Lights, camera, action as teams to make an entire film in two days
A baker’s dozen of filmmaking teams from across Ireland will descend on Cork this weekend for a competition designed to push them to the very limits of their craft.
The 13 teams are Leeside-bound to take part in the third Cork City 48-Hour Film Challenge, a unique event in which they will attempt to write, shoot, and edit an original short film in just 48 hours.
Running from Friday to Sunday the challenge will see teams receive a set of strict competition rules and creative constraints before racing against the clock to deliver completed films by the deadline.
This year’s competition marks a new partnership with the renowned Fastnet Film Festival in Schull, West Cork, with the winning team earning the opportunity to have their film screened at the festival.
The challenge has continued to grow since its inception, attracting filmmakers from across the country and fostering collaboration between writers, directors, actors, cinematographers, and editors of all experience levels.
The competition is run by the monthly Cork filmmaking showcase, The People's Picturehouse.
Jamie Hooper, founder of the organisation, said the challenge is all about creativity under pressure.
“What these teams can achieve in just two days is consistently remarkable,” said Jamie.
He continued: “We're particularly excited to launch our partnership with Fastnet Film Festival, which provides a fantastic opportunity for the winning filmmakers to showcase their work on a nationally recognised stage and to screen all of the finished films at the Everyman is such a treat.”
The films will receive their world premieres at a special public screening and awards ceremony in The Everyman Theatre this Sunday at 5pm. Audiences will have the opportunity to watch all 13 films, meet the filmmakers behind them, and witness the announcement of this year's winners.
The films will be judged by an expert panel drawn from across the Irish film and creative industries, who will assess entries for storytelling, creativity, technical achievement, and overall impact.
Awards will be presented across a range of categories recognising excellence in directing, writing, performance, and filmmaking craft, with the top honour of the competition being the coveted Best Film Award.