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ABOUT
Welcome to AGBO’s third annual global filmmaking competition for emerging creators, “No Sleep ‘til Film Fest.” The virtual short film festival invites filmmakers to make a short movie in only 48 hours and opens for submissions on September 29th. Three winners will be selected by the Russo Brothers and creative executives at AGBO.
Part of AGBO’s commitment to championing emerging content creators, the two-day festival challenges participants to make bite-sized films, three minutes or less, for a chance to win prizes and mentorship from the independent studio. The virtual festival will be open world-wide for submissions from September 29th – October 1st with a creative prompt released online September 29th at 5pm PT; filmmakers will have 48 hours to create and submit their films based off of the prompt by 5pm PT on October 1st. Winners will be announced November 8th.
AGBO’s “No Sleep ‘til Film Fest” received over 1400 submissions from over 60 countries in the past two years of the festival. 2022 winners included “P E N” directed by Waldo Levendal (South Africa), “Trade” directed by Joel Phillips (Australia), and “Movie, The Film: A Motion Picture” directed by Clay Lacey.
The panel of judges include AGBO Co-Founders Anthony and Joe Russo, 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. The AGBO executives will select three winning films to premiere across the AGBOVERSE as well as AGBO’s social channels, and winners will receive prizes provided in sponsorship by RED Digital Camera, GoPro, Microsoft, Blackmagic Design, AGBO, and Red Bull.
First place will receive a RED Komodo Starter Pack, a new GoPro action camera, a Surface Pro 9 from Microsoft, a copy of DaVinci Resolve Studio from Blackmagic Design, AGBO merch and a Red Bull swag bag [Red Bull Records customized U-Turn Turntable, Custom Speaker, a collection of Vinyl from Red Bull Records, Swell Water Bottle.] Both runners up will receive a new camera from GoPro, a Surface Pro 9 from Microsoft, a copy of DaVinci Resolve Studio from Blackmagic Design, merch from AGBO and a swag bag from Red Bull.
All three winners will join the AGBO Storytellers Collective, an alumni network of participants from other AGBO fellowship programs. The current Storytellers Collective members will also participate in judging, selecting an additional winning filmmaker to receive the “AGBO Storytellers Collective Award” and join the alumni network.
HOW THIS WORKS:
On Friday, September 29th at 5:00pm PST, the festival prompt will be posted online. Participants have until 5:00pm PST on Sunday, October 1st to submit films. Films and additional materials must be submitted via our Film Freeway submission page only, and we’ll announce the winners on Wednesday, November 8th.
PRIZES
AGBO executives will select three winning films to premiere across the AGBOVERSE as well as AGBO’s social channels, and winners will receive prizes provided in sponsorship by RED Digital Camera, GoPro, Microsoft, Blackmagic Design, Final Draft, AGBO, and Red Bull.
All three winners will join the AGBO Storytellers Collective, an alumni network of participants from other AGBO fellowship programs.
1st Place: RED KOMODO Starter Pack, a new GoPro action camera, a Surface Pro 9 from Microsoft, a copy of DaVinci Resolve Studio from Blackmagic Design, a copy of Final Draft screenwriting software, AGBO merch and a Red Bull swag bag [Red Bull Records customized U-Turn Turntable, Custom Speaker, a collection of Vinyl from Red Bull Records, Swell Water Bottle.]
2nd & 3rd Place: a new camera from GoPro, a Surface Pro 9 from Microsoft, a copy of DaVinci Resolve Studio from Blackmagic Design, a copy of Final Draft screenwriting software, merch from AGBO and a swag bag from Red Bull.
AGBO Storytellers Collective Award:The current Storytellers Collective members will also participate in judging, selecting an additional winning filmmaker to receive the “AGBO Storytellers Collective Award” and join the alumni network.
TIPS FOR FILMMAKERS
Study before the festival with Pizza Film School, Created and hosted by Anthony and Joe Russo, “Pizza Film School” is a video podcast that demystifies the filmmaking process and spreads some love to the Russo Brothers’ favorite films, filmmakers, and local pizzerias. Class is in session with the Russos as they dive deep behind-the-scenes with some of the industry’s top filmmakers, all while enjoying a slice or two of pizza. “Pizza Film School” is independently financed and produced by AGBO, and this season, the video podcast was filmed on site at AGBO’s headquarters in downtown Los Angeles.
“Pizza Film School” is part of AGBO’s commitment to championing creatives. The aim of the video podcast is to give free resources, access, and insight from the top artists and innovators in the industry to passionate film-enthusiasts, especially those who may not easily have access to it. This is one of many examples of AGBO’s focus on educating, mentoring and supporting emerging filmmakers across the globe. Other initiatives for the Company include a Slamdance Film Festival fellowship, an Italian American Film Forum, a short filmmaking competition, No Sleep ‘til Film Fest, and the AGBO Storytellers Collective, which is an alumni network of all past winners and recipients of fellowships and events through AGBO which helps foster relationships between AGBO and newer voices of the next generation.
FESTIVAL RULES
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.
You have 48 Hours. On Friday, September 29th at 5:00pm PT, we’ll post the Festival prompt and guidelines to this page and to AGBO socials. You then have until 5:00pm PST on Sunday, October 1st to submit your film. Upload your film and additional materials via our submission page. Submissions received after 5:00pm PST on Sunday may 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. Creative work includes, but is not limited to: Writing the script, Rehearsing, Costume/Set Design, Shooting, Editing, Sound Design, Rendering, 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.
Respond creatively to our prompt. The film prompt will be open-ended. It’s up to you to create an engaging universe for your film.
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.
Keep content kid-friendly. In general, the entries must not be indecent or obscene. Please use MPAA’s PG-13 rating rubric as a guideline for acceptable content.
You are welcome to submit films in any language. Subtitles are optional but encouraged.
Adhere to our acceptable use of VFX, Stock Footage, Copyright 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 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.)
Submission Materials. When submitting your film, please follow the Film Freeway form. If you are under the age of 18, a parental consent form must be signed by your parent or legal guardian.
Union Members. All union members are responsible for following the guidelines and regulations set forth from their respective unions.
Late Films. If you miss the deadline, keep working and upload your submission materials as soon as you can.