Frankfort48 Film Contest
Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the 2024 Frankfort48 Film Contest. We had an incredible turnout this year, and the caliber of films submitted was truly outstanding. We look forward to next year’s contest! Please scroll down to watch the 2024 winners.
About Frankfort48 film contest
To participate in the annual Frankfort48 Film Contest, aspiring filmmakers are asked to create a 3-to-5 minute film celebrating the beauty and unique character of Northern Michigan, using three specific storyline components, which are revealed to the filmmakers at the start of the contest. Participating filmmakers then have 48 hours to conceive their ideas, scout locations, film, edit, and present their mini-masterpieces. Following the film showings, a panel of judges selects the top three films.
Frankfort48 Prizes
Cash and prizes are awarded to the top three Frankfort48 filmmakers:
First place - $1,000 and two VIP passes to the Frankfort Film Festival
Second place - $250
Third place - $100
Frankfort48 Judges
abigail marlowe
Abigail Marlowe was raised in London, England. She moved to New York at 18 to study theater at Bard College under the tutelage of Joanne Akalaitis of NYC's famed Public Theater.
LA beckoned, where she quickly flourished in film and TV. Career highlights include working with Ben Kingsley in 'The Sopranos', with Denzel Washington in 'The Equalizer 2' and originating two characters for the multiple Emmy award winning Netflix show, 'Arcane'.
In addition to film and television she is a prolific commercial and voice over artist. A writer and producer herself, she is delighted to be part of the Frankfort48 Film Contest!
Grant Myers
Raised in Washington DC, seasoned in Los Angeles, and now living in Traverse City, Grant Pierce Myers has been a professional screenwriter for nearly 15 years. A graduate of the New York Film Academy and Boston University’s College of Communication, Grant has written for Warner Bros., Sony, Universal, and most notably wrote the screenplay for 20th Century Fox’s 2014 hit The Maze Runner, starring Dylan O’Brien. Recently Grant adapted the hit book series The Animorphs, which will hopefully hit the big screen in 2026. Grant has been coming to Frankfort since he was a baby, and watched many of his favorite films for the first time at the Garden Theater. A local “premier” of The Maze Runner was even held at the Garden Theater in 2014, so the Theater holds a special place in his heart.
Michael Mittelstaedt
Michael Mittelstaedt is a filmmaker and the founding director of Film and New Media at Interlochen Center for the Arts, an arts boarding school for ambitious young artists from around the world. His accomplished alumni produce, write, shoot and cut for Netflix, Amazon, Dreamworks, Hulu, Disney Studios, and Skywalker Sound. Previous to his work at Interlochen Center, Michael was producer/director of television and documentaries at Broadview Media, Chicago.
Deeply invested in the value of community, identity and collaboration as they relate to creative and personal development, Michael was selected to present at SXSWEDU in 2019 for innovative applications of these values he designed for his curriculum in teaching visual story and collaboration,
An advocate for regional filmmakers, Michael was appointed by the governor of Michigan to the Michigan Film Commission Advisory Council to help shape the direction of the future of film in the state.
In 2020, Michael launched the Cinema Collective, an influential network of alumni and teaching artists, whose mission is to cultivate and produce new works of cinema each year; principal photography of the Collective’s production begins this spring.
When he is not teaching, Michael works toward completion of his western, Chasing Daylight / chasingdaylightmovie.com
7th Annual Frankfort48 Winners
Congratulations to everyone who participated in the 7th Annual Frankfort48 Film Contest. For those who couldn't join us for the public screening, here are the top three films picked by our judges.
first place: to the moon and back
second place: chasing the dream
third place: dear dad
Frankfort48 by Jess Jacklin
Frankfort48 Sponsorship Opportunities
Consider becoming a sponsor of the Frankfort48 Film Contest and supporting aspiring filmmakers. Levels of sponsorship benefits are outlined below. For additional information or questions, contact KATIE JONES, Executive Director of The Garden Theater.
Marquee Level Sponsorship
Cost: $550
Marquee Sponsor Benefits:
Company Logo or Name prominently displayed on event poster
Company Logo or Name on pre-show big screen presentation
Six Garden Theater Gift Certificates good for future movie admission and popcorn
Garden Theater swag bag of goodies
Producer Level Sponsorship
Cost: $275
Producer Sponsor Benefits:
Company Logo or Name on event poster
Four Garden Theater Gift Certificates good for future movie admission and popcorn
Garden Theater Hoodie
Director Level Sponsorship
Cost: $125
Director Sponsor Benefits:
Name on event poster
Two Garden Theater Gift Certificates good for future movie admission and popcorn
