To be eligible to participate in the 48-Hour Film Competition, the filmmaker or team must adhere to the following rules:

1. The Film submitted to the Contest shall be created in whole within the 48-hour time slot allotted. Works that are submitted after the deadline shall not be considered in the judging or audience voting. All creative processes must be done within this time period, including scripting, shooting, costuming, set design, editing, rehearsing, sound design, etc. before 8pm EST, Friday November the 21nd, 2008; the only work that is allowed to have taken place is the organization of cast/crew, and securing equipment and shooting locations.

2. All footage used in the film must be created within the 48-hour time slot. No stock footage or previously shot footage allowed. Animation is allowed, as long as it was created within the 48-hour time slot.

3. All music used in the soundtrack of the film, must be original music created and recorded within the 48-hour time slot. Pre-recorded music is allowed as long as you have the rights to this music. Sound effects must be created and recorded during the allotted 48-hours unless you own the rights to pre-recorded sound effects.

4. The film must be under 5 minutes in length, excluding the credits, which may be an additional 30 seconds, rendering the total run-time to be 5 minutes and 30 seconds maximum.

5. All films must be uploaded onto YouTube, (instructions to be posted under guidelines) and then the URL must be emailed to programming@ivyfilmfestival.com by 8pm EST on the 23th. Each YouTube video must have public access (or could have just Ivy Acess), and they will be embedded on this website.

6. THE DIRECTOR MUST CURRENTLY BE ATTENDING AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY. The submission must be emailed from the director's school e-mail address.