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The Flagstaff International Film Festival (FIFF) is gearing up for its second annual State 48 Hour Film Project, taking place April 25-27. This fast-paced filmmaking challenge is an opportunity for filmmakers of all skill levels to push boundaries and explore creativity.

The State 48 Hour Film Project is a nationwide initiative embraced by numerous film festivals, including FIFF. The only preparation participants can do is form their team. It’s when the timer begins they are assigned a genre, character, line of dialogue and a prop -- all of which are required to be incorporated in the film.

The only other rule is the film must be three- to five-minutes long. After that, it’s fair game to let creativity run wild to write, shoot and edit a completed film.

“Our event kicks off on a Friday, held at Coconino High School,� Motion Olson said, FIFF’s marketing and community relations director. “The teams come in and they pick an envelope at random, which has the criteria they must include. Then they come back on Sunday with a finished short film, and it’s shown at the film festival we have.�

FIFF assists in providing release forms for team needs such as music, actors and property use. But once the 48 hours begins, teams are on their own.

“See you in two days,� Olson laughed.

FIFF’s hard work comes before the chaos of the event weekend. Olson and the crew have been preparing by putting together the envelopes of criteria, a wacky group effort of creativity, as well as making sure the venue is lined up, coffee and catering are booked, tech crews are ready and all other film festival details are set.

State 48 participants are encouraged to attend in person, but virtual attendance is available.

"We really wanna encourage the networking part of it for filmmakers to meet and hang out,� Olson said. “It's open statewide, participants are welcome to come in from anywhere, but it's really focused on northern Arizona so that people attend in person.�

The top film will win the Best Short Film Award, IMDb recognition and a screening at FIFF’s main film festival in August this year, featured in the Arizona Stories/Arizona Made category.

Aside from the enticing prizes, Olson emphasized the valuable tools the experience provides.

“It really teaches collaboration, working together under a very tight deadline, being structured and organized and finding that balance between everybody,� he said. “It all has to happen in 48 hours. The experience and the prizes are why anybody would be crazy enough to do it. Just the fact of making a short film that’s watchable and you did it in two days is a miracle.�

For those interested in taking part in FIFF’s 48 Hour Film Project, registration is open through April 22. Student registration is $50 per team, and regular registration is $75 per team before April 15 and $100 per team after that.

The April 27 film festival is easygoing, according to Olson. The screenings are first, then there’s a break while the panel of judges decide the winner, followed by the winning film announcement. The judges include the FIFF team, plus a special outside judge -- who is unbiased, of course. This group of experienced filmmakers and valued community members choose the winner on artistic merit, technical merit and overall adherence to the assignment.

The screening portion of the weekend is free and welcome to the public. There will be light refreshments to enjoy, and the chance to mingle and ask questions.

“I get to host this event, so that’s really fun,� Olson shared. “I love seeing the films, meeting everybody, getting on stage to welcome everyone and see the films. I love the whole thing.�

To learn more about FIFF’s State 48 Film Project, visit