekend are encouraged to join us for our 48-Hour Film Off Prep Session on Tuesday, March 29 at 5:00pm PST! It is free to attend, and you can register HERE.

This year's competition is open to students of Film or Media programs (including clubs) at high schools and secondary schools in the United States and Canada. Each team should consist of no more than five students. You are welcome to register multiple teams, but only ONE film per school/program will be selected by the jury to compete for awards.

Because we receive so many entries, we cannot guarantee that every film will screen during NFFTY 2022. A jury will select the top 20 films, and those films will screen in Seattle on April 30, 2022, and will be eligible for audience voting and awards.
All submitted films will screen in our virtual festival from April 30 - May 8, 2022, but will not be eligible for awards. (This includes additional films submitted from a school or program with multiple teams.)

We award first, second and third place for this challenge, and the winners are selected based on the input of the festival jury and by audience voting.

There is a participation fee of $50/team this year, which includes up to 5 complimentary day passes for participating filmmakers (valued at $35 each). If your filmmaking team plans to attend the full NFFTY weekend, you also have the option to pay a $250 participation fee, which includes up to 5 complimentary all-access passes (valued at $100 each).
If the participation fee is a hardship for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We are happy to work with programs on a case-by-case basis. Email sydney@nffty.org.

Timeline

DEADLINE TO REGISTER

Friday, March 18

CHALLENGE BEGINS -- CHALLENGE FILMS DUE

Friday, April 1 (12PM PT) Sunday, April 3 (12PM PT)

SCREENING

The finalist films will screen at NFFTY 2022
Saturday, April 30 at 12pm noon in Seattle, WA | Online April 30 - May 8

WINNER ANNOUNCED

The winning film will be announced at the NFFTY 2022 awards ceremony, on Sunday, May 1 (live and broadcast)

Prizes

FIRST PLACE

Cash Prize for your school’s film program
NFFTY swag

SECOND PLACE

Cash prize for your school’s film program
NFFTY swag

THIRD PLACE

NFFTY swag