48 Hour Film Project
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What 48 Hour Film Project does
The 48 Hour Film Project is a privately held, Washington DC-based company founded in 2001 that operates the world's largest timed filmmaking competition. It challenges registered teams to write, shoot, and edit a short film within a strict 48-hour window, with genre randomization and required elements (character, prop, line of dialogue) assigned at city kickoff events. The platform supports competitions in more than 100 cities annually across 45 countries, with 200+ city producers acting as local franchisees, engaging 4,000+ film teams and 50,000+ filmmakers per year and producing 70,000+ films cumulatively. The core technology is a web-based competition management platform with team registration dashboards, film submission portals, and online voting, accessible in seven languages.
The company monetizes through per-team registration fees (typically $135–$198 per team in US cities, varying by city and registration window), producer's fees paid by city producers to the central organization, shared screening revenue from local theater premieres, local sponsorship revenue, and 20% of proceeds from film distribution sales. Sub-brands extend the core 48-hour format into adjacent verticals: Filmapalooza (annual international festival), Yes We Cannes (Cannes Short Film Corner pathway), College48 (university segment), 48x8 Animation, Global 48 (worldwide online), Summer 48, and genre-specific variants. Brand partners include HP, Aputure, VISA, Hearst Communications, Sam Adams Beer, New Amsterdam Vodka, and Parrott. A formal AI Usage Policy explicitly prohibits generative AI in creative elements while permitting non-generative AI for technical post-production, and DocuSign/SAG-AFTRA integration enables participation by professional union actors.
48 Hour Film Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 48 Hour Film Project
- Legal name
- 48 Hour Film Project, Inc.
- Website
- https://48hourfilm.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
48 Hour Film Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Film Production Competitions
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131), Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF), Event Technical Production Management & Crew (MPAGAKAH)
Keywords
Where 48 Hour Film Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
48 Hour Film Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Team Registration Fees: Teams pay a registration fee to participate in their local 48HFP city event. Fees vary by city and registration window (Early, Regular, Late). In US cities, first-year cities range from $135-$155, repeat cities from $158-$198 per team. Outside the US, fees differ by location.
- Film Screening Revenue: Revenue is generated from theater screening events. City producers share in the income from all screenings. The organization also retains a portion of any proceeds from film distribution or sales.
- Local Sponsorship Revenue: City producers secure local sponsorships and share in sponsorship revenue. Brand partners including Hearst Communications, HP, Sam Adams Beer, New Amsterdam Vodka, Parrott, Aputure, and VISA have partnered with the organization.
- Producer's Fee: City producers pay a producer's fee to the global 48HFP at the end of each event, generating revenue for the central organization.
- Film Distribution Sales: When films are sold, 48HFP shares proceeds with filmmakers (80% to team leader, 20% to 48HFP) after June 30 of the year following the film's creation. If sold before that date or with exclusive rights, 48HFP grants release for 20% of purchase price.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | US First-Year City - Early Registration |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | US Repeat City - Early/Regular/Late Registration |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Outside United States |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
48 Hour Film Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The 48 Hour Film Project organizes global timed filmmaking competitions in which registered teams must write, shoot, and edit a short film within a strict 48-hour window. Each city operates independently with its own kickoff event, genre drawing, required elements (character, prop, line of dialogue), theater screenings, and local awards ceremony, with winning films progressing to the international Filmapalooza festival and the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner. Supporting offerings include specialized variants (animation, college, genre, summer, online global) and downloadable production/legal document templates.
Product overview
48 Hour Film Project operates a platform of interconnected filmmaking competition products. The core offering is the 48 Hour Film Project competition, a timed filmmaking challenge where teams produce short films in a single weekend. The portfolio includes supporting products: Filmapalooza (annual international film festival), Yes We Cannes (Cannes Film Festival pathway), Global 48 (worldwide online competition), 48x8 Animation (animation variant), Summer 48 (seasonal variant), genre-specific competitions (Horror/SciFi), and College48 (university program). Production Documents provide legal templates for all participants. The ecosystem connects local city competitions to international showcases and festival opportunities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Filmapalooza: The annual international film festival and filmmaking conference for 48HFP city winners, featuring screenings, workshops, networking events, and the Grand Champion announcement.
- Yes We Cannes
- College48
- 48x8 Animation
- Four Points Film Project
Products and services
- 48 Hour Film Project (Main Competition) The primary offering: a global filmmaking competition where teams write, shoot, and edit a short film in 48 hours. Teams receive randomly drawn genres, a required character, prop, and line of dialogue to incorporate into their films. For filmmakers of all skill levels seeking portfolio material, networking, and festival exposure.
- Filmapalooza Annual international film festival and filmmaking conference held in March. Screens all city-winning films, provides workshops and networking events, and announces the Grand Champion of the Year for city winners and filmmakers worldwide.
- Yes We Cannes Global Film Challenge Special competition providing a pathway for top films to screen at the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner under the 48HFP–Cannes partnership running since 2004. For top-performing teams seeking international festival exposure.
- Global 48 World-wide online competition allowing filmmakers globally to participate in the 48HFP format without requiring a local city presence. For filmmakers in regions without an established 48HFP city.
- 48x8 Animation Competition Animation-specific competition variant where teams create animated short films within the timed 48HFP framework. For animators and animation teams seeking a timed creative challenge.
- Summer 48 Seasonal competition variant held during summer months offering filmmakers an additional entry point into the 48HFP format beyond the main annual competition.
- Horror / Sci-Fi Genre Competitions Genre-specific competition variants focusing on Horror and Sci-Fi genres in select cities, allowing filmmakers to specialize within the 48HFP format.
- College48 University and college-focused competition designed for student filmmakers, offering the 48HFP experience adapted to academic settings.
- Production Documents and Templates Downloadable production and legal templates including Team Leader Agreement, Certification Statement, Waiver and Release Forms, Music Release Forms, Materials Release Forms, Location Release Forms, and SAG-AFTRA paperwork procedures. For participating teams to handle legal and contractual obligations during competition.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 70,000 films produced since 2001
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use 48 Hour Film Project
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
48 Hour Film Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability2 records
Feature4 records
48 Hour Film Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Cannes Film Festival (Short Film Corner)flagshipThe 48HFP has maintained a partnership with the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner since 2004 (17 years). Each year, a selection of top 48HFP films are screened at the festival. One notable film, 'Bio Buddy' from Prague, was recognized as one of the best of the Short Film Corner and given a special distribution deal.
- FilmapaloozaflagshipFilmapalooza is the official annual international film festival of the 48 Hour Film Project. It features screenings of all city-winning films, workshops, networking events, and an awards ceremony announcing the Grand Champion. Previous locations include Washington DC, Rotterdam, Seattle, Paris, Los Angeles (2023), and Lisbon (2024).
- HP (Hewlett-Packard)coreHP has partnered with the 48 Hour Film Project as a brand partner, connecting with the organization's filmmaker audience through sponsorship.
- AputurecoreAputure, a manufacturer of lighting equipment for filmmakers, has partnered with 48HFP as a brand partner, reaching the filmmaker community through the competition.
- Hearst CommunicationscoreHearst Communications has partnered with 48HFP as a brand partner, leveraging the competition's filmmaker community for brand engagement.
- Sam Adams BeerminorSam Adams Beer has partnered with 48HFP as a brand partner, likely reaching the filmmaker community at events and screenings.
- New Amsterdam VodkaminorNew Amsterdam Vodka has partnered with 48HFP as a brand partner.
- ParrottminorParrott has partnered with 48HFP as a brand partner.
- VISAminorVISA has partnered with 48HFP as a brand partner.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
48 Hour Film Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
48 Hour Film Project social profiles
Digital presence48 Hour Film Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
48 Hour Film Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
48 Hour Film Project subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
48 Hour Film Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
48 Hour Film Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 48 Hour Film Project
What does 48 Hour Film Project do?
The 48 Hour Film Project organizes global timed filmmaking competitions in which registered teams must write, shoot, and edit a short film within a strict 48-hour window. Each city operates independently with its own kickoff event, genre drawing, required elements (character, prop, line of dialogue), theater screenings, and local awards ceremony, with winning films progressing to the international Filmapalooza festival and the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner. Supporting offerings include specialized variants (animation, college, genre, summer, online global) and downloadable production/legal document templates.
Is 48 Hour Film Project a public or private company?
48 Hour Film Project is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was 48 Hour Film Project founded?
48 Hour Film Project was founded in 2001. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is 48 Hour Film Project based?
48 Hour Film Project is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does 48 Hour Film Project make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Team Registration Fees are the primary driver. The others are film Screening Revenue, local Sponsorship Revenue, producer's Fee and film Distribution Sales.
Does 48 Hour Film Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for 48 Hour Film Project.
What industry is 48 Hour Film Project in?
48 Hour Film Project's product category is Film Production Competitions. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAKAD, Film Festivals & Festival Organizers, with a secondary code of MPADAKAF, Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional). Its NAICS code is 51213 and its SIC code is 7830.