Video Association of Dallas presents
24-Hour Video Race
Theme, prop, location, and line of dialogue drop at midnight. Teams have 24 hours to write, shoot, and edit a complete short — any device, any experience level.
12:00 AM, Sat Sept 5
12:00 AM, Sun Sept 6
7:00 PM, Tue Sept 8
Angelika Film Center Dallas
Submit to the Race
$25/team · $500 B&H Photo gift card per category winner
About the Race
VideoFest is the oldest independent video festival in the United States. Since 1986 it has specialized in independent, alternative, and non-commercial media rarely seen on television or in theaters. The 24-Hour Video Race was inaugurated in 2003 and was wildly successful, with 95 teams across 5 categories submitting on various formats of tape.
After a brief hiatus, the 24-Hour Video Race returns in 2026, updated for the modern era with all-digital submissions and a category for AI-generated video.
Every team is assigned four critical elements, a theme, a prop, a location, and a line of dialogue, revealed right before the race begins at midnight on Saturday, September 5, at both an in-person event at the Angelika Film Center Dallas and via a link for teams not in attendance.
Anyone with a camera and the willingness to race can participate. Past teams have ranged from elementary-school students to professional filmmakers. Student teams compete against other student teams; adult teams are categorized by team size rather than skill level.
All videos submitted before the midnight deadline will be screened and judged Tuesday, September 8 at the Angelika Film Center Dallas.
Categories
Super 8
10th grade and under
$25
16mm
11th – 12th grade
$25
Animal House
College teams
$25
Old Enough to Know Better
Filmmakers older than college age
$25
HAL 9000
AI-generated video
$25
In the Press
Action!
“Last year’s prop was a mechanical wind-up toy eyeball; the theme, ‘photo finish’; the location, a school.”
UTD Arts & Technology Students Win Dallas 24-Hour Video Race
“It really tests your teamwork skills, stamina, and creativity. Twenty-four hours is a short amount of time to make a film of any length,” said UTD graduate student Anthony Tyler. “We’re tired, but the result was worth it.”
24-Hour Film-ness
“What can you do in 24 hours? You can have a shirt dry-cleaned 24 times. You can watch an entire season of 24. Or you can race to make a movie.”
All in a Day’s Work
“Watch out for amateur video crews running around town when the 24-Hour Video Race unleashes packs of over-caffeinated cinematic auteurs trying to prove their celluloid mettle.”
One Dailies
“You could do a lot with 24 hours. Eat at 24 different restaurants, watch 12 Meg Ryan movies, sleep for 24 hours… But the Dallas Video Association thought of a good one: the 24-Hour Video Race.”
Scenes From the 24-Hour Video Race
All participants had to use the same theme (“twist of fate”), the same prop (“a key”), the same location (“anywhere a sport is played”) and a common line of dialogue (“How much is this thing going to cost me?”).
Community calendar coverage
“Videos will be grouped and judged in five divisions, Pixelvision (K-12), Futurevision (college), Auteur (1-2 team members), Guerilla (3-5), and Hollywood (6 or more).”
At Least for a Day, Dallas Filmmakers Get Priorities Straight at 24-Hour Video Race
“You wanna help out people who are a minute late, but you have to be fair,” says Video Association of Dallas creative director Bart Weiss.
24 Hour Video Race Winners Announced
“After a long night of spirited debate, roast beef sandwiches, and pondering where one draws the line between an edible and an inedible fruit or vegetable, the winners were announced.”
And So We Go: The 24 Hour Video Race Finals Screening
“In a confluence of events that involved meat helmets, gorilla suits and balls,” the Dallas Observer’s own staff made an entry into the race.
The Few, The Proud, The Sleepy: 24-Hour Video Winners
“One crazy, mixed-up team was hauling a gorilla suit, an 8-inch foil ball and two homemade meat helmets around Dallas in a desperate attempt to complete the race.”
The 24-Hour Video Race Expands with Music Video, Documentary and Mobile Device Categories
“When kept up for a solid 24 hours, weird things happen. Soon, you’re constructing oversized balls out of tin foil and helmets out of salted, pliable meats.”
Aspiring Filmmakers Make Movies in a Flash for 24 Hour Video Race
First-person piece by a finals judge. Includes required elements, commentary on film quality and the winners.
12th Annual 24-Hour Video Race Winners Announced
“I was amazed at the level of creativity in the city from such a diverse group of filmmakers,” said Bart Weiss, Video Association of Dallas’ Artistic Director. “The ways these makers reinterpreted our prompts were inspiring.”
24-Hour Video Race Accepting Registration
News item announcing registration for the 13th annual event, open from elementary students through experienced filmmakers.
From the Newsroom: A 24-Hour Filmmaking Frenzy
“Our Big Screen team talks to a Dallas teacher who shepherded 11 student teams in this year’s 24-Hour Video Race.”
The 24-Hour Dallas Video Race: Release Your Inner Filmmaker
“Afraid you won’t fit in because of age or experience? No worries. Race team categories allow all creative types, from elementary school students to professional filmmakers.”
Dallas 24-Hour Video Race Winners Announced
“After 24 (short) hours of filming and editing, and 18 (long) days of deliberation, the winners of Dallas’ 16th Annual 24-Hour Video Race have been announced.”
24 Hour Video Race Winners, Plus Austin’s ATX TV Festival
DMN coverage of the winners of the Video Association of Dallas’ 16th annual event.
16th Annual 24-Hour Video Race
“Once all participants have signed in, Bart Weiss, founder of Dallas VideoFest, will reveal the elements, which MUST be a part of each entrant’s video.”
CatFest and 24 Hour Video Race Is Around the Corner
“All teams will obtain the final ‘five’ elements during the kick-off meeting. The elements include theme, prop, and line of dialogue.”
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