Wintec’s Gallagher Hub is set to host the launch, the famously frenzied hand-in, and the five heat screenings for the Hamilton section of the upcoming V48 Hour Film Competition.

There will also be a number of Wintec’s Media Arts students taking part in the popular filmmaking challenge.

The 2009 V48 Hours event launch night for Hamilton – where the  required film theme elements are to be revealed to all competitors on live television - takes place on May 8th from 6 – 7pm. After completing their films, all
Hamilton teams will endeavour to hand them in at the Gallagher Hub by Sunday, 7pm – and no later. Amongst the hundreds of teams vying for the top prizes and television time over the following 48 hours will be five Wintec teams comprising  1st , 2nd and  3rd  third  year moving image students and two postgraduate teams. Wintec’s graduates have been successful in past 48 Hour years, including Moving Image graduate Matt Chappell who was cinematographer for the 2007 national winning team ‘Lense Flare’.

The heat screenings happen at the Hub during the following week, and will offer the first chance for cast and crew to check out the competition and see their completed films on the big screen. ‘Audience favourite’ titles will be up for grabs during these heats. From the Hamilton entries, 12 are then selected to battle it out Village Skycity Chartwell in the regional final on the 27th of May. The winner goes forward to the national final, and will be seen on nationwide television.

The 48HOURS short film competition started in 2003 with just 44 teams in Auckland only. It saw a wide range of entries and  around 68% getting their film handed in on time. By 2008 over 600 teams took part throughout the country, including Hamilton, and over 2000 shorts have been produced for 48HOURS. The  event boasts a ruthless adhesion to the rules, with no exceptions to the timeline -  "It's called 48HOURS, not 48HOURS and 5 seconds", event organisers say.

Wintec is pleased to support Waikato filmmakers taking part in the V48 Hours. For details on Wintec teams taking part, or a map of the Gallagher Hub location, contact Dawn Tuffery from Media Arts - dawn.tuffery@wintec.ac.nz .
For more general information on the competition or to register a team,  see event website www.48hours.co.nz