The Vista Foundation 48Hours is a cornerstone of the New Zealand film industry, running for 21 years and offering an exhilarating platform for both emerging and established filmmakers.
The annual competition is NZ’s largest guerrilla filmmaking event. Teams from all corners of New Zealand are tasked with writing, shooting, and editing a short film within a 48-hour window on 17th to 19th May, 2024. Early bird registrations open on 18th March.
Filmmakers are recognised with awards and vie for the prestigious title of Grand National Champion. The competition culminates in a spectacular Grand Finals event, which for the first time will be held at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington on 27th July.
The Vista Foundation 48Hours is presented by The Vista Foundation, in association with Te Tuma Whakaata Taonga / New Zealand Film Commission. We are grateful for the support of these industry giants and many other generous sponsors. Their backing underscores the significance of 48Hours in the landscape of New Zealand filmmaking and sets many filmmakers on a path to success in the industry.
Free OPPO48 Challenge – Win $5000.00 – April 20th
In collaboration with OPPO, 48Hours is introducing a new free challenge to get Aotearoa’s tenacious filmmakers sharpened up and prepared for 2024’s competition! The OPPO48 challenge is designed to showcase mobile phone filming with an OPPO phone.
Teams or individuals have FIVE hours to write, shoot, and cut a ONE minute film on any OPPO mobile phone.
The very best part is that this challenge is completely free to enter with a $5000 prize for the winning short film, which will screen alongside the finalist films at the Grand Finals.
Go on impress your friends and get film fit for 2024’s round of the Vista Foundation 48Hours!
The Vista Foundation 48Hours culminates in the Grand Final event. The very best films from across the country are judged by a panel of national and international judges and screened at the Grand Final Event at the Embassy Theatre on 27th July in Wellington.
Viva La Dirt League – $2000 Comedy Prize
Viva La Dirt League is a comedy troupe hailing from Auckland who have a popular YouTube Channel currently at an impressive 6.3 million subscribers. Their pathway into digital content-making involves the Vista Foundation 48Hours competition and now they want to give back to the filmmakers by sponsoring the Viva La Dirt League $2000 comedy prize!
L’affare Best ‘Incredibly Strange Award’ – $1000 plus L’affare prize pack
L’affare are the official beverage sponsors for the competition and are applauding the teams who take creative risks and the teams that want to make incredibly strange films! The prize is some sweet cash and a L’affare prize pack.
Rubber Monkey – Best Cinematography Prize
Rubber Monkey are a great supporter of the Vista Foundation 48Hours, This year they are backing the National Best Cinematography award with an amazing $3000 Rentals Voucher prize.
