Davis Flash Film Challenge

Does it cost anything to enter?

Absolutely not! It is free to enter the Flash Film Challenge and it is free to attend the Film Festival screening event.

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Who is eligible to participate?

This event is open to filmmakers of all ages and experience levels. Even if you have never made a movie before, we encourage you to try! Our goal is to create a supporting environment where everyone is encouraged to exercise the creative side of their brain.

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What if I am only one person and I need other people to make a film?

If you are an actor but don't know a cameraman, if you are a writer but don't know a director, or if you have a movie idea but need actors for roles in your film, let us know! We will help put people in touch with other folks that have the skills that are required to make a movie. We want to help you get connected to other creative people that want to have fun making short films.

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How long should the films be?

We will only accept films that are under 7 minutes in length. So you need to be concise! 7 minutes is not a long time to tell a story that has a beginning, a middle, and an end. This time limit includes any title cards and/or credits. And remember to include everyone who was involved in your credits. Filmmaking is a team sport, and everyone who helped your film get made deserves to see their name up on the big screen!

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What if I make a movie but then I am worried it is not good enough?

Don't worry! Every film team is working under the same time restrictions. One month is not a long time to write, shoot, and edit an entire film. We promise that the audience at our film screening event will be supportive and will love your creation! Even if you think you need another week to edit your film, submit it to us by the deadline. We know it is good enough!

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How do I submit my final film?

Make sure you have signed up by emailing craig@everywhere-science.org. It is a good idea to sign up well in advance of the deadline as we will be sending information and updates throughout the process to let teams know more info about the challenge including instructions on delivery and technical requirements for the films. Final film submission deadline is 2 days before the film festival (February 26, 2026) to give us time to screen films for appropriateness for inclusion.

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What kind of film should I make?

This is entirely up to you. Romantic comedy, historical drama, documentary, mockumentary, fantasy, commercial, music video..... anything goes! The only restrictions are that it must be family appropriate (PG-13 or friendlier) and it must include the mandatory film prompt that will be announced on Jan. 28.

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I want to make a movie, but I don't have some of the equipment I need. Can you help?

We have some production gear that can be used. Make sure you have signed up for information by sending an email to craig@everywhere-science.org. We have a limited amount of camera, lighting, and sound gear that can be used. We also have a film studio/sound stage and a foley lab that will be made available to teams that need those things. Additionally, we will be hosting workshops along the way that help teams with specific aspects of the filmmaking process. Again, make sure you are signed up for our info list to make sure you know when/where these events are being held.

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What if I can't come to the film prompt reveal event?

We would love to have you join us in person and get to meet your fellow filmmakers, but if you can't be at the Everywhere Science studio on January 28, check back here as we will update this page with the film prompt as soon as it is revealed.

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I would love to participate, but the dates of this event don't work for me. Are you going to do this again?

This is the first time we have attempted this event, and to our knowledge, this is the first event of its kind to be held in Davis, CA. It is our hope that the event is a big success and that we can turn it into a regluar series of film challenges. But to make that happen, we need this first time out to be as big as possible. So try to get involved this time around if you can! But even if you can't do it this time, send us an email letting us know that you are interested in hearing about subsequent events. And of course, we are looking for financial support to make this a recurring series. If you can donate to keep this project alive, we would love to hear from you about that too!

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What if I want to get involved but not as a filmmaker?

That's great! We are looking for volunteers to help at the screening event. We are also looking for local businesses that would be interested in sponsoring the event or provide gifts/prizes for the films at the screening. Please reach out to let us know that you are interested in helping out!

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I have a question that is not addressed on this FAQ. How can I get answers?

Please email craig@everywhere-science.org with any questions. We will respond to you as quickly as we can and we will also post answers to your questions here so that everyone can get good and timely information.

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