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.

Comedy Genres

Absurdist Comedy

Bizarre, surreal humor (e.g., Monty Python and the Holy Grail).

Buddy Comedy

Clashing friends (e.g., Dumb and Dumber).

Coming of Age Comedy

Youthful laughs (e.g., Superbad).

Dark Comedy

A style of comedy that makes light of subject matter that is generally considered taboo

Disaster Comedy

A comedic film centered around a disaster—or the threat of one—as characters hilariously struggle to prevent it, survive it, or deal with its aftermath.

Family Comedy

A comedic film about a family and its relationships, conflicts, or adventures—and/or a film with content suitable and entertaining for audiences of all ages.

Fish Out of Water Comedy

Humor in new settings (e.g., Beverly Hills Cop).

Heist/Crime Comedy

A comedic film centered around planning, attempting, or dealing with the consequences of a heist, robbery, scam, or other criminal activity.

Holiday Comedy

A comedic film in which a holiday, holiday tradition, or seasonal celebration is central to the story and its conflicts.

Mockumentary

A type of film that takes the form of a documentary but presents fictional or parody content in a satirical or humorous manner.

Mystery Comedy

A comedic film centered around investigating or solving a mystery, unusual occurrence, disappearance, or crime.

Road Trip Comedy

A comedic, journey-driven film in which characters travel from place to place, with the trip itself shaping the story, relationships, or characters.

Romantic Comedy

A lighthearted story centered on love, where humor drives the journey toward a romantic connection.

Superhero Comedy

Spoofing heroics (e.g., Deadpool).

Workplace Comedy

Office antics (e.g., The Office).

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.

Holiday Horror Film

Films centered around holidays, twisting festive cheer into terror.

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.

Wrong Place, Wrong Time Horror Film

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

Genre Drawing