Have you ever wondered if you could make a movie in just two days? That’s exactly the challenge filmmakers from across Maine will take on during this year’s 48 Hour Film Project in Portland!

I recently caught up with Portland City Producer Rosie Stevens to talk about the exciting competition, which gives teams just 48 hours to write, film, edit, and submit a completed short film.

The Portland competition officially kicks off on Friday, July 31, when participating teams will gather to receive everything they’ll need to begin their creative challenge. At the kickoff event, each team will randomly receive a film genre, along with a required prop, character, and line of dialogue that must be incorporated into their movie. From there, the clock starts ticking!

Rosie shared that registration is still open for anyone interested in participating, whether you’re an experienced filmmaker or someone looking to try something new. Teams will have until Sunday, August 2, to complete and submit their films.

Rosie also noted that she isn’t organizing the event alone – Sam Chipman serves as Portland’s other City Producer, helping bring this year’s competition to life.

The stakes are high, too! Winning films from Portland will advance to Filmapalooza, the international championship for the 48 Hour Film Project, where filmmakers from around the world compete. The overall winner at Filmapalooza even has the opportunity to have their film screened at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival!

Even if you’re not making a film, you can still be part of the fun. Premiere screenings of all the completed films will be held at Portland Players Theater, giving audiences the chance to see what teams accomplished in just one weekend. Audience members will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite film!

For registration information, screening tickets, and more details about this year’s Portland 48 Hour Film Project, visit the project’s website or follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

Listen to our full interview with Rosie below to learn more about how you can get involved in one of Maine’s most creative weekends of the year!