15th Annual Berkeley Community Media Summer Shorts Movie Jam:
48 Hour Filmmaker Challenge 2025
The Basics:
Now in our 15th year, Berkeley Community Media proudly offers this memorable adventure who’s success depends on the imagination, skills and endurance of willing participants! Berkeley Community Media is a non-profit public access TV station and a community hub for creative media makers. In this day and age, that’s just about everyone! Round up some friends and come with a team, or make a team on the spot by jumping into another team, or, you can even go solo. If you are new to this kind of filmmaking sport, never fear, there are always others with just a bit more experience to bond and support filmmaking efforts.
The main emphasis is that the film MUST be created only during the 48 hour period August 22-24, 2025. How do we ensure this particular detail? We wait till the Launch 5pm August 22nd to reveal the 3 clues: An Object, A Phrase, and A Theme. We might be adding a Genre this year…still up in the air about that one…
Arrive on the steps of Berkeley Community Media 5pm Friday August 22nd to get the rules and the clues which you much fold into your film stew like a master chef.
Write, shoot, edit and submit your short film just 48 hours later by 6 pm. Films will be screened in front of a hungry live audience and broadcast live on Sunday August 24th 7pm.
Watch the Promo HERE. See you in the movies!!!
Questions? Contact Melanie@betv.org
Getting to Know YOU!
Send a short bio about your team to BerkeleyCommunityMedia@gmail.com so we can get a sense of who you are and how you came to become a filmmaking team. Names and positions and experience as well as what your inspiration to be part of the Bay Area Indy Film Scene has been and why you wanted to participate in BCM’s legendary film festival.
Applicant/filmmaker is solely responsible for film content including copyright issues, permits, and releases of each entry. There will be no monetary compensation for the use of submissions. By turning in this entry form, applicant/filmmaker agrees to let Berkeley Community Media use images, sound, re-production, and entire work for promotional ads, commercials and broadcasting purposes.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR FILM:
Film length is up to 10 minutes long, but may also be as short as 30 seconds. Film must include the 3 secret clues given at the start of the challenge on a Friday August 22nd at 5pm. Filmmakers return with completed film by Sunday 6pm to Berkeley Community Media to have their work screened in front of a live audience and broadcast live on BCMTV at 7pm.
Submission mp4 format in person or via google drive: BerkeleyCommunityMedia@gmail.com
Film Submission is free
This is a fundraising event: $10 Admission to the film festival August 24th 7pm
The experience of having taken the challenge and having your film in the festival is Priceless!
Film festival screening location is Berkeley Community Media 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Berkeley (510) 848-2288