2023 48hr Film Challenge

Our 48 Hour Film Challenge screening was a hit with representatives from all nineteen films in attendance. Of those nineteen, we had sixteen films in competition. All our teams were treated to swag bags sponsored by our local Fox/CW team. Special swag items were also provided by Dot Cards, Soaring Wings Vineyard and Virgin Mary Pistol Grip. Over $3000 in cash and prizes were awarded through the night! An additional special shout out goes to Studiodaze in Benson for handing out an award package to our Best Use of Location category! Congrats to all of our teams and thank you to our volunteers that helped run the evening. Final shoutout to our home theatre, Aksarben Cinema. Thank you to the staff and team there for supporting local film!


The 48hr Film Challenge Film Screening and Awards Presentation will be held on Thursday, September 14th at 6:30pm at the Aksarben Cinema.

Admission is only $10 so come out and cheer on your favorite film! (no advance or online ticket sales. Tickets sold at the door a half hour prior to show)

After the screenings we’re looking forward to a Q&A session with each of the filmmakers to hear their trials and tribulations during their 48 hours of filmmaking!

After the Q&A we’ll give out awards in both the student and non-student categories to the following:
Best Film
1st Runner Up
2nd Runner Up
Best Cinematography
Most Creative Use of Required Prop
Most Creative Use of Required Line of Dialogue

A special award for the Best Use of Location will be presented by StudioDaze studio in Benson

Thursday’s screening order:
student films
The Chase of Aila Graham directed by Mica Apel & Bryton Bower – thriller
Pat-A-Cake directed by Lyvni & Myo – thriller

non-student films
Forking Treasure directed by Mark Graves – comedy
Better directed by John Gutowski – drama
EarthBound directed by Curtis Clark – thriller
In Spirit directed by Brandon Fiscus – drama
Donut Sit Down directed by Daniel L. Wolff – comedy
Full Circle directed by Faustus McGreeves – drama
The Glass Earth directed by Richard Reese – thriller
Annoying, Don’t Answer directed by Paul Baker – comedy
Birthday Wish directed by Emily Balkovic – drama
Last Namaste on Earth directed by Mason Shumaker – thriller
Privatize Private Eyes directed by Lauren Abell & MJ Peters – comedy
Special Doughlivery directed by Caden Bye & Jesse Eastman – thriller
Court Ordered directed by Paul Christian Glenn – drama
The Rye Field Catcher directed by Bethany DeCarolis – comedy
Late Night Trip directed by Tomas Sanchez-Sandoval – comedy
Russian Donette directed by Bishop Brown – drama

Looking forward to seeing everyone!
#OFF202348


Ladies and Gentlemen, start your cameras! The Omaha Film Festival is hosting a 48 Hour Film Challenge to spark creativity and collaboration among local creatives. Participants will be given 48 hours to write, shoot, edit, and deliver a film under 5 minutes in length (including credits).
The 48 Hour Challenge will commence on Friday, September 1st at 7:00pm on Facebook Live on the Omaha Film Festival’s Facebook page.
Announcements for the rules will be made starting at 7:00pm and genres for qualifying teams will be drawn shortly thereafter!
Films will be due back before Sunday, September 3rd at 7:00pm. Final delivery to be an H.264 file sent to omahafilmfestival@gmail.com via a password protected (downloadable) Vimeo link, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.
All films will be screened at the Aksarben Cinema on Thursday, September 14th.
Filmmakers can register for the 48hr Challenge at
https://forms.omahafilmfestival.org/…/2023-48hr-film…
Entry form and fee deadline is Friday, September 1st at 6:00pm
Pre-registration is $60 per team or $40 for high school teams. The name used to register is the name we’ll call when picking the genres. Only one registration form per team required. To register complete this form and make your payment at the link below:
Open category payment link:
https://tinyurl.com/2023OFF48
High school student link:
https://tinyurl.com/2023OFF48s
Or hit us up on Venmo @omahafilmfestival
Here’s how it works:
Start putting your team together now. Actors, writers, filmmakers … get ready. For participating teams, fill out the online registration form and send your entry fee to be qualified and be watching on Facebook live as we announce the following required challenges:

  1. We will announce a LINE OF DIALOGUE that will have to be in every film.
  2. We will announce a PROP that must be used in the film.
  3. We will randomly draw GENRES from a hat for each team that your film must adhere to.
    There’s no age limit on the filmmakers!
    After the screenings we will be announcing the winners for both the student and open categories for:
    Most Creative Use of Required Prop
    Most Creative Use of Required Line of Dialogue
    Best Cinematography
    Best Film
    THE RULES
  • Entry Fee must be paid at least one hour before the launch.
  • Each entry must be a separate submission – you must include registration form and payment for each submission.
  • Challenge Launch will commence at 7:00pm on Friday, September 1, virtually on the OFF Facebook page.
  • You must complete all of the mandatory challenges (genre, line of dialogue, prop).
  • All submissions must be an H.264 file sent to omahafilmfestival@gmail.com via a password protected (downloadable) Vimeo link, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc. The FILM INFORMATION FORM must also be emailed.
  • Submissions must be received by 7:00pm on Sunday, September 3.
  • All films that are not in English must have English language subtitles.
  • Only submissions with completed REGISTRATION FORM, FILM INFORMATION FORM, and paid entry fees will be accepted.
  • Films must be no longer than 5 minutes in length (including credits).
  • To be eligible, the film cannot have a public screening locally prior to the Film Challenge Screening date. We ask that your film not be viewable in its entirety online on sites like YouTube, Vimeo, or Facebook before the Film Challenge Screening. Trailers or clips from the film are acceptable.
  • Releases for locations, music, and talent must be obtained by the submitting filmmaker. The Omaha Film Festival is not liable for copyright infringement or unauthorized use.