Sweded for the Summer
SWEDED FOR THE SUMMER A DIY BLOCKBUSTER FILM FESTIVAL
From the team behind Sweded to Death, Fort Collins’ favorite $0-budget DIY horror film festival, comes the next season of handmade blockbuster chaos.
We’ve traded the fake blood and truly terrible wigs for action sequences, disaster movies, and whatever our teams can build out of cardboard and pure determination.
Homegrown. Handmade. Heroes. Welcome to Sweded for the Summer.
HOW IT WORKS:
On Thursday, July 9, teams will draw three blockbuster titles from our pre-approved list: Action, Disaster films, Superheros and more. They’ll choose one to remake (or pay $5 for a reroll), then have one week to recreate it as a 5-minute short using only what they can find, borrow, or build.
No money. No CGI. Just creativity, craftiness, and chaos.
SCREENING NIGHT:
All completed films will be screened at our Film Festival on Saturday, July 25, 6–9PM, with the award ceremony to follow.
Audience votes will determine the Audience Favorite, while a panel of judges will hand out awards for:
Best Remake
Best Actor
Best Effects
Best Score
The Final Cut Award: for the film that had no business being that good on that budget
WHO IT’S FOR:
Filmmakers of all levels, summer movie fans, first-timers, theater kids, seasoned film nerds. Basically anyone who’s ever watched a movie and thought, “I could make that.” This summer, you can.
Sweded for the Summer – Abridged Rules
Film Length: 1–5 minutes, including credits, plus a 30-second info card we provide (max runtime: 5:30)
Budget: $0. No spending, renting, or downloading. Scavenge and swede.
Filming Period: Jul 9–17. No pre-shot footage allowed—it all must be fresh.
Effects: Only practical, in-camera effects. No CGI, no green screen, no digital titles.
Sound & Music: Must be original and made by your team. DIY that blockbuster score.
Submission: Due Jul 17 by 11:59 PM via Google Drive. Max 1GB, 1080p or lower. Formats: .mp4, .mov, or .wmv
QUESTIONS?
IG: @SwededtoDeath
Important Dates
Jul 9, 5–7PM – In-person signups at The Lyric
Jul 9–10 – Online signups open (if slots remain)
Jul 17, 11:59PM – Films due
Jul 25, 6–9PM – Screening & Awards at The Lyric