We're excited to announce that the OCC Illuminate 48-Hour Film Festival is scheduled for the weekend of April 10-13, 2026. There is nothing quite like the experience and satisfaction of working like crazy to tell a story that engages an audience while compressing it all within a 48-hour window of time.

Community, college, and high school teams are welcome to participate as long as at least one member has an OCC connection (student, former student, or staff). Teams can also participate remotely—and in fact, past winners have done so. Cash prizes will be awarded, and films will be screened at the Lumie Awards Show on Monday, April 13, at 7:00 p.m. Films will be judged by a panel of professional film producers and discriminating film consumers.

The competition begins at Friday, April 10, when the theme is announced to registered teams. Teams will have 48 hours from that time to write, shoot and edit a 3-5 minute film based on the theme and including five required elements.