48-hour filmmaking · since 2006

The Film Challenge

One weekend, one film. Teams get their Inspiration Package at Kickoff, then have 48 hours to write, shoot and edit an original film of five minutes or less. Every film that meets the rules screens at the festival.

How the weekend works.

Open to everyone: first-timers, hobbyists and working professionals.

  1. 1

    Register a team.

    Sign up in Festival Manager. Before Kickoff you can build your crew, scout locations, line up music and gear, and plan food and rides. No shooting yet.

  2. 2

    Kickoff.

    Every team gets the Inspiration Package at the same moment. At least one team member has to be there, or join virtually if you live 50 miles or more away.

  3. 3

    48 hours.

    Write, shoot and edit a film of five minutes or less, and make its poster. Turn both in through Festival Manager before the clock runs out.

  4. 4

    Screen it. Win it.

    Films play the Festival Screening, where filmmakers and audiences vote. An international jury weighs in, and it all comes together at the Recognition & Awards Ceremony.

Red carpet, velvet ropes and SATO48 sponsor backdrops set up in a historic theater lobby for the awards
Recognition & Awards Ceremony

It ends on the red carpet.

Audience and filmmaker votes and the international jury's picks all come together at a red-carpet night. It's open to everyone, from seasoned filmmakers to people who just love movies.

SATO48-2027: Saturday, June 5

The Inspiration Package

Same prompt.
Every team.
Same second.

The Inspiration Package is revealed at Kickoff and is the heart of the Challenge. Every element in it has to be in your film. A film missing any element is not screened, no matter when it was turned in.

See past Inspiration Packages →

SATO48-2026 Inspiration Package

Invent a Conflict Worth the Fight

  1. The central conflict is between your Leading Character and Supporting Character over an invented topic, not drawn from any existing hot-button issue, debate or controversy.
  2. That conflict is shown for at least one consecutive minute through physical action only, with no words of any kind, spoken, written or otherwise.
  3. An invented artifact closely tied to the conflict appears in at least one close-up.
  4. One character decisively prevails when the other changes their belief, decision, behavior or course of action. Even teams: the Leading Character prevails. Odd teams: the Supporting Character prevails.

Prohibition: prevailing is not allowed through injury, threat of injury, death, or the use or brandishing of any weapon.

2026 guidelines

The rules of the weekend.

A summary of the SATO48-2026 guidelines. The 2027 guidelines are published when registration opens. The full text is the final word.

Registration

  • $35 per team, non-refundable, paid by card in Festival Manager.
  • Includes a free submission to FiveFest.

Your team

  • Open to everyone. Everyone volunteers: no paid participation.
  • Anyone who contributes in any way counts as a team member.
  • At least one member at Kickoff; virtual if the team owner lives 50+ miles (80 km) away.
  • Parental or guardian consent for anyone under 18.
  • Follow all local, state and national safety guidelines.

Your film

  • Uses every Inspiration Package element.
  • At least two principal characters (voiceovers and dual roles are fine).
  • Made entirely within the 48 hours.
  • References "SATO48-2026" wherever it screens.

Technical requirements

  • Five minutes or less (00:05:00:00).
  • Opening Event Credit: team name, the event date, film title.
  • Closing Event Credit: the video clip SATO48 provides to the team owner.
  • Any cameras and sound gear. Computer-generated material only if made during the 48 hours.

Not allowed

  • Shooting or creating footage before Kickoff.
  • Stock footage or any pre-existing material.
  • Copyrighted material without permission: logos, music, signage, brand names.
  • Posting the film online before July 1. A trailer goes to Festival Manager first.

Music & performance awards

  • Log all music under Music Releases in Festival Manager.
  • Original music needs a Rights Request and a Musician's Agreement, both uploaded.
  • Royalty-free music is allowed but can't win Score or Song.
  • Lead and Supporting Performance awards are for human actors in their own original performances.

Poster & trailer

  • A poster is required, turned in within the 48 hours.
  • JPEG or PNG, 1920×1080, with the film title and team name.
  • Optional trailer: one minute or less, uploaded to Festival Manager before it's shared.

Late films & disqualification

  • No grace period: late films can't win awards or prizes.
  • Late films that meet the Inspiration Package and technical rules still screen.
  • Missing Inspiration Package elements, or breaking technical or safety rules, can disqualify a film.

Screenings & broadcast

  • Every film that meets the Inspiration Package and technical rules screens at the festival, on time or late.
  • Those films are also considered for SATO48 The TV Show.
Full 2026 guidelines →Terms & Agreement →Helpdesk →

What the jury looks for.

Films turned in on time compete for these awards. Audience Favorite is voted by filmmakers and audiences; the rest by the international jury.

Best Film
Best interpretation of the Inspiration Package: inventive use and integration of its elements.
Audience Favorite
Chosen by audiences and filmmakers at the festival and online.
Cinematography
Effective use of light and shadow in telling the story.
Direction
Actors, camera placement and movement, and composition on screen.
Editing
Transitions, tempo, mood changes and continuity.
Lead & Supporting Performance
Emotional effectiveness and believability in the role.
Poster
Clear, legible from afar, includes the event logo, and leaves a lasting impression.
Production Design / Art Direction
The overall look: color, texture, props, set pieces and locations.
Screenplay
Structure, plot, character development, dialogue and ending.
Score or Song
Original music by an identifiable creator that serves the film.
Sound
Everything heard that isn't music: dialogue, background and effects.
Full award and prize criteria →

2026 sponsored prizes.

Prizes change every year. Teams opt in to the ones they're going for.

You Gotta See It

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

For the quirky, offbeat and surprising. $300 in Alamo passes.

Best Opening / Closing Credits

Missouri Film Office

Exceptional storytelling with motion graphics in the opening or closing credits.

Golden Weaver

Graceway Baptist Church

A character's moral dilemma, resolved without violence and inspired by Jesus' New Testament teachings.

Family Film Project

James Bacon

Films directed and acted by a parent or grandparent together with their kids.

Al LaBrie Outstanding Set Design

LaBrie Family

For teams that build a set piece for their film.

Dapper Timeless Style (Hair Design)

Dapper Barber

Hair styling that builds character, era and atmosphere with intention.

Best Nerd Out Film

Fanatics and the Fan

Celebrates nerd culture: games, sci-fi, horror, fantasy, anime, comics, martial arts, westerns.

Most Creative Product Placement

Springfield Creatives

A made-up product, service or company, shown or named on screen. No real brands.

Full award and prize criteria →