Team sign ups open October 12th.
Each year, the prompt for the 48 Hour Film Competition is released after signups closed. This single word can be interpreted in any way in your film. Previous year's words included Nightmares, Trapped, and Haunt.
Only teams that have signed up may participate.
Student filmmakers and horror fans, now is your time! The UNCW Library is hosting the 5th Annual 48 Hour Film Competition this Fall! Make and submit a film within 48 hours for your chance to win guts, glory, and cash!
- Team sign ups open Monday October 12th
- Sign ups close Friday October 23rd at 2:45PM.
- Prompt announced and sent to teams at 3:00PM on Friday October 23rd (The 48 Hour countdown begins)
- Entries should be submitted before 3:00PM on Sunday October 25th (End of the 48 Hours)
- Final Screening event on Tuesday October 27th at 7PM in Lumina Theater (Fisher Student Center)
What is the 48 Hour Film Competition?
Teams of up to five students (or just one, if you work better solo) will have exactly 48 hours to create a short horror film between 4 and 6 minutes long. All films will be screened at a showing in the Lumina Theater, where a panel of professors and librarians will select three teams to receive prizes—and lifelong g(l)ory. Join us as we celebrate student talent and creativity with a spooky theme!
The sign up form will be linked on this page when team registration opens on October 12th.
Sign Up
For the sake of prizes, teams or individuals are asked to sign up in advance. The number of entries is capped, so be sure to enter early for your chance to compete. Once Registration closes, the prompts will be announced and the countdown will commence! You will have 48 hours to get your films written, shot, edited, and submitted for judging.
Registration opens October 12th and ends October 23rd at 2:45PM.
Sign ups may close early depending on the amount of entries.
Prizes
1st Prize is $150
2nc Prize is $100
3rd Prize is $50
Prizes will be shared evenly among team members.
During the final screening, the audience will vote for the fan favorite award, known as the Golden Ghoul award. There is no monetary prize for the Golden Ghoul, but there are major bragging rights.
During the final screening we ask that attendees follow theater etiquette and be respectful to all of the competing teams and their hard work. Please leave the theater in a better state than you found it.
Sign up during the registration period. Only pre-registered teams can screen films and are eligible for prizes. Prizes will be distributed to student accounts within 1 month.
Be Scared and Be Prepared
Want to know more about the 48 Hour Film Competition? Need to brush up on your video editing skills beforehand? Need to borrow a camera or tripod?
- Borrow digital 4K camcorders, cameras, and tripods (along with lots of other equipment) from the Library Technology Desk, in front of the MakerStudio in Discovery Hall!
- Set up a consultation to practice Video Editing with a MakerStudio staff member. Consultations can be in person or online.
- Information Sessions
- Ask questions and learn more information about the 48 Hour Film Competition at the MakerStudio. Information sessions will be Monday-Thursday October 12-15 from 10AM to 12PM. Drop in if you're curious!
Information Sessions in the MakerStudio (Discovery Hall 1065):
- Monday October 12th 10am-12pm
- Tuesday October 13th 10am-12pm
- Wednesday October 14th 10am-12pm
- Thursday October 15th 10am-12pm
We encourage you to interpret the competition theme creatively, and additional points will be awarded to submissions with unique approaches to the prompt.
OTHER RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR THE COMPETITION:
- The library, libraries, library resources, library services, or library materials must be somehow incorporated into the film. This could take the form of the setting, an element of the plot, or the use or mention of library materials, such as books, newspapers, archival materials, 3D printers, etc. As always, be creative! The Library is more than just books: consider all services, materials, and spaces within Discovery and Randall Hall. Special consideration is given for highlighting obscure library services. Attend an Information Session for more ideas and details. Remember to plan ahead and refer to Library Hours.
- Teams will not be allowed into closed Library spaces after hours.
- The film must not include any of the following content: harm to animals, nudity, or sexual assault. Any films containing this content will be eliminated from the competition, and screening will be halted.
- If filming in Discovery or Randall Hall, avoid filming or disrupting other library users.
- In the spirit of Halloween, we suggest films be horror-themed.
- Films must be 4-6 minutes long.
- Teams must be present with their films in Lumina Theater (first floor of Fisher Student Center) no later than 7:00 pm on Tuesday, October 27th.
- Films must be submitted online (information will be announced) or provided either via a YouTube link or on a flash drive in .mp4 format.
- Films must include the team name and film title at the start of the movie, with a legible screen time of at least 5 seconds.
- Here is the Rubric for the 2025 Competition: 48hour_rubric_2025.xlsx
At the event, our panel of judges will be assessing each film as it is screened on a rubric that includes fulfillment of the horror genre, visual technique, and creativity and originality. After all films are screened, the judges will pause for a discussion, then announce the top three winning teams and distribute your trophies. Cash prizes will be distributed directly to your UNCW accounts afterwards, so please be sure the UNCW email you submitted was correct!
-The 48 Hour Film Competition Team
Be sure to visit the Library Technology Desk to borrow cameras or attend a Video Editing workshop at the MakerStudio to prepare your skills for the competition!