Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS i48 2026?

i48 2026 is the 23rd annual Idaho Forty-Eight Hour Film Competition and Festival. Teams of filmmakers from around Idaho will have 48 hours to write, pre-produce, cast, shoot, and edit, an original short film three (3) to six (6) minutes long. A week later, all completed films will be screened at the Flicks in Boise, Idaho, with a “Best Of i48” Screening and Awards Ceremony at the Egyptian Theatre.

WHEN IS i48 2026?

Competition:

Pre-production meeting: Friday, May 29, 2026 @ 6:00 pm, Location TBD

Film Turn-In Sunday, May 31, 2026 by 6:00 pm online Via WeTransfer to jakekuwana@gmail.com

Festival:

Film Screenings and Awards Ceremony @ The Egyptian Theatre on

Saturday, June 6, 2026 (Times TBD)

Filmmaker After Party on Saturday, June 6, 2026 following the award

ceremony

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

Anyone and everyone of all ages. All that is required is enthusiasm, creativity, energy, and the basic equipment to shoot and edit a movie in any format. In previous competitions, we had teams from high schools and jr. high schools, universities, film/ad production companies, TV stations, church groups, community television, families, and community theaters.

I’VE NEVER MADE A MOVIE. CAN I STILL PARTICIPATE?

Yes. It would be helpful, however, to have somebody on the team who knows how to operate a camera, and who knows how to edit/title video. We’d also suggest you sign up in the “Novice” category.

CATEGORIES OF COMPETITION—WHICH SHOULD MY TEAM ENTER?

i48 offers two (2) categories of competition: Novice division, and Open division. The categories allow teams to compete for awards against other teams of similar experience and production resources. These categories are SELF-SELECTING. We will not put you in a category. (If you don’t select a category on the application form, you will be put in the Open category.) The categories are not defined and left open to your interpretation, but the organizers anticipate that teams making a film for the first or second time may want to categorize themselves as Novices. Similarly, we anticipate that teams from experienced production companies or working professionals would put themselves in the Open category.

HOW DOES A TEAM SIGN UP?

Enter online at www.idaho48.org

HOW MUCH IS THE ENTRY FEE?/WHAT IS THE DEADLINE?

The entry fee is $55.00 per team. The registration deadline is Friday, May 29, 2026 @ Noon.

WHAT DO I GET FOR MY ENTRY FEE?

In addition to a) defraying the costs of staging this event, and b) getting the opportunity to participate in this event, teams will receive ten (10) tickets to the Festival Screenings and awards ceremony at the Egyptian Theatre.

WHO DO I NEED ON A TEAM?

It’s completely up to the teams, but i48 recommends that teams include, at a minimum: a writer, a camera operator, a sound person, and an editor. A team must have at least two (2) members.

I DON’T LIVE IN THE TREASURE VALLEY. CAN I STILL PARTICIPATE IN i48 2026?

Yes! We have teams participate every year from around Idaho. We’ll work with you to get you your team packet via e-mail on Friday, May 29,2026. You will need to procure your own prop. i48 always chooses props that will be simple to find anywhere. Films are submitted online.

HOW DO YOU INSURE THE FILMS ARE ORIGINAL AND ACTUALLY SHOT DURING THE 48 HOURS OF THE COMPETITION?

At 6:00 p.m. on May 29, 2026, a Team Representative from Treasure Valley-based filmmaker teams must be present at the Pre-Production Meeting. At that meeting, each team is assigned four previously undisclosed elements that must be incorporated into their movie: 1) a line of dialogue, 2) a prop, 3) a character, and 4) the genre for their film.

WHAT ARE THE GENRES FOR i48?

Over the years, the genres have included drama, comedy, western, thriller, suspense, science fiction, action, mock-u-mentary, documentary, silent film, noir, experimental, post-apoctalyptic and musicals. Genres are subject to change.

WHAT FORMAT/TECH SPECS DO I NEED TO DELIVER MY MOVIE IN?

You can shoot in any format but please read technical specifications before you begin. The finished film must to be delivered using WeTransfer only!

*SEE TECHICAL SPECIFICATIONS SHEET ON THE WEBSITE FOR ALL SPECIFIC TECHNICAL INFORMATION* www.idaho48.org

Online film delivery – jakekuwana@gmail.com sent via WeTransfer.com only.

WHO WILL SEE MY MOVIE?

Teams will turn in their completed films by 6:00 P.M. May 31, 2026 via WeTransfer. The films will then be screened by a panels of judges who will select films for the awards. On Saturday, June 6, 2026 (Times TBA) all eligible films will be screened in a public festival at the Egyptian Theatre. An awards ceremony will follow the last film screening. Afterwards, the films will be available for viewing on the i48 Vimeo site.

WHAT AWARDS ARE GIVEN?

*Cash Awards and Trophies – Best Film ($1000 Open, $500 Novice)

*Cash Awards and Trophies – 2^nd Best Film ($500 Open, $250 Novice)

*Trophies (in both Open and Novice) – Best Cinematography, Best Use of Sound/Music, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Use of Prop, Best Use of Dialogue & Best Use of Character

*2026 will mark the first year i48 will present an Audience Choice Award. The winner will get a trophy. There will be one (1) audience choice awarded for all films, regardless of division.

CAN I GET A COPY OF MY FILM WHEN IT’S ALL OVER?

In this era of digital, online content there has been dwindling interest in the i48 compilation DVDs, so we will not be creating DVDs. Rather, we will post all completed films on the i48 Vimeo account at: https://vimeo.com/user17325186.