48 Hour Film Project

‘Life is like a box of…’ Genres! At the Kickoff event, each team receives two genres in a random drawing. Whether it is “Comedy or Horror” or “Musical or Mystery”, each team must ensure that their film fits into one of the genres–or a combination of both.

Sci Fi Genres

Aliens

Features beings from other planets — whether hostile invaders, curious explorers, or mysterious visitors.

Apocalyptic / Post-Apocalyptic

Set during or after a global disaster — survivors navigate a collapsed world.

The Day After Tomorrow
Children of Men
Mad max: Fury Road

Artificial Intelligence

Stories about sentient machines or computer systems — exploring autonomy, ethics, or malfunction.

Blade Runner
The Matrix
HER

Colonization

Humans (or aliens) attempt to settle, exploit, or adapt to a new planet — often with ethical or cultural conflicts.

First Contact / Encounter

A film about humanity’s first encounter with alien life—and the consequences that follow.

Human Upgrade Film

A film about enhancing human abilities through technology—and the price that comes with it.

Lost World

A hidden or forgotten place filled with strange creatures, ancient tech, or untouched civilizations.

Mind Control

Characters lose autonomy due to manipulation, tech implants, or mental domination.

Multiverse

Parallel realities, alternate timelines, or overlapping dimensions — often featuring multiple versions of characters.

Mutation

Characters or creatures are altered by science, radiation, or evolution — often with unpredictable results.

Period Sci-Fi

Science fiction set in a historical era — futuristic tech in a past-world setting (like Victorian or WWII).

Robots & Androids

Stories featuring mechanical beings designed to mimic or replace humans, often exploring identity or rebellion.

Simulation Film

A film about a reality that isn’t what it seems, and the discovery that it may be artificial.

Space Opera

Big, dramatic adventures across galaxies — featuring epic battles, alien cultures, and bold heroes.

Space Pirates / Ninjas / Cowboys

Action-driven stories with roguish characters in space, blending sci-fi with outlaw or martial archetypes.

Horror Genres

Classic Monster / Creature Feature

Revolves around a monstrous being — from giant beasts to legendary creatures like werewolves or mummies.

Curse / Prophecy

A character or group is doomed by a spell, ancient curse, or foretold fate.

Dream / Nightmare Horror

Blurs the line between dreams and reality — surreal, disorienting, and often psychological.

Escape Room

Characters are trapped in a confined, puzzle-filled space and must survive or escape.

Paranormal

Ghosts, spirits, and unexplained phenomena that defy the laws of nature.

Possessed Person / Thing

A human, object, or animal is taken over by a malevolent force or entity.

Psychological Horror

Centers on the mind — fear, paranoia, hallucinations, or mental breakdowns.

Midsommar
Silence of the Lambs
The Shining

Slasher / Splatter

Focuses on violent killers and gruesome deaths, often with high body counts and gore.

Supernatural

Involves otherworldly forces like demons, spirits, or unexplainable magical events.

Techno-Horror

Technology becomes a source of fear — AI, smart devices, or digital systems gone wrong.

Transformation Horror

A film about a character undergoing a disturbing physical or psychological change.

Undead

Features creatures that were once alive but now walk again — zombies, vampires, ghouls, etc.

Vampire Horror

A film about a vampire—or vampiric presence.

Voodoo / Witchcraft

Involves magic, spells, rituals, or curses, often tied to witches, shamans, or supernatural traditions.

Wrong Place, Wrong Time Horror Film

A film about someone who stumbles into a terrifying situation purely by bad timing.

Genre Drawing