Could you make a film – even a short film – in 48 hours and have it be worth a damn?

"Duh... I'm here for the Scramble. Am I holding the camera the right way?" The Fall Sidewalk Scramble short-film contest is scheduled for October 5-7. Photo by Eland Interactive.

I couldn’t. Hell, it would take me a full day just to round up coffee, donuts, a director’s chair, a megaphone and a riding crop.

But if you think that you — and some of your hard-working friends – could be up to the challenge, there may still be time for you to take part in the Fall Sidewalk Scramble, which is sponsored by Birmingham’s Sidewalk Film Festival. 

The Scramble is scheduled for October 5-7, but you must pre-register, and there is only room for 24 filmmaking teams.

In the Scramble, participants must take their films from concept to completion within 48 hours. That means that the films must be written, rehearsed, shot and edited – absolutely everything – In just one weekend.

Filmmaking teams will meet at the Kick-Off Event on Friday, October 5, and find out their specific “inspiration items” – elements that the completed films must include to ensure that the script was not written ahead of time.

All films are due by Sunday, October 7, between 5-7  p.m.

There will be three prizes adding up to more than $1,000, and a chance for filmmakers to have their film included in the 2013 festival line-up at Sidewalk.

For all the details and to download registration materials, go to www.sidewalkfest.com/scramble. 

The Scramble Screening and awards ceremony is to be held at The Edge 12 theatres in Crestwood,  Thursday, October 18, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 and are available at www.sidewalkfest.com or at the door the night of the event.

For more information about the Sidewalk Film Festival — a project of the non-profit Alabama Moving Image Association – call (205) 324-0888 or go to www.sidewalkfest.com. 

Send your feedback to edior@weldbham.com.