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Action On The Side presents...

The AOTS 48 Hour
Film Competition

With Aravali International Film Festival

21-23 February 2025

New Delhi, India - or anywhere in the world

24-26 October 2025

London, UK - or anywhere in the world

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  • The AOTS Aravali 48-Hour Film Competition
    The AOTS Aravali 48-Hour Film Competition
    Fri, 21 Feb
    Take part from anywhere in the world!
    21 Feb 2025, 19:00 GMT+5:30 – 23 Feb 2025, 20:00 GMT+5:30
    Take part from anywhere in the world!
    Make a short film in just 48 hours and your film could premiere at the Aravali International Film Festival, April 2025
  • The Action On The Side 48 HR Film Competition
    The Action On The Side 48 HR Film Competition
    Fri, 24 Oct
    Take part from anywhere in the world!
    24 Oct 2025, 19:00 BST – 26 Oct 2025, 19:00 GMT
    Take part from anywhere in the world!
    Get your team together and make a short film in just 48 hours!

Get Your Team Together

From 8pm Friday to 8pm Sunday, your team will have only 48 hours to make your entry.

The films must be 5-7 minutes (including credits), in your allocated genre, and include the random elements

48 hours to
write, shoot, edit, and submit

The Kick-Off

7pm-8pm Friday

streamed online and at an in-person venue

where we will give you tips and tricks, allocate the genres, and announce the random elements

The event will be livestreamed for non-local teams

Filming

Register Your Team

Your team can be as big or as small as you want. Work by yourself, with a few friends, or anywhere up to 100 people!

Filming at Dusk

don't have a team?
We Got You!

You can join register to join a team on the day.

You must attend the kick-off event in person.

You'll be put into a team with other people in the same boat.

check out the
Previous Competitions

The Rules

These are the requirements for the competition

Old-Fashioned Clock

Duration

Your entry must be no shorter than 5 minutes and no longer than 7 minutes (including credits)

Random Objects

Random Elements

Your film must clearly include the three random elements announced at the kick-off event: the line of dialogue, the prop, and the shot or filmmaking technique

Image by Aleks Marinkovic

English Language

Films must be in English or have English Subtitles

Production Crew

Credits

Every person involved in the film must be credited in the film: all cast and crew (not background talent though)

Signing a Contract

Chain Of Title

You must prove chain of title for your film. That means each person involved must sign the release form and music must be original or fair use (creative commons).

Video Editing

Submission

Your entry must be uploaded and submitted to FilmFreeway by the deadline to be eligible for the awards

Car Lights

Genre

Your film must recognisably fit the genre you are allocated. It can be mixed with another genre. Be creative!

Smiling Student in Lecture

Volunteers Only

No member of your team or person involved in the production can be paid for their work. Everyone is taking part on a voluntary basis

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Private

Your film cannot be made available to the public until the selection notifications or after the screening 

Our Partners

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The Prizes

The top films will premiere on the big screen at our Screening & Awards Ceremony

World Premiere at the Aravali International Film Festival (AOTS Aravali 48 HR)

 

Mentorship and support to distribute your film

 

Laurels and Trophies 

 

Screenings with our partner organisations

Winner of Best Film will also screen at The International Film Festival The Hague (AOTS Aravali 48 HR)

 

Join the Action On The Side community​​

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The Awards

BEST SCREENPLAY

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

BEST PERFORMANCE

BEST EDITING

BEST SOUNDTRACK

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The Flint Media
BEST SUSTAINABLE STORYTELLING

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and

​​

BEST FILM

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are you up for the challenge?

  • The AOTS Aravali 48-Hour Film Competition
    The AOTS Aravali 48-Hour Film Competition
    Fri, 21 Feb
    Take part from anywhere in the world!
    21 Feb 2025, 19:00 GMT+5:30 – 23 Feb 2025, 20:00 GMT+5:30
    21 Feb 2025, 19:00 GMT+5:30 – 23 Feb 2025, 20:00 GMT+5:30
    Make a short film in just 48 hours and your film could premiere at the Aravali International Film Festival, April 2025
  • The Action On The Side 48 HR Film Competition
    The Action On The Side 48 HR Film Competition
    Fri, 24 Oct
    Take part from anywhere in the world!
    24 Oct 2025, 19:00 BST – 26 Oct 2025, 19:00 GMT
    24 Oct 2025, 19:00 BST – 26 Oct 2025, 19:00 GMT
    Get your team together and make a short film in just 48 hours!

The Judges

Our judging panel are working practitioners in the industry. They are filmmakers, writers, directors, producers, editors, educators, and film festival selectors.

Find Out More

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