The chronicles of DVMISSION 48-Hour Film Challenge

This week`s blog is dedicated to the upcoming DVMISSION 48-hour film challenge and the history about its launching.

The idea of creating a filmmaking contest in Portsmouth came when Jinx Prowse and Roy Hanney realised that there were no cultural events, cinema, and video in the city. Jinx Prowse was fond of the concept of the 48-hour film challenge, created by Johnnie Oddball In 2003. So, he and Roy decided to establish it as an exciting event in which both would participate. The first time it emerged as a part of the Portsmouth Screen film festival was in 2006 and around 12 teams took part in it. A year later it became an independent non-profitable film challenge, distinguished from other film festivals by the fact that all films are made in 48-hours and then screened at a bespoke gala award ceremony.

The first editions of DVMISSION, from 2006 to 2009, were funded by Screen South/UK Film Council and Film Hampshire, while Southampton Solent University also contributed in 2009. However, the demise of the UK Film Council had an impact on the funding of the event and the only ongoing financial support came from Film Hampshire. Because of that, DVMISSION started relying on tickets sales to cover its expenses. Sponsorship and crowdfunding have been considered as some of the opportunities for making the event sustainable in the long term. Currently, alongside registration fees and ticket sales, the event is sponsored by Portsmouth City Council (thanks to Cllr. Ben Dowling), University of Portsmouth and Creative Network South.

Every year since 2006, approximately 300 people have taken part, forming roughly 25 teams and making up to 25 short films. In 2018 there were as many as 31 teams! Every year more filmmakers – amateurs and experienced – take part in the challenge: on Friday the obstructions, the genre, the title, and a line of dialogue are announced, and all teams have 48 hours to submit their projects.

Not only do the filmmakers who want to challenge their own abilities count down the days to the event. It is an exciting experience for the audience, as well, because of the engaging format of the award ceremony. It is a night, full of new beginnings, opportunities, and glamour. You don`t want to miss the `Pompey Oscars` if you are interested in winning the prize for best costume or supporting teams while watching all the participants` films. You also get to vote live for the Audience Raved About It award. Thematic immersive events like this are organised every year as a part of the contest:

In 2017 everyone had the opportunity to live in an imaginary world in which George A. Romero had teamed up with Quentin Tarantino for FROM DUSK TILL DAWN OF THE DEAD and in 2018 they wondered what films would look like if David Lynch directed La La Land for DA DA LAND.

A night of high drama, with a noirish vision of the swinging sixties was the theme for the event in 2019 when the DVMISSION team went for TOKYO NOIR as a genre. Then in 2020 the city was saved from an invasion of alien robots for THE DAY THAT POMPEY STOOD STILL.

In 2021 the first fully online event was held and took the audience into the dark underworld of Cold War spies and 1960s espionage novels at DVMISSION IMPOSSIBLE.

We are all looking forward to this year`s edition of the South Coast’s most well-established 48-hour film challenge in less than a month! The theme for this year’s films and the immersive experience won’t be announced until this year’s challenge starts on the 18th of February. But you can still dress up and join the filmmakers for the DVMISSION RETURNS: THE 26th DAY gala awards and screening at The Wedgewood Rooms on 26th Feb.

See you there.