The Russo Brothers' production company AGBO is ready to reward filmmakers like you with its filmmaking competition, No Sleep 'til Film Fest. This competition invites filmmakers from all over the world to participate and make a short film within 48 hours. It sounds intense, but there is a good reason for this tight turnaround.

The two-day festival challenges emerging creatives to make a bite-sized film that is three minutes or less to showcase what makes their voice unique in this challenging landscape. Creatives are competing to win prizes and mentorship from the independent studio. The three winners will then join the AGBO Storytellers Collective, which is an exclusive alumni network of participants from other AGBO fellowship programs.

AGBO's No Sleep 'til Film Fest received over 1400 submissions from 60 countries in the past two years. 2022 winners include Waldo Levendal (P E N), Joel Phillips (Trade), and Clay Lacey (Movie, The Film: A Motion Picture). If you want inspiration to encourage you to enter this competition, previous No Sleep 'til Film Fest winner Takaya Abdou Lloydou Lloyd walks you through his experience making a winning short film in 48 hours here.

Submissions open on September 29 and close at 5 p.m. PT on October 1. The Russo Brothers and creative executives at AGBO will select three winners of the short film fest and announce who the winners are on November 8.

What Could You Win at No Sleep 'til Film Fest?

First of all, making a short film in less than 48 hours is a feat in itself. If you can do that, then what is stopping you from creating low-budget shorts that could launch your feature career?

But AGBO wants to sweeten the deal with prizes, mentorships, and exclusive networking opportunities. Here is what you could win.

First Place

The first place winner will receive the following:

  • A RED Komodo Starter Pack
  • A new GoPro action camera
  • A Surface Pro 9 from Microsoft
  • DaVinci Resolve Studio from Blackmagic Design
  • AGBO merch
  • Red Bull swag (Red Bull customized U-Turn Turntable, Custom Speakers, a collection of vinyl from Red Bull Records, and a Swell water bottle)

Runners-Ups

The two runner-up will receive the following:
  • A new GoPro action camera
  • A Surface Pro 9 from Microsoft
  • DaVinci Resolve Studio from Blackmagic Design
  • AGBO merch
  • Red Bull swag (Red Bull customized U-Turn Turntable, Custom Speakers, a collection of vinyl from Red Bull Records, and a Swell water bottle)
The three winning films will also premiere across the AGBOVERSE and on AGBO's social channels.

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.

Meet 2023 No Sleep 'til Film Fest Judges

AGBO's 2023 No Sleep 'til Film Fest will include a panel of judges from AGBO's executive board. This year's panel of industry-leading judges includes:

  • 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
  • President of Television Scott Nemes

To join the competition and to view official rules and guidelines, visit No Sleep 'til Film Fest's official website here.

Submissions opened September 29, 2023, and close October 1st, 2023 at 5 p.m. PT. There is no entry fee, which means that the festival is free to enter and open to filmmakers worldwide.

So what are you waiting for? Go out, create a great short film, and cross your fingers that you have what it takes to stand out as a great emerging filmmaker.

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