Règles de la production

1. Temps

   Specific to 48 HFP x Imagine

   Le 48 HFP x Imagine (48HFP_X_IMAGINE) a lieu dans les villes du monde entier lors de plusieurs week-ends tout au long de l’année.

   La compétition du 48 HFP x Imagine se déroule entre le vendredi à 19:00 heure locale et le dimanche suivant à 19:00 heure locale. Il s’agit du Week-end Officiel de Réalisation. (Les jours de compétition peuvent varier dans certains pays.)

   L’équipe participante doit avoir terminé son film à temps pour le remettre le dimanche, avant 19:30. Après le kickoff, consultez le tableau de bord de votre équipe pour voir le compte à rebours jusqu’à votre échéance exacte.

   Les films rendus dans les temps et ayant respecté les règles seront officiellement qualifiés et seront éligibles aux prix. Cependant, tous les films reçus le dimanche (à l’heure ou en retard) seront projetés et seront éligibles au vote du Prix du Public.

2. Processus Créatif

   Toutes les créations doivent avoir lieu pendant le Week-end Officiel de compétition. Tout travail créatif avant le week-end de la compétition est interdit. Le travail créatif comprend, sans s’y limiter :

   • Écriture du scénario
   • Casting
   • Répétitions
   • Conception des costumes/décors
   • Tournage
   • Montage
   • Conception sonore
   • Rendu

3. Préparation

   Le seul travail autorisé à commencer avant le Week-end Officiel de compétition est :

   • Organisation de l’équipe
   • Organisation du casting
   • Obtention et test de l’équipement
   • Repérage/obtention des lieux de tournage

4. Images

   "Images principales" Chaque image de votre film DOIT contenir des images tournées ou créées pendant le Week-end Officiel de compétition. Il s’agit des "images principales".

   Les "images d’illustration", ou images tournées ou créées AVANT le Week-end Officiel de compétition (y compris des images d’archives qui font partie d’un effet spécial), peuvent être utilisées au-dessus ou au-dessous des images principales, tant que chaque image de votre film contient une certaine quantité d’images principales et que l’assemblage des images principales avec les images de soutien a lieu pendant le Week-end Officiel de compétition.

   Les images d’illustration NE PEUVENT PAS inclure des personnes ou d’autres interprètes, sauf si les Images d’illustration ont été tournées pendant un précédent Week-end Officiel de compétition du 48HFP pour un film 48HFP soumis antérieurement.

   L’animation, les titres et les effets spéciaux peuvent être considérés comme des images principales s’ils sont créés pendant le Week-end Officiel de compétition. (Voir la règle relative à l’I.A. concernant les images créées à l’aide de l’Intelligence Artificielle.)

   Les photographies fixes ou cartes postales sont autorisées en tant qu’images principales. Les photographies fixes n’ont pas besoin d’être créées pendant le Week-end Officiel de Réalisation. Remarque : Les photographies fixes créées en dehors du Week-end Officiel de Réalisation et utilisées dans une séquence pour créer l’illusion du mouvement ne sont pas acceptables comme images principales, mais sont acceptables comme images de soutien.

   Vous devez avoir les droits sur tous les éléments (images, photos, illustrations, œuvres d’art, etc.) utilisés dans votre film. Une Autorisation d’illustration 48HFP est requise pour tous les eléments, photos et/ou images qui n’ont pas été créés pendant le Week-end Officiel de compétition.

5. Utilisation de l’IA (Intelligence Artificielle) dans votre film

   Utilisations interdites de l’IA

   Les utilisations suivantes de l’IA ne sont permises en aucune circonstance:

   1. Contenu visuel généré par IA

      • Aucune image ou vidéo générée par IA ne peut apparaître dans le film, ni comme images principales ni comme image d’illustration.

   2. Performances générées par IA

      • Les personnages, acteurs ou humains numériques générés par IA ne sont pas autorisés.
        (exemples : les humains, animaux ou objets inanimés générés par IA sont interdits.)
      • Les voix off, dialogues ou voix de personnages générés par IA ne sont pas autorisés.

   3. Éléments requis
      L’IA ne peut pas être utilisée pour générer ou créer le Personnage, l’Accessoire ou la Ligne de Dialogue requis.

   Utilisations autorisées de l’IA

   Les outils d’IA peuvent être utilisés uniquement aux fins suivantes:

   • Assistance à l’écriture du scénario (génération d’idées, élaboration de plan ou rédaction)
   • Création d’images fixes
   • Création de musique
   • Outils de montage et assistance en postproduction (y compris correction colorimétrique, nettoyage audio, outils d’effets visuels et fonctions similaires intégrées aux logiciels de montage)

   Vous ne pouvez pas utiliser l’IA pour créer une quelconque partie de votre participation avant le Week-end Officiel de compétitions.

   ---

   Vous devez indiquer toutes les applications/logiciels d’IA utilisés dans votre film sur votre Formulaire de fin de tournage.

   Tout ce qui est créé à l’aide de l’IA (scénarios, musique, images fixes, effets, etc.) doit respecter ce qui suit:

   • Vous ne pouvez utiliser l’IA que de manière légale dans votre juridiction.
   • Vous devez avoir les droits légaux sur tout le matériel utilisé dans votre film. Toute sortie d’IA qui incorpore du matériel protégé par le droit d’auteur sans autorisation appropriée n’est pas autorisée.

6. Kickoff Event

   Each participating team must have a representative at the official Kickoff Event of the 48 Hour Film Project, as listed on your city's webpage.

   Prior to the Kickoff event, each team must upload a completed Team Leader's Agreement, signed by its team leader. A team may not participate without submitting this agreement.

   At the Kickoff, each team will receive its filmmaking assignment.

7. Filmmaking Assignment - Required Elements

   Specific to 48 HFP x Imagine

   Each participating team will be assigned required elements that must appear in its film, including a genre, a character, a prop and/or a line of dialogue.

   • The genre for each team will be determined in a random drawing. The team’s film submission must be in the genre it was assigned (or in the case of being assigned two genres, then in one of the genres it is assigned). The genre may be combined with another genre or genres, if the team desires. It must be clear to the judges that the film is in its assigned genre. The full list of genres may be found on the Special Genres page of the website by scrolling to the bottom of the page.
   • The required Character must be seen on-screen and it must be clear--either directly shown or by context--who the required character is. The Character name does not need to be spoken or displayed on-screen. The Character may may be shown in full or in part; may appear in a photograph or another representation, as long as it is clear that the required Character is present.
   • The required Prop must be seen on-screen.
   • A picture of the required prop is allowed.
   • The required Line of Dialogue must be used verbatim. It may be spoken, sung and/or written. It may be in any language, though if it is unclear that it is the required Line, there must be a translation.
   • To qualify as an Official Entry, each team's film must be in the genre it is assigned, and must contain all required elements within the official time limit and prior to the credits.

8. Volunteers

   All cast and crew must be volunteers.

9. Safety

   • Cast and Crew Safety: The team leader and each member of the team must make safety a priority throughout the filmmaking weekend. This includes ensuring that all production and shooting takes place in a safe environment.
   • Animal safety: Like cast and crew safety, is an important part of 48 Hour Filmmaking. Films that result in the death or mutilation of an animal may be disqualified.

10. Cameras

    Any type of video or film camera may be used. There is no limit to the number of cameras.

11. Landmark Requirement

    First Time Cities only: Each film must include a landmark (building, monument, etc.) or identifying characteristic (e.g., bus, city office) of the competition city. (Note: The landmark or characteristic must exist inside city limits.) This rule applies only the first time the 48HFP visits a city.

12. Music Rights

    Participating teams are encouraged to work with a composer and/or musicians to write and record music for the film. It is permissible for a participating team to use pre-recorded music; however, the participating team must have the rights to any music used in its film and must provide releases for all music used. As with music, pre-recorded sound effects are allowed, but you must have rights to use them.

    Note: Song parodies (i.e., use of identifiable pre-existing compositions with new or altered lyrics or music) may not be included in the film without a signed release from the composition's rights holder. This rule applies without regard to whether the song parody arguably constitutes fair use under US or international copyright law.

13. Total Running Time

    The finished film must be a minimum of 4 minutes in duration, and a maximum of 7 minutes in duration—not including end credits. In other words, the official running time begins after the required 48HFP slates and ends prior to the end credits. The required slates and the end credits do not count towards the minimum time of 4 minutes. The film story may not be longer than 7 minutes. 48HFP reserves the right to shorten any film that exceeds the maximum length for screening purposes.

14. Credits

    Specific to 48 HFP x Imagine

    Pre-film Required Slates

    Before the finished film begins, the media should have...

    • 5 seconds of black

    • 5 seconds title card with: team name, title, genre, city, and date

    • 5 seconds title card with: This film was made for the 48 HFP x Imagine 2026.
      www.48hourfilm.com OR the animated bumper (6 seconds).

    • 2 seconds of black

    Your film follows this.

    Any music placed under the 48HFP required slates above will count towards your 7 minute maximum length.

    Templates for these titles and the animated bumper can be found on your Team Dashboard. It is not required to use our templates, you may create your own as long as the timing and information remains the same.

    Opening Credits

    After the Pre-Film Required Slates, some films start with opening credits. Though not encouraged, if used, opening credits are considered to be part of the film, and therefore count against the seven-minute maximum. Additionally, if your film has opening credits other than simply the film's title (for example, the names of directors, actors, etc.), you must include the text a 48 HFP x Imagine.

    End Credits

    Credits at the end of each film are limited to a maximum of 60 seconds. The 60 seconds is considered additional to the length of the film, as stated above. (That is, a film may be 7 minutes long, with an additional 60 seconds of credits, for a total running time of 8 minutes.) 48HFP reserves the right to shorten any end credits that exceed the maximum length for screening purposes.

    Bloopers and/or behind the scenes are permitted during or after the end credits adhering to the 60 second maximum length.

    The end credits must include the words:
    This film was made for the 48 HFP x Imagine.
    www.48hourfilm.com

    Slates And Credits After The Competition

    For any future screenings, online or otherwise, films should retain the pre-film title card that says:
    This film was made for the 48 HFP x Imagine 2026.
    www.48hourfilm.com.

    A visual explanation of these slates and credits can be found in the technical specifications document that you can download from your team dashboard.

15. Required Media Formats

    For complete submission requirements, check the technical specifications document in your team dashboard.

    Maximum File Size: 2GB.

    IMPORTANT: If your film does not conform to the submission requirements in your city, it may be disqualified. Also, if your film cannot be viewed on 48HFP equipment, it may be disqualified.

16. Submission Notes

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

    Projection specs vary from theater to theater and are beyond the control of the 48HFP. If your film is very dark, it may be difficult to see in some theaters.

    All films received on the evening of the deadline (on-time and late) will be screened, presuming they meet the eligibility requirements.

17. Subtitles

    If the film is not in the native language of the competition city, an .srt file with subtitles must be loaded by the 19:30 filmmaking deadline. These subtitles should be in English or the native language of the competition city.
    
    All official city winners are required to provide subtitles in English, even if the language in the film is English. These subtitles should be provided as soon as possible after the announcement.

18. Production Documents

    Every person on the team—both Cast and Crew—must sign the Waiver and Release form.  In addition, each team must secure releases for music, locations and any other applicable items used in creating the entry.  

    Release forms can be found on the 48HFP website.

    All releases must be submitted to the project organizers by midnight on the day of the film’s submission deadline using the Team Dashboard on the 48HFP website.

    Both written and electronic signatures are allowed.

    The film/video will not be screened before the 48 Hour Film Project Organizers receive the signed releases.

19. Certification Statement

    The Entrant must submit the 48HFP Certification Statement with his/her completed Entry, certifying adherence to all Official Rules.

20. Eligibility

    To be eligible for the Project, Entries must be the original work of the Entrant; must not infringe third-party's rights; must be suitable for publication (i.e., may not be obscene or indecent); must not contain obscene or pornographic material; may not contain defamatory statements about any person, company, organization or entity; may not invade privacy or other rights of any person, company or entity; may not in any other way violate applicable laws and regulations; and may not contain any copyrighted elements (other than as owned by the Entrant and/or 48HFP).

    Note: The 48 Hour Film Project is an international event, therefore all elements in your film must not violate any copyrights anywhere in the world.

    The use of copyrighted material under the doctrine of Fair Use is not permitted. All music, footage, images, audio, materials and other content included in the film must be original, properly licensed, or used with explicit permission. Each team is responsible for securing and maintaining all necessary rights and permissions for any content used in its film.

    Entries containing prohibited or inappropriate content as determined by the 48HFP, in its sole discretion, will be disqualified. 48HFP reserves the right to make the final determination as to which Entries are eligible. 48HFP reserves the right to refuse to screen a film or to make an announcement at the screening regarding the content of the film. 48HFP reserves the right to alter a film in order to remove or delete offensive or defamatory content.

21. No Pre-Screening Distribution

    The Entrant is prohibited from distributing their entry/video in any way prior to it receiving its official 48HFP premiere screening. This includes uploading the video to any website or screening the film to anyone other than the team. The Entrant is encouraged to make a poster and/or trailer for their film and distribute those instead.

    The trailer should be no longer than 48 seconds.

22. Official Film Entry

    To be certified as an Official Film Entry, each participating team's film/video production must follow all rules herein. The 48 Hour Film Project Organizers reserve the right to screen only certified Official Film Entries.

23. Entries Not Returned

    No Entries (media or documents) will be returned.

24. Disqualification

    48HFP and Project Parties may, in their sole discretion, disqualify Entries deemed to be non-compliant.  Disqualification may occur after the city awards have been announced, if necessary.

25. Official City Winner

    Specific to 48 HFP x Imagine

    All certified "Official Film Entries" are eligible to compete for the title of "Best Film" of the 48 HFP x Imagine in its city.

26. Best Special Genre Film of 2026

    Specific to 48 HFP x Imagine

    The Best Special Genre film from each of the “Special Genre” competitions is eligible to compete globally for the title of Best Special Genre Film of 2026 and to screen at Filmapalooza, the 48HFP annual international film festival. A panel of independent judges will determine the winners.