48 Hour films showcased in Vernon, best film named

Vernon Towne Theatre has brought the 2023 Okanagan 48 Hour Film Project entries to the silver screen.

In September, 13 teams from across B.C., including from Vernon, Salmon Arm, Kelowna and Kamloops, were given 48 hours to write, direct, shoot and edit a seven minute film.

The finished products were unveiled Oct. 11 at the Official 48 Hour Screening event at the Vernon Towne Theatre.

On Saturday, Oct. 14, the theatre hosted the inaugural 48 Hour Best-of-Awards to celebrate the local filmmakers and unveiled the Best Film recipient, It’s Not All Right by Little Red Hen Studios (West Kelowna).

That film also won awards for Best Acting, Audience Choice, and Best Use of Prop.

DROPBOX by AV Media (Kelowna) won 2nd Best Film in the competition, and Deal With The Devil by Metric (Kelowna) won 3rd Best Film.

The films entered into the Okanagan 48 Hour Film Project competition can be found on Youtube.

“Bringing the Okanagan 48 Hour Film Project to life was a labor of love.We wanted to create a platform that celebrates local talent, challenges filmmakers to think on their feet, and offers them a global stage. The incredible response from both participants and the audience has been heartwarming. We couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome,” Harrison Coe, co-organizer of the 2023 Okanagan 48 Hour Film Project, said.

“We’re ecstatic to see the Okanagan film community come together in such an inspiring way. The support we’ve received from sponsors, industry professionals, and local resources has been overwhelming. This journey has been a true testament to the power of collaboration and creativity,” Heath Fletcher, co-organizer of the 2023 Okanagan 48 Hour Film Project, added.

The top film in the Okanagan competition, as well as those from the over 100 other 48 Hour Film competitions held around the world, will be screened at the Filmapalooza international film festival, taking place in Lisbon, Portugal, in March 2024.