48Hours is a New Zealand film-making competition. It involves teams of various sizes competing to write, shoot, edit and score a short film, which must be between 1 and 5 minutes long (7 minutes before 2016), over a single 48-hour period. Developed from the US-based 48 Hour Film Project, which was run in Auckland in 2003, 48Hours has been running as a New Zealand-only event since 2004, with regional competitions organised in 8 cities and regions around New Zealand: Auckland, Hamilton, Gisborne, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.
The event was founded by Anthony "Ant" Timpson and is organised by Ness Patea and Ruth Korver. There is a launch event on Friday night of the shoot weekend, where each team is given a randomly selected genre. They are also given three compulsory elements which are common to all teams. These are a line of dialogue, a prop, a character, and since 2010, a "technical" element.
All creative work required to produce the film must be undertaken and completed within the 48 hours of the competition. This includes storylining, scriptwriting, filming, editing and audio mixing. Teams must deliver their finished film to the competition organisers by the Sunday evening to be eligible for prizes, although late deliveries will still be screened in the heats.
By 2011 the competition had grown to include more than 800 teams nationwide with at least 10,000 people believed to be involved. In 2020, there was a free lockdown version of the competition which was run in level 4. There were 1208 films created over one weekend.
Compulsory elements
Every year teams are given a number of compulsory elements to help ensure that film has been wholly created on the shoot weekend. The elements include a character with a gender-neutral name, a character trait, a line of dialogue, a prop, and as of 2010, a technical shot. As well as these, teams are randomly allocated a genre for their film. 2017 saw the introduction of themes, different elements, and the ULTRA48 Challenge for teams that elect to do it for added difficulty.
Year Character Character trait Line of dialogue Prop Technical shot Shoot weekend Refs. 2003 Gnarly WatsonThe 2003 competition was part of the 48 Hour Film Project. Rock 'n' roll legend "I didn't see that coming." Torch 2004 Jesse McCloud(Auckland)In 2004 Auckland and Wellington were given different elements. Total has-been "Do you mind if I have the last one?" Ice Terry Spears(Wellington) Model "Just put that down nice and easy." Doll 2005 Bodil de Resny Animal lover "Please don't do that." Banana 13–15 May 2006 Robin Slade Eternal optimist "That's what I'm talking about." Mirror 26–28 May 2007 Jerry Reed Hypochondriac "What do you call that?" Rope 18–20 May 2008 Kerry Post Perfectionist "Wait a minute." Brush 16–18 May 2009 Alex Puddle Exaggerator "It doesn't fit." Rock 8–10 May 2010 Sidney Manson Fabricator "When you look at it that way..." Broken toy Dolly zoom 16–18 Apr 2011 Bobby Young Ex-bully "What have you got?" Bent wire Freeze-frame shot 20–22 May 2012 Nicky Brick Unlucky person "I did that." Leaf Slow motion 18–20 May 2013 Vic Meyer Insomniac "Did you hear that?" Card Point of view shot 24–26 May 2014 Morgan Foster Liar "Not with that you're not." Ball Extreme close up/macro 4–6 Apr 2015 Harper Harrison Thoughtless "Oh, really?" Bread Match cut/match dissolve 1–3 May 2016 Charlie Flowers Thoughtful person "One more time" Wool Rack focus 16–18 Sep
Year Character Physical Element Sound Effect Technical shot ULTRA48 Challenge Shoot weekend Refs. 2017 A female Collision Wilhelm Scream Smash cut Create a sequel to any of your team's previous 48 shorts AND include the required elements from that year. 25–27 Aug 2018 Puddle Slamming door Shadow or silhouette Main characters must be children (defined as "under 18") and/or animals. 11–13 May 2019 Wind Laughter Double-take, overhead shot Split-screen and break the 4th-wall. 14–16 Jun 2020 A Photograph An Echo An Arc Shot N/A 17–19 Apr 2021 Reluctant, unlikely, or anti-hero Something Invisible Heart-beat Reaction Shot Set in the dark. 5–7 Mar 2021 (II) Confidant Package Ticking Reflection Set in the dark. 12-14 Mar 2022 A gate-keeper A sign A whisper Worm's-eye view or Bird's-eye view N/A 12–14 Aug 2024 A traveller or neighbour An exit A warning Match cut N/A 17–19 May 2025 Something precious A miniature An accident Slow motion movement N/A 15–17 Aug
Genres by year
Year Staple Genres Common Genres Rarer Genres Action,Revenge Crime,Heist Horror,Splatter,Monster,Supernatural,Ghost,Zombie,Possession Musical,Dance Romance,Oppositesattract,RomCom,& anti- Sci-fi,Techthriller,Time travel,Multi-verseAlienRobot/android Buddy,Twin,Bro,Bechdel Raceagainsttime Fantasy,Adventure,Fairy-tale,Quest,Wish Mystery,Puzzle Mistakenidentity,Secretidentity Real-time,One-shot Super-hero 2006 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ based on true story, coming of age, mokumentary, war, pretentious art film, puppet 2007 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ grindhouse, western, war, unnecessary sequel, coming of age, sex educational 2008 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ animal film, juvenile delinquent, drama, pretentious art film 2009 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ parallel world, religious, nature runs amok, conspiracy, politically incorrect, educational film, shock ending 2010 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ sports film, femme fatale film, bio pic, road movie, educational film 2011 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ one room, body switch, fad, road movie 2012 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ end of world, inspirational, found footage, erotic thriller, based on an urban legend 2013 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ non-dialogue, obsessive relationship, immobilized, converging story-line, reunion 2014 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ against the odds, film within a film, shock ending 2015 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ cat & mouse, last person on Earth, black comedy, other dimension, shock ending 2016 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ cat & mouse, comedy of errors, dystopian, lovers on the run, one location, punk, puppet 2017 ✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓ at night, bad seed, Christmas, survival, thriller, z-grade 2018 ✓ ✓✓✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓✓ ✓ high school, fish-out-of-water, last day on Earth, spans more than 10 years 2019 ✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ coming-of-age, generation gap, gross-out/cringe, holiday, nature runs amok, wrong-place-wrong-time 2020 ✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ unwanted guest 2021 ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ invitation, redemption 2021 (II) ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ gross-out comedy 2022 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ anniversary, comedy of errors, impossible situation, swap movie, coming-of-age, pavalova western 2024 ✓ ✓✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ animal adventure, fish-out-of-water, lovers on the run 2025 ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ holiday, found footage, road movie, cat & mouse, man vs nature
Regional and national winners
After initially being held in Auckland in 2003 as part of the international 48 Hour Film Project, the independent 48Hours began in 2004 with teams in Auckland and Wellington. At its peak in 2011, it was represented in eight cities.
2003
Auckland: Special Crime Unit - Lazy Racer Angela AdamsThe 2003 competition was part of the 48 Hour Film Project.
2004
Auckland: Jesse McLeod: The Journey - Classic Wellington: Heinous Crime - The Circus
2005
Auckland: A Fairly Good Tale - Crash Zoom Wellington: Chip & Manny - Locked And Stapled Christchurch: Bruised Gold - Evil Genius Labs Dunedin: Mosgiel Tonight - Jo Seager Megadrive National Runner-Up: Bruised Gold - Evil Genius Labs (Christchurch) National Winner: A Fairly Good Tale - Crash Zoom (Auckland)
2006
Auckland: Brown Peril - The Tim Porch Story - thedownlowconcept Wellington: The Baby Farmer - Clean Slate Christchurch: The Escort - FR7835 Dunedin: Action At Both Ends - Daddy Cool Hamilton: Robin Slade - Time Tourist - Dance Donkee Dance National Runner-Up: Slade In Full - White Tiger (Wellington) National Winner: Brown Peril - The Tim Porch Story - thedownlowconcept (Auckland)
2007
Auckland: Camp Fear - Mukpuddy Animation Wellington: Maori Detective and the Boogie Fever - Good Times Christchurch: Carboys and the Indian - The Outwits Dunedin: Bain: The Musical - Burt Hall Banana Republic Hamilton: The Playground - Taktix Films Gisborne: One Man's War - Cuzzie Films National Runner-Up: Carboys and the Indian - The Outwits (Christchurch) National Winner: Lease - Lense Flare (Auckland)
2008
Auckland: The End - Fractured Radius Wellington: Darlene - Smashing Pants Christchurch: Agent Post - Spooce Media/The Real McCoy Dunedin: Two Bodies, One Night - The Dangly Gruffnuts Hamilton: Sum of the parts - Guerrilla Monkeys Gisborne: Le dernier jour de Tony - Kaiti Hill National Runner-Up: Beyond Belief - Lense Flare (Auckland) National Winner: F* Dance - Puppy Guts (Wellington)
2009
Auckland: Nature's Baby - Sinistral Wellington: Otack Otack Otack Fall - Killah Walz/Orca Christchurch: New Fish - TBALC Dunedin: Charlotte - Line Men Hamilton: Hardwood Floors - Guerrilla Monkeys Gisborne: The Amazing World of Sticks - Kaiti Hill National Runner-Up: New Fish - TBALC (Christchurch) National Winner: Charlotte - Line Men (Dunedin)
2010
Auckland: Only Son - thedownlowconcept Wellington: Balls & Chain - Dog Films Christchurch: Death in the West - Gorilla Team Gorilla Dunedin: The Stag Do - Mirage Videos Hamilton: Gone - Reel Good People Gisborne: A Toy Car named Sidney - 2 Many Darkies Taranaki: Hopping Away - Ivan Goff Fan Club National Third Place: The Pool - Winlove Adventure Brothers (Auckland) National Runner-Up: Confessions of a Fabricator - IdiotVision (Auckland) National Winner: Only Son - thedownlowconcept (Auckland)
2011
Auckland: The Child Jumpers - Grand Cheval Wellington: Sketch - Couch Kumaras Christchurch: Naughty Man - SuspectTV Dunedin: Chatter - Rabies Babies Hamilton: Kingdom Of Shadow - Arthouse Massacre Gisborne: FAD Town - Cuzzie Films Taranaki: Well Strung - Rubber Soul Productions National Third Place: Meanie Pants - MukPuddy (Auckland) National Runner-Up: Copy That - Lense Flare (Auckland) National Winner: The Child Jumpers - Grand Cheval (Auckland)
2012
Auckland: The Girl With The Clover Tattoo - Lense Flare Wellington: Brains? - Noise and Pictures Christchurch: An Inconvenient Hoof - Picton Pictures Dunedin: Do the Knight Thang - Flim Flom Films Hamilton: Dead Lucky - Tuff Collective National Third Place: Love in Decay - MukPuddy (Auckland) National Runner-Up: The Girl With The Clover Tattoo - Lense Flare (Auckland) National Winner: Brains? - Noise and Pictures (Wellington)
2013
Auckland: Sleep Clinic - dr jeckyll Wellington: The Sleeping Plot - Traces of Nut Christchurch: Is Love Enough? - The Eh Team Dunedin: We Run The Night - SML Productions Hamilton: The Empath - Elysium Exit Gisborne: Bungy - Kaiti Hill Taranaki: Partners in Crime - Rubber Soul National Third Place: Autocraniotomous - NightOwls (Auckland) National Runner-Up: I Got Robots - Chess Club (Auckland) National Winner: The Sleeping Plot - Traces of Nut (Wellington)
2014 Auckland: Dead End Job - Mukpuddy Animation Wellington: Rubble - Noise and Pictures Christchurch: The Ex - TBALC Dunedin: A Right Tool - Begged, Borrowed, Stolen Hamilton: Feed - Hoganstreetheroes Gisborne: Whai utu - Kratos Taranaki: Travel with Time Pieces - The Tanked Engines National Third Place: A Lesson on Probability - Mexico (Auckland) National Runner-Up: Rubble - Noise and Pictures (Wellington) National Winner: Pants On Fire - Lense Flare (Auckland)
2015 Auckland: Bread Winner - Chess Club Wellington: Loyal - Couch Kumaras Christchurch: The Silent Man - TBALC Dunedin: 48 Days Later - Begged, Borrowed, Stolen Hamilton: The Specialist - CockUp Productions Gisborne: From - Kaiti Hill Taranaki: Beat Down - Camera Child National Third Place: Loyal - Couch Kumaras (Wellington) National Runner-Up: Tide - King Gains-Bury & Biches (Auckland) National Winner: Bread Winner - Chess Club (Auckland)
2016 Auckland: Ghostfish: Catfished By A Ghost - Prime Rib Wellington: Love.exe - Bork! Christchurch: Down to the Wire - TBALC Alpha