A while to go until this year's competition... Prices go up soon!Register Your Team Now!
Not long left for early bird registration... Prices go up soon!Register Your Team Now!
Not long until late registration... Prices increase soon!Register Your Team Now!

San Diego 48 Hour Film Project
August 15-17th 2025

socials

Coming Events

2025 Open Auditions at Spark Studio

Sunday, July 20, 2025 12pm - 4pmLoading...

An open audition for prospective 48 Hour Film Project actors, and teams that are casting acting talent. Auditions will be held at San Diego 48 Hour Film Project’s sponsor, Spark Studio Soundstage in Kearny Mesa. Actors of all skill levels are encouraged to try out, and all teams (or potential teams) looking to cast talent are likewise encouraged to come. Audition spots are first-come-first-served, so please arrive promptly at the start.


What is the 48 Hour Film Project?

The 48 Hour Film Project is a creative competition fueled by a love of filmmaking. Teams are challenged to make a movie in a weekend, exercising mental and physical endurance, and building lifelong friendships and professional connections along the way.

Sometimes casually and unofficially shortened as "The 48", it is the world's longest running and most popular timed filmmaking competition. Each year teams of all skill levels, ages and demographics, in over a hundred cities across the globe, compete to make a short film in just two days. Amateur and professional teams around the world make movies over a weekend, which are later given a premier in a real theater. San Diego's competition takes place August 15-17th, 2025.

The weekend of the competition begins with each team assigned a random movie genre by chance.

Additionally, all teams must include in their films:

  • A character name and occupation
  • A line of dialog
  • A prop

...and they only find out when the competition starts!

Completed movies are given a Hollywood-style premiere in a real movie theater packed with attendees. The audience selects an Audience Choice winner by voting. Then, all qualifying on-time films are considered for film festival judging.

The best films are honored at the 48's own "Best Of San Diego" screening and Academy Awards inspired ceremony, with many categories for recognition. The jury-awarded best film in San Diego goes on to compete in the 48 Hour Film Project's Filmapalooza, an international celebration and competition between city winners. Later, select winners are shown at the Cannes Film Festival (yes, that Cannes) Short Film Corner.


How to Participate in the San Diego 48

Could you be a Team Leader?

Never made a short film before? Or... is IMDB brimming with movies you've made? In any case, Perfect!

You can own the title "Director" or "Producer" if you have enough initiative. The 48 welcomes all skill levels, and provides a fun learning experience even for seasoned pros.

  • You don't need to be an experienced filmmaker
  • Submitted movies are given a Hollywood style premiere screening
  • Every team needs a team leader to register, but teams are allowed to split the team costs with among themselves
  • Movies shown in the 48 can be listed on IMDB!
Register Your Team

Early registration begins May 1 at $158 per team until July 22, then $178 for regular registration until August 5, and $198 for late registration up until start of the competition on August 15.

Are you an Actor?
Get ready for your close-up!

Want to show off your skills in front of the camera? Great!

There are several ways actors of all levels of experience can find casting, and see their talents on the big screen.

  • Come to our open auditions (to be announced soon) to meet directors and get cast
  • Post your headshot and experience on our Facebook group to help teams find you!
  • Our mixer events are a great way to get your smiling face in front of filmmakers
  • Join our newsletter to keep up to date on coming events
  • Waited until it was down to the wire? Show up at the kickoff event to find a last-minute team.
  • Do you have a camera phone and some gumption? Then you have everything you need to make a film! Guarantee your starring role and create a team!

Thinking about working behind the camera?

Are you potential film crew? A writer, cinematographer, editor, musician, VFX artist, designer, organizer, or general helper...? Fantastic!

There are many filmmaking teams looking for crew, and most teams love newcomers!

  • Post your availability on our Facebook group to help teams find you! Share your skills, or even better your demo reel.
  • Our mixer events are a great way to meet teams that are looking for crew
  • Join our newsletter to keep up to date on coming events
  • Show up at the kickoff event and meet people at the last minute.
  • Can't find a team? Come to mixers and post on Facebook to find other behind-the-camera folks and form your own team!

We're signed up!
Now what?

If you've already registered to run a team, Congratulations!

You should absolutely make sure to...

  • Post your team's crew and cast needs on our Facebook group to help people find you!
  • Our mixer events are a great way to meet potential cast and crew
  • Come to our open auditions (to be announced soon) to scout for potential actors
  • Join our newsletter to keep up to date on coming events
  • Research online how to run a successful 48 Hour Film
  • Brainstorm and practice with your film crew and actors to make sure you're ready to make a movie! You're not allowed to do any of the creative work for your 48 film ahead of time, but you are allowed to try out ideas and make sure the people and equipment are ready to go!

Don't know what you want to do?

You love film. You want to help make a movie and see it on the big screen. The only problem is you don't know how. Actually, no problem!

The 48 is a culture of collaboration and community, so we're always looking to help newbies figure out how they can participate. Many teams love to have more people even when you're unsure of how you can help.

  • Share that you'd like to be involved in some way on our Facebook group... some teams just need a few more hands to fill out their crew.
  • Our mixer events are a great way to meet teams looking for more people
  • Join our newsletter to keep up to date on coming events
  • If all else fails, come to the kickoff event and find a team at the last minute.

Love the 48?
Want to volunteer?

Do you believe in what the 48 is all about? Want to help out local filmmaking? Wonderful! The 48 is a community effort and we need your help.

We're always looking for help in a number of ways:

  • Promote the competition and the festival (we need boots on the ground to hang posters and distribute other promotional material)
  • Extra hands at events like the competition kickoff and screenings
  • Help with the awards ceremony
  • Outreach to find sponsors
  • If you're an experienced filmmaker, help onboard newbies
  • Writing blog posts about the 48
  • Post-production animation

If you're interested in volunteering:

Email Us

Get Connected, Stay In The Loop!

Join our newsletter to get the latest news and updates about the 48! We announce all coming events, special promotions, and anything else 48-related via email.

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

The most active online community for the San Diego 48 is our Facebook group. If you're on Facebook, you should join it, and you should also follow our Facebook page!

Join Our Facebook Group
San Diego 48 Hour Film Project is Proud to be Sponsored by
Contact Us to Become a Sponsor