Menacing gray clouds were gathering over Providence this past July 8, threatening to put a damper on the opening night celebration of the 2025 48 Hour Film Festival at the historic Avon Cinema. Director of the festival’s RI chapter, Mel Rainsberger, had started sending out emails early to the expected audience, urging caution and warning of potential flash flooding throughout the state. The ominous weather reports did little to deter the jubilant crowd gathered at the iconic East Side landmark. This is a venue that I have been visiting since I was a teenager, and in that time it has somehow managed to retain an old-school Americana charm without ever sacrificing its quirky essence. Dating back to 1938, this iconic Creative Capital institution remains a local go-to for indie, foreign, and art-house films. Nestled amid the sprawling, and perpetually widening, Brown University campus, the art deco classic stands at what seems to be the heart of the East Side, dead center on Thayer Street. Since its opening, it has belonged to members of the Dulgarian family, prominent property owners in the area who have thankfully preserved the retro vibe through the decades.
It was the ideal setting for this year’s Festival, and has hosted it in the past as well. For those who may not be familiar, allow me to quote Mel from when I interviewed her some months back for the Women’s History issue: “The 48 Hour Film Project (48FHP) is a twenty-five-year-old international film festival, and we’ve been running it in Providence for nineteen years. Besides being very fun, it levels the playing field so professionals and newbies compete side-by-side. Every team integrates the same prop, character, and line of dialog into an original story, and has forty-eight hours to make a short film. The variety of genres and approaches is always delightful. Seeing so many great films from around our community is a special moment that I treasure every year. This unique event also balances the rules and requirements to give anyone a chance to see their film on the big screen. Even if you’re a novice, there’s a chance your film could go on to Filmapalooza to compete against the other 110 cities doing the 48HFP. The winner of Filmapalooza screens in the short film corner at the Cannes Film Festival in France. In 2022, the best film came from Jacksonville, FL! This competition isn’t only for the big guys.”
There are a few rules each film has to adhere to: The common threads running throughout this gamut of cinema were eclectic, to say the least. The universal prop to be used by all was a remote control. The common character required was a Brian or Brianna Haltower, who happens to be a hypochondriac. And the line, “That looks amazing,” had to be used somehow. Films can not exceed seven minutes in length. It was a joy to see the variety of genres represented. The mood in the venue was electric with showcased teams clearly in attendance as they hooted and hollered for their respective pet projects during each title screen. The pride and excitement of seeing their labor of love splayed across the big screen was infectious. My personal favorites ran towards the lighthearted and comedic; these seemed ideal for that bite-sized, seven-minute window. Some of the heavier topics felt oversized and forced. Stay tuned in the coming weeks when a winner is announced before they move on to Filmapalooza.
So what lies in store for the future of the 48HFP? I’ll let Mel elaborate: “This year we’re adding two new student stipends. One stipend will be available to middle- and high-schoolers, and the other one for college students. We want to make sure that everyone has a chance to make a film and participate in the festival. We’re also working on a monthly screening series of local short films called the Bonfire Showcase. There are so many great filmmakers in New England and we want to give them more opportunities to show their work and connect with other creatives. We hope to run a horror version of 48HFP as well. That will happen in October, and it’s an all-spooky genre event. All of these programs will be announced via our social media channels and newsletter. Anyone who wants to connect with the festival can also email us at pvd48hfp@gmail.com.” •