AGBO

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2025 SIGN UP FORM!

Thinking about participating? Want to get more info on the fest? Click the link above to sign up!

ABOUT

AGBO’s “No Sleep ‘til Film Fest” is a global short filmmaking competition that challenges filmmakers to make a three-minute film in only 48 hours, based on a surprise creative prompt. The virtual festival is open worldwide and reflects AGBO’s mission to champion emerging storytellers while connecting diverse voices and audiences across the globe. The submissions are judged by a panel from AGBO’s Creative Team. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners receive a filmmaking prize package with resources and best-in-class equipment. All three winners will join the AGBO Storytellers Collective, an alumni network of filmmakers from AGBO’s fellowships and programs, where they receive ongoing mentorship, guidance, and networking opportunities long after the competition ends. Current members of the AGBO Storytellers Collective will also select the winner of the AGBO Storytellers Collective Award, who will be admitted into the alumni network. The top 15 short films – three winners, the Storytellers Collective Award winner, and 11 honorable mentions – will premiere on AGBO’s social media platforms. Meta is the Presenting Sponsor of "No Sleep 'til Film Fest" 2025.

HOW IT WORKS

The creative prompt will be released by AGBO on Friday, September 26th, 2025 at 5:00pm PT. Filmmakers then have 48 hours—until Sunday, September 28th at 5:00pm PT—to write, shoot, edit, and submit their short films. Submissions are accepted only through FilmFreeway. Winners will be announced on November 12th, 2025. 

There is no entry fee. The festival is free to enter and open to filmmakers worldwide. See Terms and Conditions for eligibility.

PRIZES

Winners receive a filmmaking prize package with resources and best-in-class equipment from sponsors including Meta, RED Digital Camera, GoPro, Blackmagic Design, Avid, happy® coffee, and AGBO. All three winners join the AGBO Storytellers Collective, an alumni network of filmmakers from AGBO’s fellowships and programs, where they receive ongoing mentorship, guidance, and networking opportunities long after the competition ends. See Terms and Conditions for full details and prize values.

First Place will receive a RED Digital Cinema KOMODO, a reserved seat in a future REDUCATION course, Ray-Ban Meta Glasses, a GoPro HERO13 Black Creator Edition + HB-Series Lens Collection (Anamorphic, Ultra Wide, Macro + ND Filter Set), DaVinci Resolve Studio from Blackmagic Design, 1-year subscription to Media Composer Ultimate from Avid, a prize package from happy® coffee, a merchandise package from AGBO, and admittance into AGBO’s Storytellers Collective.

Second Place will receive Ray-Ban Meta Glasses, a GoPro HERO13 Black Creator Edition, DaVinci Resolve Studio from Blackmagic Design, 1-year subscription to Media Composer Ultimate from Avid, a prize package from happy® coffee, a merchandise package from AGBO, and admittance into AGBO’s Storytellers Collective.

Third Place will receive Ray-Ban Meta Glasses, a GoPro HERO13 Black Creator Edition, DaVinci Resolve Studio from Blackmagic Design, 1-year subscription to Media Composer Ultimate from Avid, a prize package from happy® coffee, a merchandise package from AGBO, and admittance into AGBO’s Storytellers Collective.

The Storytellers Collective Award Winner will receive 1-year subscription to Media Composer, and admittance into AGBO’s Storytellers Collective.

11 Honorable Mentions will receive a 1-year subscription to Media Composer.

 

JUDGES

This year, AGBO welcomes Simu Liu and Letitia Wright as honorary judges, joining AGBO’s Creative Leadership team, including Co-Founders Anthony and Joe Russo. The judging panel also features Partner Donald Mustard, Chief Creative Officer Angela Russo-Otstot, Chief Innovation Officer Jake Aust, Chief Marketing Officer Marian Koltai-Levine, President of Film Michael Disco, and President of Television Scott Nemes. Members of the AGBO Storytellers Collective will also select the winner of the AGBO Storytellers Collective Award.

RULES

  1. You must be over the age of 13 to submit your film. If you are 18 or older you may register for yourself or on behalf of your team. If you are not over the age of 18, your parent or legal guardian must submit the film on your behalf with the parental consent form.
  2. You have 48 Hours. On Friday, September 26, 2025 at 5:00pm PST, we’ll post the Festival prompt and guidelines to the Film Festival website and to AGBO socials. You then have until 5:00pm PST on Sunday, September 28, 2025 to submit your Submission. Upload your film and additional materials via the FilmFreeway submission page. Submissions time stamped after 5:00pm PST on Sunday, September 28, 2025 will not be eligible for consideration. All creativity must take place during this 48-hour window. Any creative work in advance of the competition weekend is prohibited, including any films you may have made before we release the Film Festival prompt. Creative work includes, but is not limited to: writing the script, rehearsing, costume/set design, shooting, editing, sound design, rendering and uploading your film to our submission page. The only work to begin prior to the challenge’s announcement is: forming your team (organizing cast & crew), scouting locations and gathering equipment.
  3. Respond creatively to our prompt. The Film Festival prompt will be open-ended. It’s up to you to create an engaging universe for your film.
  4. Keep films to a maximum total runtime of 3 minutes. Films must adhere to a minimum total runtime of 30 seconds, and a maximum total runtime of 3 minutes. These are the length of the entry not including end credits. Credits must be less than 15 seconds.
  5. Keep content audience-friendly. In general, the entries must not be indecent or obscene. Please use MPA’s PG-13 rating rubric as a guideline for acceptable content.
  6. You are welcome to submit films in any language. Subtitles are optional but encouraged.
  7. Adhere to our acceptable use of VFX, stock footage and copyrighted materials. Animation and special effects are permitted but must be created after the challenge’s announcement. No stock footage or footage shot or created at another time may be used unless the footage is part of a post-production effect or on a background monitor (i.e., a television, as long as the team has rights to the stock footage and the stock footage is placed over or under footage that is shot within the official 48-hour time period. Allowable stock footage includes bullets, fires, explosions, chromakeyed backgrounds, etc., but stock footage of people or other performers is not allowed. You must have authorization if copyrighted material is used. This includes music, video, and any other materials that someone else has created (e.g., you may not use a popular song as the film’s soundtrack unless you have written permission).
  8. Use of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”).  While the use of AI is not prohibited, it must not be a substantial amount of the film you are submitting, and it should not be used to write any literary material.  In the event you use any AI or machine learning technologies, including any artificial intelligence model or technology that has the ability to generate or produce images, video or audio, you must provide notice at the time of submission by checking the box in the entry form confirming use of AI and explaining your usage. This explanation should include (a) which parts of your entry were created using AI or otherwise include, AI; (b) a list of any AI models or technologies that you used; and (c) your affirmation that the Submission is your creation.  We reserve the right to request further information regarding your usage of AI, including documentation, at any time..
  9. Union Members. Please note certain unions or collective bargaining associations may have restrictions on posting films by their members. For example, in the United States SAG-AFTRA may have certain restrictions on members performing in films, and WGA members may not write scripts for contests like this Film Festival. If you are a member of a union or collective bargaining association that has jurisdiction over films or audiovisual content, it is your responsibility to check with your union or association to see if you are restricted from participating in the Film Festival. If so, please do not enter; if any union or collective bargaining agreement prohibits you from participating, we will disqualify your Submission.
  10. Late Films. We will not consider any Submissions made after the deadline, and that are timestamped after 5:00pm PST on Sunday, September 28, 2025.
  11. Other Prohibited Actions. You may not enter by using multiple email addresses, identities or devices in an attempt to circumvent the Rules. If you do, your Submission will be disqualified. If your Submission does not adhere to the Rules or these Terms and Conditions, AGBO has the right, but not the obligation, to disqualify or otherwise reject your Submission.
  12. Limit one (1) Submission per person and per Team.

FAQ'S

How will I get the prompt on Sept. 26 @ 5pm PT? Filling out the NSTFF 2025 Sign Up Form is the easiest way to get the prompt delivered directly to your inbox. The prompt will also be posted on AGBO social media platforms (Instagram, Linkedin, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok) and right here on the festival page right at 5pm PT.

Can I post my film on my personal social media? Yes. Posting the video on your own social media has no effect on the judging process or qualification of your film. 

Why was my film disqualified? Your film could have been disqualified because: You don’t meet the eligibility requirements, your film was submitted after the deadline, your film exceeded the 3-minute time limit, you submitted a film that was made prior to the prompt release. All submissions will initially be reviewed by AGBO for compliance with these Terms and Conditions and Rules, and those films or participants that do not conform to any requirements in these Terms and Conditions or Rules will be automatically disqualified. 


Contact. Please email any questions about the festival to nosleep@agbo.com. The team will respond as quickly as possible, but response time may vary.