On Tuesday, March 8, aspiring Brock University filmmakers met virtually to learn if their tireless efforts — of the preceding 72 hours — had paid off.

The Communication, Popular Culture and Film Student Society (CPCFSS) hosted its second annual 72-Hour Film Festival this past weekend. The festival is a spin-off of the long-running 24-Hour Film Festival, a stalwart of the Film Studies program for many years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted a change of format and venue.

On Saturday, March 5 at 10 a.m., five teams of students were provided with a theme (Through Thick and Thin), an object (a creative light source) and one editing requirement (edit with shadows).

The filmmakers then had 72 hours in which to make a short film that included all three required elements.

The first-place finisher was “TRIUMPH” by Hawkin Paleczny, which also took the Audience Choice Award. The film follows a struggling professional boxer who, on the verge of failure, is given one last chance to succeed in his sport.

Second place went to “Sparks and Flames” by Angel Chang and Christy Mitchell. The Best Script Award went to “It’s Stuck,” which also nabbed the Best Acting Award.

Apart from the Audience Choice Awards, winners were selected by a panel of judges that included Assistant Professor Liz Clarke and Associate Professor Anthony Kinik, as well as CPCF alumnus Matthew Scott (BA ’20).

Prize money for the award winners was generously donated by BrockTV.

The films are all still available for viewing via the link in the CPCFSS Instagram account bio.