Competition Rules

  1. Eligibility

    The 48 Hour Global Film Challenge open to filmmakers  around the world who have submitted an on-time film in a past 48 Hour Film Project.

  2. To Enter

    To register for the 48 Hour Film Project in the United States, follow the instructions found at http://www.48hourfilm.com/gfc . Registration is based on a first-come first-served basis and space is limited. Registration fees are $48 per team. Registration ends the day before competition begins.

  3. Official Filmmaking Period

    The 48 Hour Global Film Challenge will commence on [project:filming-starts-date] and end on the following [project:filming-stops-date] as announced on The 48 Hour Global Film Challenge website.

  4. Refunds

    If a team (Entrant) must withdraw from the 48 Hour Global Film Challenge, the team will receive a full refund minus a $20 processing fee.  Please send refund requests to: refunds@48hourfilm.com

  5. Participation of Minors

    Entrants may wish to consider having at least one member of its team be 21 years or older. Any participant under the age of eighteen (18) must have a parent sign his/her required document(s).
  6. Team Leader's Agreement

    Entrants will be required to sign the standard 48 Hour Global Film Challenge Team Leader's Agreement. If under the legal age of majority in your state of residence, your parent or legal guardian must sign it on your behalf.

    As a condition of entry, participants must agree to the Team Leader's Agreement, which sets forth the rights of Entrant and 48HFP with respect to the use of Entries by 48HFP. Entries that do not include all required information and/or do not adhere to the foregoing and following requirements will be considered void and will not be considered in this 48 Hour Global Film Challenge.

  7. Production Costs

    All costs associated with the production of the Entry are solely the responsibility of the Entrant.
  8. Judging of Entries

    Eligible Entries will be judged based on the judging criteria stated below.
  9. Kickoff Event

    Entrants must provide a valid email address to which the 48 Hour Global Film Challenge organizers will send the official competition assignment.

  10. Basic Requirements of the Project

    Entrants must adhere to the official 48 Hour Global Film Challenge Filmmaking Rules. In addition, in the Kickoff Email, Entrants will receive an assignment and be given [competition:duration-days] days to make a video (an Entry). See 48 Hour Global Film Challenge for details.

  11. Project Terms of Submission

    By submitting an Entry into this 48 Hour Global Film Challenge, each Entrant warrants and represents that the Entrant owns all rights to the Entry he/she is entering in this Project, including, without limitation, the video or digital recording, and the performance contained in each Entry, with the exception of any assets provided by the "48HFP/48 Hour Global Film Challenge" for use by Entrants in connection with this Project. Each Entrant further warrants and represents that the Entrant has obtained permission from each person who appears in the Entry to grant the rights to the Project Parties described in these Official Rules, and will submit copies of such permissions to the Project Parties. By submitting an Entry, Entrant agrees to the Official Rules, and further agrees to indemnify and hold the 48HFP and 48 Hour Global Film Challenge, Project Parties and their respective affiliates, officers, directors, agents, co-branders or other partners, and any of their employees (collectively, the Project Indemnitees), harmless from any and all claims, damages, expenses, costs (including reasonable attorneys' fees) and liabilities (including settlements), brought or asserted by any third party against any of the Project Indemnitees due to or arising out of the Entrant's Entry materials in this Project, or the Entrant's conduct during and in connection with this Project, including but not limited to trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property rights, right of publicity, right of privacy or defamation. Entrant agrees to release, indemnify and hold harmless "48HFP" and "48 Hour Global Film Challenge" and the Project Parties from any and all claims that any advertising, presentation, web content or any other material subsequently produced, presented, and/or prepared by or on behalf of "48HFP" or the Project Parties infringes on the rights of Entrant's work as contained in any Entry.
  12. Location

    The "48 Hour Global Film Challenge" is an online competition. Therefore, participants may be based anywhere that participation in online competitions is legally permitted. Entrants will receive the official email assignment via email on Friday
  13. Designated Team Leader

    If any group of individuals elects to collaborate on an Entry, they are required to designate one (1) person as the agent of the group to enter the 48 Hour Global Film Challenge, agree to these Official Rules, sign the Team Leader's Agreement and accept the prize on behalf of the group. Neither 48HFP nor any of the Project Parties are liable for any disputes between collaborators arising out of or related to the Project.

  14. Selection of Winners

    Entries will be judged by a process that combines panels of qualified judges will evaluate the eligible entries based on the following judging criteria:

    • Artistic Merit (e.g., Story, Creativity, Entertainment Value) (45%)
    • Technical Merit (30%)
    • Adherence to the Assignment (25%)

    AND, an online Audience Award voting system.

    For full voting rules go to www.48hourfilm.com/gfc.

  15. 48 Hour Global Film Challenge Winner

    The Top Entry from all eligible submissions will be declared the winner. In the event of a tie, the tie will be broken based on the highest score in the first Judging Criteria, continuing thereafter to each Judging Criteria in order, as needed to break the tie. Entrants agree that the 48HFP has the sole right to decide all matters and disputes arising from this 48 Hour Global Film Challenge and that all decisions of 48HFP are final and  binding.

  16. Winner's Prize

    The top Entry will be screened at Filmapalooza, the Annual 48 Hour Film Project, Inc. Awards Weekend (date and location to be announced). It will also be included in the 48HFP Showcase Screening at the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner and the team will receive a $500 USD cash prize.

  17. General Conditions

    By participating, Entrants agree to these Official Rules which are final and binding in all respects. The 48 Hour Global Film Challenge is governed by the laws of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC, USA, and all claims must be resolved in the District of Columbia courts or the Federal courts located in the District of Columbia.

  18. Limitations of Liability and Release

    No liability or responsibility is assumed by 48HFP or Project Parties resulting from any user's participation in or attempt to participate in the 48 Hour Global Film Challenge or ability or inability to upload or download any information in connection with participating in the Project. No responsibility or liability is assumed by the 48HFP or Project Parties for technical problems or technical malfunction arising in connection with any of the following occurrences which may affect the operation of the Project: hardware or software errors; faulty computer, telephone, cable, satellite, network, electronic, wireless or Internet connectivity or other online communication problems; errors or limitations of any Internet service providers, servers, hosts or providers; garbled, jumbled or faulty data transmissions; failure of any e-mail transmissions to be sent or received; lost, late, delayed or intercepted e-mail transmissions; inaccessibility of the Web Site in whole or in part for any reason; traffic congestion on the Internet or the Web Site; unauthorized human or non-human intervention of the operation of the Project, including without limitation, unauthorized tampering, hacking, theft, virus, bugs, worms; or destruction of any aspect of the Project, or loss, miscount, misdirection, inaccessibility or unavailability of an email account used in connection with the Project. 48HFP and Project Parties are not responsible for any typographical errors in the announcement of prizes or these Official Rules, or any inaccurate or incorrect data contained on the Web Site or social media sites maintained by the 48 Hour Film Project. Use of Web Site and the 48HFP's social media sites is at user's own risk. 48HFP and the Project Parties are not responsible for any personal injury or property damage or losses of any kind which may be sustained to user's or any other person's computer equipment resulting from participation in the Project, use of the Web Site or the download of any information from the Web Site. By participating in the Project, Entrant agrees to release, indemnify and hold 48HFP and Project Parties harmless from any and all claims, damages or liabilities arising from or relating to such Entrant's participation in the Project.

  19. Winners

    Winners will be posted online at 48 Hour Global Film Challenge.

  20. Project Organizer

    The 48 Hour Film Project, Inc.
    P.O. Box 40008
    Washington, DC 20016