Musicbed's annual 30-day short-film competition, Musicbed Challenge, is officially underway!

Submit a short film and compete for over $100K in prizes and feedback from industry-leading judges!

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The Musicbed Challenge returned for its sixth instalment on February 25, 2025. It's an annual 30-day short-film competition designed to inspire filmmakers and help them break through creative constraints by submitting an original Narrative, Spec Ad, or Documentary. The top-scoring submissions in each category (and the crowd-favorite People’s Choice) will win their share of over $100K in grants and gear, along with feedback from Musicbed’s panel of industry-leading judges.

Filmmakers will have access to a curated Musicbed playlist to help create their original short film for one of the three categories, along with exclusive footage from Filmsupply's cinematic collection and editing assets provided by ACIDBITE. Submissions will be judged by a panel of the best and brightest in the business.

To get started on your Musicbed Challenge submission, access the starter kit. Submissions close March 27 at 5 pm UTC, giving you a over a month to submit your film.

Voting for People's Choice runs from April 4 until April 11. The winners in each category will be announced on April 18.

This Year's Musicbed Challenge Prizes

This year’s winners will split over $100K in prizes. Here's what each category winner will receive.

Documentary

• $15K Cash Grant

• Musicbed Business 1-Year Subscription

• $2,000 Filmsupply Licensing Credit

• Saturation 1-Year Production Membership

• ACIDBITE Complete Acid Collection

• ShotDeck 1 Year Subscription

• Moment Travel Bag + Lens Filter

• FilmConvert Nitrate

• $350 Clever Supply Co Store Credit

• Nanlite PavoSlim 60C Lights

• FUJIFILM X-H2S + FUJINON XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR kits

• AOD Lifetime Access

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• $15K Cash Grant

• Musicbed Business 1-Year Subscription

• $2,000 Filmsupply Licensing Credit

• Saturation 1-Year Production Membership

• ACIDBITE Complete Acid Collection

• ShotDeck 1 Year Subscription

• Moment Travel Bag + Lens Filter

• FilmConvert Nitrate

• $350 Clever Supply Co Store Credit

• Nanlite PavoSlim 60C Lights

• FUJIFILM X-H2S + FUJINON XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR kits

• Full Time Filmmaker Premium
  (Lifetime Access)

Narrative

• $15K Cash Grant

• Musicbed Business 1-Year Subscription

• $2,000 Filmsupply Licensing Credit

• Saturation 1-Year Production Membership

• ACIDBITE Complete Acid Collection

• ShotDeck 1 Year Subscription

• Moment Travel Bag + Lens Filter

• FilmConvert Nitrate

• $350 Clever Supply Co Store Credit

• Nanlite PavoSlim 60C Lights

• FUJIFILM GFX100 II + FUJINON GF45-100mmF4 R LM WR

• Kolder Creative Subscription

People's Choice

• Musicbed Business 1-Year Subscription

• $2,000 Filmsupply Licensing Credit

• Saturation 1-Year Production Membership

• ACIDBITE Complete Acid Collection

• ShotDeck 1 Year Subscription

• Moment Travel Bag + Lens Filter

• FilmConvert Cinematch

• $350 Clever Supply Co Store Credit

• Nanlite PavoSlim 60C Lights

• FUJIFILM X-H2S + FUJINON XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR kits

• Full Time Filmmaker Premium
(Lifetime Access)

• Kolder Creative Subscription

Meet This Year's Musicbed Challenge Judges

This year's panel of Musicbed Challenge judges include:

• Iqbal Ahmed—Director at 
Hungry Man

• Ian Liu—Freelance Creative Director

• Roxanne Artesona—EP and Head of Sales at Durable Goods and Rodeo Show in LA

• Taylor Kavanaugh—Founder of Blue Ox Films

• Jonathan Desir—Executive Producer at Whirlpool Wow Studios

• Sam Kolder—Director & Cinematographer at KOLD

• Wes Whitener—Creative Director and 
Co-Founder at Guesthouse

• Brian Gonsar—SVP, Director of Production at Rise & Run

• Jesse Crowell—Executive Producer at Blue Chalk Media

• Mark Bone—Director at The Art of Documentary, Inc.

• Anita Grigore—Music Supervisor

• Christian Zabala—Music Supervisor at Format Entertainment

Submissions are scored based on Creativity, Storytelling, Song Use, and Craft. After the panel of judges reviews submissions, Musicbed will announce the winners in each category and unveil the People's Choice recipient.

Those interested in submitting their film to the Musicbed Challenge can do so here. Submissions are open now and will be accepted until March 27 at 5 pm UTC.

For more information about the Musicbed Challenge, visit the official website: https://challenge.musicbed.com