40 Days & 40 Nights Short Film Challenge
The challenge begins March 13, 2026, and ends at midnight on April 21, 2026.
2026 Challenge Theme: Based on a True Story
Award:
The top selected film will receive an automatic selection and screening at the 13th Annual Playhouse West Film Festival-Philadelphia, August 21-23, 2026.
REGISTER A PRODUCTION TEAM
For the 7th year, the members of Playhouse West-Philadelphia are engaged in a 40 Days / 40 Nights Film Challenge. Productions teams have 40 days/nights to write, produce, cast, shoot and edit a short film (2 to 25 minutes in length). This challenge is open to current or former members of all Playhouse West branches.
COMPETITION THEME: BASED ON A TRUE STORY
This year we are challenging filmmakers to dramatize a story that is based on or inspired by a true event, or events that really happened to someone.
The true event(s) can be based on or inspired by any source, i.e. directly from the filmmaker's life, or events they know from their human experience, or it can come from the news or other media sources such as an article, a post, etc..
Though we want the film to be inspired by or based on a true event(s), there may be other story elements, such as characters, locations or other events that are changed or fictionalized for the purpose of dramatizing the story.
The more personal the story is to the filmmaker, the better. We will ask the filmmakers to let us know what the source of their story is based on.
Download the Initial Instructions for more details.
There will also be several additional elements/requirements in the Final Instructions, revealed on the first day of challenge.
Accepted Genres: Comedy, Romantic Comedy, Drama, Romance Drama, Suspense/Thriller, Horror, Science Fiction
Genres not Accepted: Documentary, Animation.