20-Second Film Contest

 

Announcing the second annual AVLFilm 20-second film contest! What is it?

  • Create and submit a film that is 20 seconds or less during the month of October!

  • You can submit more than one!

  • There will be prizes!

Inspired by the 48-Hour Film Project and Cat Fly Film Festival, we came up with a fun creative contest. All skill levels are welcome because hey, it’s only 20 seconds. Never made a film before? This is the perfect excuse to try. A video from your phone is totally acceptable. We think it’s a fun creative constraint and we can’t wait to see what people do with 20 seconds of storytelling.

The contest runs the entire month of October 2023. Submissions to Film Freeway will be accepted until midnight on 🎃 Halloween 🎃. Winners will be announced about a week after the deadline. Films from this and the 10-second contest back in 2021 will be shown at our next film showcase.


FAQ

Who is eligible to enter & win?
Anyone. From people that have never made a film before, to people that do it professionally. All are welcome. Let’s have fun.

What are the prizes?
Gift cards from Grail Moviehouse, Orbit and more!

Why 20 seconds?
Because 10 seconds was ridiculously short.

Can I make more than one?
Yes! Each film should be a self-contained story.

Any tips?
Don’t overthink it! While you can do multiple angles and cuts, consider that maybe it’s not necessary. I expect plenty of people to submit a one-shot, and that’s totally okay.

Any examples I can see?
Here’s our first entry from the 10-second contest back in 2021!

Are credits included in the total length?
No. Ideally your credits will fit on a single screen and not scroll. Credits should, of course, not be longer than the film itself!

What are the requirements?

  • Make a film no more than 20 seconds in length. 16:9 aspect ratio (sideways on your phone)

  • Can be any genre

  • Include “This was made for the AVLFilm.com 20-second film contest 2023” at the end of your credits

  • Submit by 11:59pm on October 31st

  • Have fun

Still have questions? Contact us. And follow us on @avlfilm for updates.