HP48 Hours 2018: Looking for New Teams

HP48 Hours 2018: Looking for New Teams
Earlybird Registration NOW OPEN

This year, organisers of HP48HOURS Filmmaking Competition are looking to attract even more entries, with plans to encourage more Māori filmmakers, to engage more secondary schools and universities and to offer an outstanding female filmmaker award.

They are offering 10 free entries to community groups and charity organisations in order to diversify the competition’s base and encourage newcomers to test their skills and creativity – and have a wildly energetic weekend.

EARLYBIRD registration ($40 fee reduction) is now open for this year’s HP48HOURS. The Earlybird deadline expires on April 21. Registrations close on May 9. Registrations at 48hours.co.nz.

Now in its 16th year, the national weekend competition is set for May 11-13. Filmmaking teams have to write, shoot, edit and score a short film from one to five minutes duration. The intensity begins at 7pm on Friday May 11 and doesn’t let up until the final deadline at 7pm on Sunday May 13.

Last year, 563 teams from seven regions nationwide entered the pressure-cooker competition to make a short film in just one weekend. Such intense creativity both breaks up relationships and brings people closer together.

The benefits extend further than the excitement of the filmmaking weekend and the experience of working as a team under pressure. Prizes are substantial and offer worthwhile incentives to winners to further their filmmaking careers. The prize pool contains $100k in cash & services - full list to be announced.

Winners are decided by a panel of international judges. There are regional heats and finals through May and June, leading up to the Grand Final in Auckland in July.

Longer-term benefits arise from of the talents of participants being put on show to established industry players as well as the public. All of the films are available to view on the HP48HOURS website, which has passed the milestone of 100 million views.

Here’s a new video that explains the competition: https://www.48hours.co.nz/about/

Making a film in 48 hours is a serious challenge for both first-time filmmakers and experienced directors. Past winners include Taika Waititi (Hunt for the Wilderpeople), TheDownLowConcept (Gary of the Pacific), Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) and award-winning playwright/TV writer/actor Thomas Sainsbury (Super City) and Lauren Porteous, who last year won both Best Director and the Gaylene Preston/WIFT Award for Best Female Director, while her team was crowned Grand Champion for their film Under The Bridge.
Filmmakers don't know what genre (thriller/romance etc.) they will be shooting until the start of the weekend and there are several required elements. The random elements for 2018 are at present under wraps.

The appeal of the Competition is widespread: entrants include school groups, film professionals, actors and comedians as well as teams of mates looking to have a crazy weekend doing a project together.

This year sees the continuation of sponsorship by HP, a technology company that has empowered filmmakers and creative visionaries for more than seven decades. “HP are proud supporters of the creative arts globally, and our industry-leading technology powers entertainment giants like DreamWorks Animation, Technicolor and Animal Logic,” said Grant Hopkins, Managing Director, HP New Zealand. “We are excited to sponsor the HP48hours to shine a spotlight on the role technology can play in igniting personal storytelling and unleashing the creator and artist in all of us.”

Taika Waititi’s advice to entrants: “You need to embrace the chance to take risks and make huge mistakes. It's one of the only times, as a filmmaker, that you'll get to screw things up and not get fired or have your career ended.”
HP48HOURS key dates:

Earlybird registration (saves $40): April 10 - 20
General registration: April 21 – May 9 (midnight)
Competition: May 11-13
City Heats: May 21 City Finals: June 1
Grand Final: July
#48hoursnz
website: 48hours.co.nz
Facebook: 48Hours
Twitter: HP48HOURS
View past 48HOURS films here: HP48hours screening room

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