The word “filmmaker” is most often associated with Los Angeles, California, but the annual i48 Competition and Film Festival attracts experienced talent and is described by Co-Director Andrew Ellis as also being, “a point of entry for filmmakers in Idaho.” This year, 26 of the 32 teams that registered finished the 48-hour filmmaking challenge and saw their short films presented on the big screen on Saturday, August 7th at The Flicks in downtown Boise, Idaho.
The History of i48
Saturday’s event marked the 18th year of the i48 Film Competition and Festival. Co-Director and festival MC, Andrew Ellis, has been there since the beginning, and Co-Director Josie Pusl has been there since its second year. Technical Director Jake Kuwana, Creative Director Jason Jacobsen, and Web Designer Ben Hamill round out the i48 leadership team, which, despite the logistical challenges of a pandemic that’s stretched across two years’ worth of events, guided participants through the competition and put on show for audience members that went off without the hint of a glitch.
The i48 Competition and Film Festival is i48’s flagship event and was designed to be family-friendly. In response to requests by some filmmakers for more latitude, h48 was added. The h is for horror and this event happens, appropriately, during October each year. If comedy or crime are what you’re looking for, the February Challenge and “13 Stories” are part of their normal yearly lineup.
The Challenge and Challenges
According to their website, “i48 Film Competition and Festival is a competition where teams of filmmakers from around Idaho have 48 hours to write, pre-produce, cast, shoot, and edit, an original short film three to six minutes long.”
Teams receive and are allowed to open their packets at the same time. Normally this happens at an in-person kick off event, but teams received packets via email this year. Packets include instructions such as an assigned genre, a prop that must be used, and a character name and a line of dialog that must be incorporated. Films may have scores, but teams cannot violate copyright so must have express permission to use any music and lyrics or produce an original piece for their film. Teams can have as many members as they wish but must have at least two. More teammates to share the load sounds good, but multi-year participant Elizabeth Findley noted that the more team members, the harder production can be. Others noted that even when a team leader has prepared as much as they can by inviting other team members to participate, invariably people drop off, leaving gaps and creating logistical challenges.
Under such constraints, a strategic approach pays off. Experienced writer, director, and cinematographer Kody Newton wanted to reduce the time required to edit his team’s film “Battery,” so he opted for a single camera, one shot take. Other teams, including Monkey Fu Films and Flying Fedora Film, also took a single location approach. Danika Starrharrt acted in and composed an original score for the silent film “Lyon’s Cage.”
Inclement weather also came into play, but several teams used it to their advantage. The rain enhanced the mood during a pivotal scene for team Sleepless’s “Back to Boise” for example.
Challenges such as i48’s 48-hour limit and requirements to work within surprise creative constraints test filmmaking team’s creativity, efficiency, and cohesion. Surprising few who know about the competition’s long history, the results can be exceptionally good in both the novice and open divisions.
The Filmmakers’ Experience
Motivations for participating in i48 vary says screenwriter and costume designer Heather Horner. Some participants just want to have fun while others compete to test their skills. Actor David Kociol agrees. Fun was what drew him to participate the first time, but he came back for a second year hoping to get good footage for his actor demo reel. Scott Beals keeps coming back for the fun and professional challenge. Since his first appearance in an i48 film, Beals has gone on to secure a paid part in a feature-length film. Film editor Elizabeth Findley, like David Kocoil, will use her team’s short film to demonstrate her skills to prospective clients.
Co-Director Josie Pusl says that this event provides another important benefit: “Networking. It is a great opportunity for filmmakers to meet each other and see what others are doing. There have been quite a few collaborations on other projects that have come from i48.” This sentiment was echoed by others and evident when interacting with participants during breaks between showings.
Experienced actor and producer at Broken Noir Films Tate McCullough was part of the team that filmed “The Moon Was Made of Cheese” but jumped in to help Kody Newton of Newton to Newton Productions when Kody needed another actor for his i48 film submission. Theirs was not the only cross-over. Heather Horner was on call to offer costume advice to several teams.
Before they get to the fun of watching their work and mingling with fellow filmmakers, participants must submit to the grind. Exhaustion was a common theme in conversations about the 48-hour filmmaking process, and more than a few people said that this will likely be the last year they participate. However, many went on to admit that they say that every year. Most had the same glint in their eyes and coiled energy that creatives and competitors of all stripes possess.
The reward is in the reaching. The product is almost secondary. Almost. Proof of effort and real satisfaction comes when the films are screened.
The Festival Experience
This year’s screenings were broken into 4 showings starting at 12:30 p.m. and ending around 8:00 p.m. Between screening blocks, participants mingled to chat about the films and filmmaking process and to enjoy the afterglow of the 48-hour sprint that is the competition experience. Audience members are welcome to join in the conversations and encouraged to engage in a sprint of their own—staying for the entire event and taking in all films in one gulp.
The experience for new filmmakers and audience members is the same, an opportunity to compare and contrast and learn about the filmmaking process in a way not often available to busy creatives and film buffs.
In non-pandemic years, festival goers can opt to attend a screening limited to the “best of” winners the day after all films are screened at The Flicks. In years past, this event has been held at the Egyptian Theatre also in downtown Boise. COVID protocols prevented that from happening this year. If you missed this year’s screenings at The Flicks and want to get a feel for the range of team experience levels and approaches, you can watch a compilation of the “best of,” on Vimeo.
2021 i48 Results
Awards for both the novice and open divisions are presented in 9 categories: Best Use of Prop, Best Use of Character, Best Use of Dialogue, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Sound/Music, Best Cinematography, 2nd Best Film, and Best Film.
Five teams won in the novice division: Unboxing_Bros, Papeete Media, Monkey Fu Films, Elsberry Studios, Sleepless. Best Actor and Best Actress went to Wyatt Naillon and Brenna Leonard for their performances in “Double Date” (Papeete Media). Best Film went to Sleepless for “Back to Boise,” the story of two young men whose friendship is tested when they find themselves in a life-or-death situation after their car breaks down in Idaho’s backcountry.
Seven teams won in the open division: Flying Fedora Film, Travis Thoms, Creative Underground, Ice Cream Ent, Newton to Newton, Leave It To Chance, and Bannock Films. There was a 3-way tie for Best Actress: Remi Stull in “Battery” by Newton to Newton, Jen Potcher in “Do You Think You’re Going to GetAway With This?” and
Ellen Smith in “Where There is Love There is Life.” Best Film in this division went to Ice Cream Entertainment for “5 Star Scottie.” When a food delivery goes sideways for goal-oriented delivery driver Scottie, he must use his wits and the implements at his disposal to escape. In doing so, protagonist Scottie forces the antagonist into a dilemma. For his portrayal of Scottie, Nate Garcia won Best Actor.
In addition to bragging rights, cash prizes are awarded for several categories.
Funding for the festival comes from grants and sponsorships provided by Boise City Department of Arts & History, Boise State University, The Flicks, Alpha Graphics, and Idaho Film Foundation.
While LA will likely remain the epicenter of feature-length filmmaking for years to come, many creatives who are doing commercially viable work in the film industry call the Pacific Northwest—including Boise, Idaho—their home. The annual i48 Competition and Film Festival offers them a chance to have fun and show off their ability to perform under pressure and provides a foot in the door for aspiring film-related creatives who may not know where to start or who to talk to.
To learn more about upcoming i48 and h48 events and the i48 and Idaho State Penitentiary partnership to bring “13 Stories” from the crime and punishment pages of Idaho history to life in the present, visit idaho48.org.
There was actually a tie for Best Actress. It went to Ellen Smith, Jen Potcher, and Remi Stull.
Thank you so much for calling my attention to this, Sally. I made the correction. –Cristen
This is so cool! I had no idea it existed and your article has definitely piqued my interest. It’s great to hear that Boise is strongly representing the arts in this unique way.
Thanks for the great article!
Glad you enjoyed it, Jason. Thanks for the feedback!
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