DVMISSION 48 Hour Film Challenge celebrated its 20th anniversary with a filmmaking competition that saw 33 teams spend a weekend making 2-minute short films.
For those unfamiliar with DVMISSION, it’s a 48-hour film race where competitors must create a short film over a single weekend while incorporating a set of creative obstructions. This year, DVMISSION partnered with In Our Words, Portsmouth’s year-long festival of literature and literacy curated by Portsmouth Creates. The 2025 challenge required filmmakers to embrace a literary theme—whether by featuring a character reading a book, adapting a classic novel, or weaving a literary element into their storytelling.
The films were screened at a glittering gala event, Corsets, Tights, Cameras, Action, which combined the screening and awards ceremony with a fully immersive theatre experience: Badgerton – Welcome to the Balls. Staged by staff and students from Portsmouth University’s Performing Arts Department, the Badgerton experience transformed the night into a riotous, Regency-inspired spectacle. Guests arrived under the premise of auditioning for a lavish period drama, checking in at a casting desk before being ushered into the world of stately home intrigue. Actors playing the costume and makeup team gave attendees a theatrical makeover, while live castings played out on stage. The evening unfolded with extravagant song and dance routines, a leading man in a spectacularly unfit state, and a wedding scene spiralling into total farce.
Following the immersive theatrics, the screening of 30 short films received rapturous applause. Seeing the films on a big screen in such an electrified setting heightened the experience, with the audience’s reactions proving just as entertaining as the films themselves. Finally, the filmmakers made a triumphant return for the grand finale of their Badgerton production, before the evening culminated in the Pompey Oscars, awarding prizes across multiple categories—including, of course, Best Film.
As the evening drew to a close, the organisers of DVMISSION had one final surprise for the audience. Awards host Jinx Prowse took to the stage to share the origins of the challenge, recalling how he had once wanted to take part in a 48-hour film race—only to realise there wasn’t one. So, he created DVMISSION. After running it for a decade, he was ready to pass it on and famously offered to sell the event for nothing more than a smile and a bottle of tequila. The next day, Roy Hanney turned up at his door, grinning and holding the required bottle, and the rest was history. Now, after leading DVMISSION for another ten years, Roy was ready to hand over the reins.
Continuing the tradition, Jinx and Roy invited the audience to make their bids, offering DVMISSION to whoever could produce a smile and a bottle of tequila. Hands shot up, but there was a hitch—while there were plenty of smiles, no one had the all-important bottle. Just when it seemed the challenge might go unanswered, Susan Beckett from City Eye, Southampton, stepped forward, tequila in hand and beaming.
With that, the baton—wrapped in tradition and a bottle of spirits—was officially passed. City Eye, a dedicated champion of film and creative talent in Southampton, has long supported emerging filmmakers, making them the perfect new custodians of DVMISSION. Under their guidance, the challenge is set to thrive, continuing to inspire, provoke, and entertain for years to come. And so, a new chapter begins, fuelled by creativity, community—and, of course, tequila. Long live DVMISSION!
The Pompey Oscars for 2025 were:
The social media award
- Winner: Skooky
- Nominations: Venta Cinématics, 5th Wall Productions
Watch out for the youth
- Winner: The Academy 2025
- Nominations: QMC, Worcester Mini Massive
It’s the way you said it
- Winner: Worcester Massive
- Nominations: House of Cards, Spark
Most Astonishing SFX
- Winner: 5th Wall Productions
- Nominations: Amazing Graces, Lobstercopter Films
Most Inspired Prop
- Winner: House of Cards
- Nominations: Truth at 88mph, Oxford University Film Foundation
Best Editing
- Winner: Amazing Graces
- Nominations: Oceans 23, The Rough Cuts
Best Sound Design
- Winner: Truth at 88mph
- Nominations: What are the hours, Worcester Massive
Most Cinematic Moment
- Winner: Venta Cinématics
- Nominations: What are the hours, The Academy 2025
Best Actor (Male)
- Winner: Spark – Fergus Mclean
- Nominations: Dark Day Productions, Venta Cinématics
Best Actor (Female)
- Winner: Spark – Sasha Sinkler
- Nominations: Oceans 23, What are the hours
Best Story
- Winner: Croatian Empire
- Nominations: Oceans 23, The Academy 2025
Best Film (non-professional)
- Winner: Oceans 23
- Nominations: Vrknta Cinématics, Spak
Best Film (professional)
- Winner: The Rough Cuts
- Nominations: What are the hours, Truth at 88mph
The Audience Raved About It!
- Winner: Truth at 88mph
Best Fancy Dress
- Winner: Chris (Worcester Massive)
The Spirit of DVMISSION
- Winner: City Eye
DVMISSION celebrates a very DIY ethic, and this is no more evident than in the Pompey Oscars themselves which were, as usual, hand made by local artist James Waterfield of Lawn of the Dead. These are such unique awards, each a work of art in its own right, that are really cherished by the filmmakers. Even so, the films ranged from fun adventures to highly polished professional productions all of which you can see on the DVMISSION YouTube channel.
WINNING FILMS PLAYLIST
ALL THE FILMS PLAYLIST
DVMISSION was supported by Portsmouth Creates, Portsmouth City Council, Creative Network South, Camera Create, The Wedgewood Rooms and Kabuki Productions.
