2026 Free 48 Hour Mobile Film Challenge - Edmonton Short Film Festival

This year, our annual 48hr Mobile Device Filmmaking Challenge event takes place from 6pm Friday May 22 to 6pm Sunday May 24!

This FREE event is open to all Albertan residents. In 48 hours, you are tasked with writing a screenplay, shooting, editing, and delivering a finished film. You must pre-register to have 3 secret elements emailed to you at the start of the challenge – will be emailed at 6pm on Friday May 22. The three elements must be included in your film. All films must be recorded on a mobile device. Editing can be done on a computer.

All completed films will be screened on Sunday May 31 via an on-line watch party – with the winners being announced at the end!

There will be 4 awards:

  • Best 48hr Film
  • Best Use of Secret Elements
  • Best Marketed
  • Best First time Filmmaker

The award-winning films will be screened at the annual Edmonton Short Film Festival in October and be eligible for screening fees and the People’s Choice Award.

First time Filmmaker Category: A first-time filmmaker may have shot and edited a film for a student project or for personal use (such as family videos). No one on the team has experience creating a film that has been submitted to a film festival or has participated on any previous filmmaking challenge.