Filmmaking teams of all levels will write, shoot, and edit their films beginning at 7 p.m. on a Friday and deliver a finished movie by 7:30 p.m. Sunday. They each receive a genre, a character, a prop, and aline of dialogue that they must work into their piece. Each filmmaker is responsible for putting together a cast and crew, and getting equipment and anything else needed to make a movie in just a weekend. Any team, regardless of skill level, is eligible to participate in this competition.

The 48 Hour Film Project provides exposure for the filmmakers and their films and will get national exposure when the winner goes on to competin against other cities.

Cities involved include: Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Denver and San Francisco.