An excited tension permeates the theater on this Friday in July. It is packed with filmmakers anticipating some fast, creative cinematography. The figurative starter’s gun will soon discharge, signaling that each team has two days — 48 hours — to conceive, script, shoot, edit and submit a short film to mark the successful completion of one of Iowa’s most intense creative marathons.
The 48 Hour Film Project (48HFP) in Des Moines celebrates its 20th season this year. Each team hopes to capture the coveted Best of Des Moines Award with a three-to-seven-minute film.
“We give them a character, a prop, and a line of dialogue,” longtime Des Moines 48HFP producer Sam Pace-Tuomi explained. “Everything else is up to them and must be completed within that 48-hour time period.”
The original 48HFP started in Washington D.C. in 2001, expanding into events in more than 200 cities and 45 countries. Each year, over 4,000 film teams and 50,000 filmmakers participate. The top film in each city earns the privilege of screening at Filmapalooza, the international 48HFP showcase. There’s a chance your two-day creation may even be chosen as one of 17 to screen at the next Cannes Film Festival.
The first ever winner of the Best of Des Moines Award soared. Mimes of the Prairie, a spoof of a Ken Burns-style documentary (available to view through YouTube) won the worldwide competition in 2005.
In addition to the mandatory character, prop and line of dialogue, filmmakers are also assigned a genre. These range from the expected comedy, drama, romance and musical, to the more exotic, such as film femme, film noir, fish out of water, road film and revenge.
Production weekend begins Friday, July 28, at the Fleur Cinema & Café, a central Iowa bastion for indie films. This year, 60-plus teams are expected.
“We screen [all completed] films a few days later so they can get feedback, we’ll give out some awards,” Pace-Tuomi said. “[48HFP] is an excellent way for filmmakers to hone their skills. It’s a safe environment to learn new things, meet new people, fail. … We’ve had many 48 Hour filmmakers go on to [create] many independent films, as well as work in the industry.”
The allure isn’t just for the filmmakers. Cinephiles will be able to experience a bounty of short films, each a world premiere, at the Fleur Cinema & Café from Aug. 5-7. On Aug. 12, the Fleur will screen the top 12 films, while awards for acting, directing, writing, best use of the assigned elements, audience choice and, of course, Best of Des Moines will be bestowed.
“Everyone is invited to see these films, including being able to vote for your favorite,” Pace-Tuomi said.
Want to participate in the July 28-30 challenge? Visit 48hourfilm.com/desmoines to register your team.
This article was originally published in Little Village’s July 2024 issue.
