UNCW’s fourth annual 48 Hour Film Competition will soon be underway. For the past four years, Randall Library has hosted their biggest event and invites students — in teams or alone — to spend exactly 48 hours of prep, writing, production and post-production editing to have a fully realized short film for viewing and judging. The four-to-six-minute short film will be entered in competition, judged by UNCW faculty and staff of various departments, and the top three films will receive cash prizes, and of course bragging rights.

48 hours to plan, shoot and edit a short film might seem like a challenge, but that’s not even the catch. The challenge is to adhere to a spooky prompt that is only released right when the 48-hour countdown begins.

The number of entries is limited, so register as early as you can. Registration opens Sept. 29 and closes Oct. 24 at 7:45 p.m. 15 minutes later at 8 p.m., the 48-hour rush begins and you have until 8 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26 to submit a completed film. Information sessions will be Oct. 14 and 15, and the MakerStudio is always available for questions.

If you’re interested in taking part in the competition and making your own film in just 48 hours, but are worried you don’t have the guts or the resources, you needn’t worry! The library’s MakerStudio is here to help. You can get lessons on editing, check out equipment and attend their information sessions on the rules. The library asks teams to make their film horror-themed and use library resources, materials or the library itself in the film in a creative way.

All students, faculty and staff, filmmakers and film lovers alike, are invited to attend the screening event in Lumina Theater in Fisher Student Union on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. The event will feature every entry, and the judges will discuss and announce the top three winning teams, who will receive physical and monetary prizes.

Do you think you have what it takes to terrify? Good. Registration to make your own film in only 48 hours opens Sept. 29 and is linked here when it opens, along with details of the rules and information sessions.