Action On The Side presents...
The AOTS 48 Hour
Film Competition
24-26 October 2025
Get Your Team Together
From 8pm (BST) Friday 24th October to 8pm (GMT) Sunday 26th October 2025, 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 24th October
streamed online
and at a London venue (tba)
where we will give you tips and tricks, allocate the genres, and announce the random elements
The event will be livestreamed for registered teams based outside of London and outside the UK
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!
don't have a team?
We Got You!
If you're based in London, you can join register to join a team on the day.
You must attend the kick-off event.
You'll be put into a team with other people in the same boat.
The Rules
These are the requirements for the competition
Duration
Your entry must be no shorter than 5 minutes and no longer than 7 minutes (including credits)
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
English Language
Films must be in English or have English Subtitles
Credits
Every person involved in the film must be credited in the film: all cast and crew (not background talent though)
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).
Submission
Your entry must be uploaded to Vimeo and submitted to FilmFreeway by the deadline to be eligible for the awards
Genre
Your film must recognisably fit the genre you are allocated. It can be mixed with another genre. Be creative!
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
Private
Your film cannot be made available to the public until the selection notifications or after the screening
Screening
The best films will screen at the
Screening & Awards Ceremony
date and location tba
The Awards Announcement will be livestreamed to teams
The top teams will get support to distribute their film, laurels for their poster, and be up for prizes, including:
BEST SCREENPLAYT
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
BEST PERFORMANCE
BEST EDITING
BEST SOUNDTRACK
and
BEST FILM
The Best Film will win the grand trophy
