The Grand Rapids Film Festival (GRFF) seeks support in the amount of $4,000 for our 36-Hour 

Challenge, a time-limited filmmaking competition. Participants must script, shoot, edit and submit 
films adhering to the theme and necessary elements provided within a 36-hour period. The 
Challenge launches on January 27, 2017 and is open to high school and college students as well as 
aspiring professionals. 
 
Artistic/Cultural Merit   
The 36-Hour Challenge is organized by a small committee of esteemed industry professionals (see 
bio attachments). Their expertise as filmmakers is enhanced by their unique experience with timed 
competitions. Each of these filmmakers live in Michigan and contribute to a thriving, professional 
community of project-driven creatives.  
 
The driving force for designing the 36-Hour Challenge is GRFF board’s belief that there is a dearth 
of transformative content being produced in Michigan. By transformative we mean: challenging 
films addressing social issues, injustice, discord and polarizing voices that have the power to 
transform viewer’s perspectives by creating awareness, offering solutions and calling for change. As 
an event, the Challenge drives content creation with each participating team producing a six-minute 
short. By implementing clearly defined artistic and cultural standards, this program aims to achieve a 
measurable increase in quality transformative films produced annually.  
 
The Challenge encourages filmmakers, within but not limited to the approximate age demographic 
of 16-30 years, to work as part of a small team under a tight deadline with each member contributing 
their unique talent toward a great collaborative effort. This team-building exercise mimics an actual 
set experience on a small-scale and develops leadership skills as individuals rely on and inspire each 
other to bring the full potential of their skills to the project. Creating a six-minute film, from script 
to final edit, in 36-hours is indeed a challenge, especially if the story is to be cohesive and 
compelling. The Challenge gives participants the opportunity to create quality films through a 
program that offers an affordable, fun and safe place for them to network, learn, and grow.  
 
The opening ceremony held in the Grand Rapids Public Library on Friday, January 27 from 8 to 9 
p.m. offers a unique, quality experience for participants. During this event, participants are given the 
tools they need to complete the Challenge, from official 36-Hour Challenge CREW tee-shirts to 
element instructions and video examples of successful time-restricted short films. The ceremony 
provides a structured launching pad of level ground for all teams along with an opportunity to 
network with fellow filmmakers and industry professionals. Teams turn in their films 36-hours after 
being launched to be judged on these qualities: originality of premise, clarity of narrative, character 
development, lighting and atmosphere, shot design and composition, pacing, editing and post 
effects, sound design and musical score.  
 

GRFF 1 
 
At the award ceremony, participants benefit from seeing their work shown in a professional setting 
on a large screen at Celebration Cinema. Live audience reactions provide a critique, allowing the 
filmmakers to gauge the success of their message and determine what elements need improvement 
or omission. Independent filmmakers struggle with distribution and an audience to view their work 
is very important to them. Exhibition events like these encourage filmmakers to continue their craft 
by providing positive reinforcement for their efforts.  
 
Community Impact  
Community support for the 36-hour Challenge is demonstrated through University and professional 
community involvement. This can range from sponsorship dollars, to team registrations, to judging 
commitments. For this competition, GRFF asks universities and colleges to show their support by 
sponsoring the registration fees of three student teams, two being from their own school as well as 
one high school team. Each university vets its own student applicants. GRFF’s committee will call 
for applications for high school teams to apply for the entry fee scholarship. Scholarship winners 
will be determined by their ability to form a team, complete the challenge requirements as well as 
financial need. 
 
Grand Rapids is home to seven universities or colleges with film programs: Calvin College, Compass 
College of Cinematic Arts, Cornerstone University, Ferris State University, Grand Valley State 
University, Kendall College of Art and Design, Western Michigan University. However, there is no 
organization currently working to build communication between institutions. Increased 
communication could mean understanding and measuring the strengths and limits of the region's 
film programs. This could also lead to shared resources and strategic student recruitment and 
development.  
 
GRFF has a history of creating events that bring these schools together. Each institution has 
supported GRFF programing through in-kind donations of rental space and volunteer service of 
professors on committees, workshops and panels. As an organization not affiliated with any one 
particular institution, GRFF is uniquely positioned fill the gap between these colleges.  
The 36-Hour Challenge is a formalized path for institutions to sponsor teams representing their 
program in competition against other industry teams. This program allows for a measurable 
comparison of each institution’s film program quality. This experiential learning opportunity is 
beneficial to students in team-building, networking and evaluating their skill development. It also 
helps universities to more fully understand their unique student base, while encouraging schools to 
strengthen their programs and marketing efforts.  
 
GRFF has been a positive source of entertainment for Grand Rapids since its founding in 2009. Our 
newly focused mission, vision and even more community-based approach to programming is 

GRFF 2 
strategically designed to enhance our impact on the region’s filmmaking and film loving 
communities. Historically, festival partners have included organizations such as Devos Family 
Foundation, West Michigan Film Office, West Michigan Film and Video Alliance, Friends of Grand 
Rapids Parks, Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs, the Meijer Foundation, Brewery Vivant 
and WKTV. These organizations have provided financial, promotional, and participatory support, 
allowing GRFF to grow as a whole and expand its programming over the years.  
 
The audience for the Challenge award ceremony will consist of participating teams, their colleagues, 
friends and families. Because the Challenge is open to anyone high school age and above, 
filmmakers of any background, culture, race, and experience level have the same opportunity to 
enter and compete. This inclusiveness should create a diversified, wide-ranging audience.   
 
Implementation  
The 36-Hour Challenge kicks-off on Friday night, January 27 at the Grand Rapids Public Library 
with a reception and presentation beginning at 8 p.m. Teams are launched at 9 p.m. 36-Hours later 
on Sunday, January 29 at 9 a.m. entries are due. After a week of judging, selected films are screened 
on the evening of Friday, February 3rd at Celebration Cinema.  
 
Before “Challenge week” begins, GRFF’s promotional, fund development and logistics teams have 
to complete many preparatory tasks. The goal for the inaugural competition is to recruit one 
sponsored team from each school with a film program, approximately ten teams with five members.  
The marketing strategy for the Challenge is working directly with schools. Our objective is to reach 
all students in the region who are interested in competing and provide them with the necessary 
information to enter the competition. This will be achieved in the classroom through professor 
announcement, posters and fliers, articles in school papers and newsletters, and with social media 
campaigns. ​GRFF’s Facebook page​ has over 2000 fans.  
 
The fund development plan includes earned income through registration fees of $100 per team. 
Universities are asked for a $300 sponsorship, which will waive the entry fee for one team from their 
own school as well as one high school team and allow them to put program information in the high 
school teams registration packets. Sponsorship income will also come from film related businesses 
and organizations, with some in-kind gift cards from regional coffee shops, gas stations and 
restaurants. The Devos Family Foundation is also being solicited for support.  
 
The logistics team organizes the details to bring the program’s design to life. From facility rental and 
volunteer coordination to swag bags and sponsor reels, this team conceptualizes the event 
corporately in order to implement it flawlessly. An example of detailed planning can be found on 
Thursday, February 2 when the logistics and marketing teams build a showreel for the awards 

GRFF 3 
presentation, draft a press release announcing winners with an embargo date for after the event, and 
create an announcement page for the GRFF website to be published after the award ceremony.  
 
Films are given awards in three categories: best film, best student film, and audience choice. Winners 
receive prizes such as cash, equipment, and entry into GRFF’s four-day festival.  
 
Management 
Programming plans for the 36-hour Challenge are vetted at a sub-committee, head committee, and 
board level. Multiple drafts of program design proposals were submitted and revised for feedback to 
ensure the utmost accuracy and completeness of our plans. Representatives of each area university 
are included in discussions to ensure programming meets their educational needs.  
 
For the Challenge, GRRF aims to remove barriers that may discourage or prevent participants from 
competing. To ensure accessibility, both the venues, the Grand Rapids Public Library and 
Celebration Cinema, provide accessible entrances, reserved parking, and designated seating for 
individuals with disabilities.   
 
The 36-hour challenge itself is a product of post-evaluation as it is a rebirthed version of former 
programming called the Production Workshop (PW). A concept originating in the Michigan Film 
Festival, which blended into GRFF in 2011, the PW walked participants through the filmmaking 
process from writing a three-minute short script, to filming and editing over the course of only three 
days. Some of the short films produced live during the PW, ​Shotgun Wedding​ and ​Wake​, went on to 
win at other film festivals. Due to the feedback received on the last festival evaluation, the PW 
programming aspect is being replaced by the 36-Hour Challenge. PW facilitators and participants 
felt that a time-based short film competition held prior to the four-day festival would better serve 
the production community and the festival’s goals.  
 
This adjustment demonstrates that monitoring and evaluating the organization and its programming 
is a core value for GRFF. Evaluation forms, ​distributed to committee members, participants and 
audience members after the Challenge, are relied upon to assess successful programming elements 
and areas in need of improvement. 
 
The GRFF board is comprised of community members who are passionate about making film a 
quality, communal experience. They are engaged in the overall structure of GRFF programming, 
fund development and promotional efforts. Their main avenue of contribution is volunteer planning 
hours along with fund development and participant recruitment.  
 

GRFF 4