This weekend, local filmmakers in Pittsburgh are gearing up for one of the city’s most adrenaline-fueled creative events: the 48 Hour Film Project (Horror edition). From Friday evening through Sunday night, teams across the region will race against the clock to write, shoot, and edit a short film from scratch.
What Is It?
The 48 Hour Film Project is a time-pressured filmmaking competition: participating teams are given genre prompts and a set of required elements (a character, a specific prop, a line of dialogue) at kickoff. They then have just 48 hours to turn those ingredients into a complete short film, which must be submitted by Sunday evening.
Pittsburgh’s horror edition is no exception: at kickoff, teams will receive their horror-themed genre and required elements before heading off to finalize scripts, cast actors, shoot on location, and complete post-production.
Why It Matters to the Local Scene
For many participants, this is more than an event — it’s a proving ground. The pressure cooker environment forces rapid decision-making, fosters new collaborations, and gives filmmakers the opportunity to stretch creatively under constraints. Past local participants have described sleepless nights, rushed rewrites, and improvisational problem-solving as “the real training ground.”
Winning teams from cities around the world—including Pittsburgh—often qualify to screen at Filmapalooza, the culminating festival where city winners compete internationally.
How to Participate or Watch
- If you’re a filmmaker: It’s not too late to join a team — registration is still open. Head to the 48 Hour Film Project website under the Pittsburgh Horror edition. 48hourfilm.com
- If you want to watch: The public premiere screenings in mid-October will showcase the final films and highlight awards.