2 Days Laughter FAQs

Please see below list of frequently asked questions regarding the competition. We've grouped the questions into four main areas; About The Competition, Specific Rules, Submissions and April Fools' Screening. Click the plus signs next to the question to reveal the answer or alternatively use the Open All/Close All tabs below to reveal/close all answers.

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Can you tell me a bit more about the 2 Days Laughter Short Film Competition?: Our annual competition is Kent’s biggest comedy short film competition that encourages filmmakers to produce a five minute comedy film in only 48 hours on a micro-budget. At the beginning of December, filmmakers can download the competition brief that describes the guidelines and rules for submitting entries to this year’s competition. Due to films being specifically generated for this competition the brief also outlines certain criteria that ALL submissions have to include.

You are allowed time to develop your idea and script – in fact, we recommend that you do. However, this is a challenge and, once you have a script (or something like it, if you’re taking the Mike Leigh/Whose Line is it Anyway approach), we want you to shoot and edit that film in just 48 hours. Deadline for all submissions for 2014 will be late February 2014. We will then screen the films at the Theatre Royal Margate. Competitors compete for film industry prizes at the 2 Days Laughter Awards presentations held at the end of the screenings. Winning submissions will also receive global website exposure and international promotion to other film festivals and film industry organisations.
What is the main purpose of the competition?: The main purpose of the competition is to challenge and excite new filmmakers into making a film maybe for the first time. We’ve had previous filmmakers tell us that without the challenge/deadline they wouldn’t have made any films and we do find that filmmakers return year after year to produce new and better films.
How did this contest come about?: The competition was born in response to our regular filmmakers of our sister competition 2 Days Later, who could not wait a whole year to make another film. Many of the horror film entries contained comic elements (some unintentionally) so it was a natural choice to do a comedy competition screening on April Fools Day six months later.

We set up both film competitions so that it didn’t require the (then) traditional huge amounts of hard work and expense required to get something made. With the ever-decreasing costs of digital equipment, filmmaking became more accessible to novice and emerging filmmakers. We devised a competition brief that required only a total of 48 production hours and encourages filmmakers to work on minimal budgets. The idea is for the competition to act as a stimulus for filmmakers to finally get out of the coffee shops and actually get something in the can!
When do the competition briefs come out for the 2014 competition?: Competition briefs for 2014 will become available here from December 2013.
How do I enter the Competition?: You would need to download the competition brief when available (from early December to the end of February). The competition brief (which has the regulations and entry form at the back) outlines what topics need to be included within your film. The deadline for us to receive film submissions is usually the last day of February for Screening around April Fools Day.
Is the 2 Days Laughter Short Film Competition open to filmmakers from other countries outside the UK?: it’s international and free! Over the years, we have had many global enquiries about the competition and received films in from the USA, Ireland and Switzerland.
How many entries do you usually get each year?: In the last couple of years we’ve received around 50 films each year, but this is steadily rising.
I’ve made a short comedy film in the past, can I enter this into the competition?: All films need to be specifically made for this year’s competition and include THREE of the items listed in the brief as well as the film being made in 48 hours total.
Is there going to be another competiton next year?: This comedy competition has previously been sponsored by Screen South ( UK Film Council) and Kent County Council Arts Investment Fund, and the Dreamland Trust and now is in its 6th year. Funding is getting harder to find to enable us to produce these filmmaking events for 2014. It is therefore why your donations are so important to help us to continue providing these filmmaking events

If you have any ideas or want to help you can contact us here. Meanwhile look out for updates on the website homepage and news section.
You state in the brief that each film must contain THREE items, is this exactly three items or at least three items?: We require you to have at least three items listed in the brief to be in your film submission. Some filmmakers do place all items in their film as an extra challenge.
Why the three items?: Each year we create a list of items that the filmmakers must choose from, to be included in the film. We feel that this can often stimulate many diverse ideas for films. These item inclusions also create a very good atmosphere amongst the audience at the film screenings when an object is seen or the dialogue is delivered. It is also there so that we know the film has been made specifically for the competition, and is not an existing film. We aim to encourage new filmmaking, and so do not want to merely show existing films, as per usual film festivals.
Is it ok if the items were pictures or toys of some sort?: Yes, that’s perfectly acceptable.
As there is a 48 hour limit on the time spent making the films, how will you ensure this is met?: There is no mechanism to ensure that the films are made in 48 hours total production time. This rule is included to encourage a "lets just bloody do it attitude" to filmmaking, without the usual large investments in time and money, traditionally associated with filmmaking.

We rely on the integrity of the filmmakers, as to the time they spend on it, and obviously we do investigate further, any submissions that seem too good to be true! It’s the script and acting that counts, not the production values!

We do find though that the filmmakers do enter into the spirit of the competition and challenge themselves to make the film within 48 hours.
If I make a film for the competition, what of the "exclusive rights" portion of your conditions section, am I signing over all my rights by entering the competition?: By submitting a film for the 2 Days Laughter Short Film Competition you are not signing over all the rights to your film only that we may use all or part of the film for promotional purposes, i.e. we may use a clip from your film next year to promote the 2 Days Laughter competition, or we might show your film at another screening relating to the competition. You still retain copyright and ownership of your film to promote and screen it as you wish.
Please can you confirm, is there any rule for 2 Days Laughter which stops someone from being involved in or making multiple films for the competition?: Its perfectly fine for you to make/be involved in as many films as you like. Each film is treated on its own merits.
When is the final deadline for submission?: No date has been set yet for the 2014 competition but it will be around late February 2014.
Do you acknowledge the receipt of my film entry?: We don’t automatically inform you of receipt of your film entry as we’re busy processing all the film entries we’ve received. However if you email us after you send your film then we will email you back an acknowledgement.
We are students, but none of us are actually studying something even close to media and we are not submitting it as part of our programme of study. So, is our entry a student one?: Yes you can enter your submission as a student entry
If a video is submitted as a student entry, is it possible for that video to win both the "best student video" award and the "best video" award (or another award that is not particularly for students)?: YES, student films can win all categories
I’m 16 and I will be in sixth form this April, do I complete the "For Student Entries" part of the Enrty Form?: If you’re the director of the film submission then yes you can fill in the student’s entries part of the form. Do remember though that because you’re 16 your producer does need to be over 18 years old to sign the entry form.
About the still image, is 1280 x 720 big enough, or does it have to be better quality?: 1280 x 720 would be ok, of course if you do have a higher resolution image that would be great as we might use you images for promotion and for the A2 prize posters.
Again with the still image, do we have to make it like a poster (for example putting the title and cast on it) or not?: We prefer it that you don’t make it like a poster, just keep it as a simple image.
Would a DVD-RW disc of our film be compatible for the competition requirements?: Yes, a DVD-RW would be fine (just check it in a normal DVD player just to be sure). If no luck then you might want to consider buying a DVD-R disc.
Can I submit a .wmv file that is HDV 1280x720, 23.976 fps format?: Unfortunately .wmv file is usually too compressed to be projected on a large screen. You can output to DV Pal quicktime file format which should fit on a normal DVD-R data dvd. Also DV PAL is 25 fps so naturally we would like your film to also be 25fps. You could always use MPEG streamclip (www.squared5.com) which is a free piece of software that you could use to convert your file to DVD PAL .dv file which we could also use.
We’re experiencing technical problems outputting our film and might not make the deadline. Will our film still be accepted if its late?: Contact us BEFORE the deadline and we might be able to incorporate your film. We will advise you what to do and when we would need to receive your submission.
We have shot in 1080p but would like to deliver in 720p. Do you think this will be high enough res for you guys?: 720p will be fine, at present the projector at the Theatre is not a HD projector. Besides most of the films we receive at present are standard definition.
When will I know if I’m in the screening?: We send out an email to all the filmmakers who’ve entered this year’s competition with the Comedy Screening listings / timings around 8th March so you’ll know then if your film has been selected to be shown.
Do you show all the films at the Comedy Screening?: We do try and show all the films on the big screen but if we receive an excessive number of films we may have to restrict the number of films being shown.
Where can I get tickets for the screening, and how much do they cost?: We are in the process of finalising the details for the Comedy Screening Event on Easter Sunday and will be available to book around 8th March here. In the past tickets have been free and we will endeavour for that to remain so but with rising costs and less funding we might need to charge a small cost (£3-£5) per ticket. This will go some way to enabling us to keep producing the competition and allowing filmmakers and writers a platform to express their ideas.
I was wondering whether the 18 age limit is an official certificate, or one imposed by the competition organisers? I have a teenage son/daughter and would like them to come to the screening. If they had full parental permission would this be possible?: We can completely understand you wanting to bring your teenage son/daughter to view the screenings but unfortunately due to local authority film censorship regulations that the Theatre Royal adheres to, the film screenings are for over 18s only. If we, or the Theatre allow younger viewers in to watch the screenings, the Theatre could lose its cinema license and we would lose the venue.