Our Story

Back in 2001 a man had  a dream: Challenge people to spend the month of April making short films and embracing the spirit of uncritical invention. At the end of those 30 days, everyone would gather at The Black Tie Gala and Film Screening to watch the films together on the big screen. And laugh. The rules were simple: 30 days, 3 minutes or less. The 3/4 Film Festival was born. The VHS tapes poured in. A warehouse in Oakland was filled with chairs and art and beer and popcorn. A good samaritan showed up with a car load of equipment to project the films. There were sound pieces and animations and dramas and comedies. There was a lot of laughing. And formal wear. There was voting and there were winners. Everyone who made a movie got to experience the feeling of creative accomplishment. Everyone who didn't wanted to do it next year. But, alas, the man's heart belonged to another 30-day project and there was no next year. A friend had a vision for a new film and begged him to put on another show. The man told her to put on the show herself. And eventually she did. The three-minute filmmaking and laughing continued and the festival morphed into the Three-Minute Film Festival and then The Three-Minute Picture Show. Though the entries now arrive via the internet and can be watched on You-Tube, we will continue to accept  30 day challenges and allow ourselves to play. And we will gather and watch our films together on the big screen and laugh. And there will always be popcorn. And formal wear. PS: The friend will always be thankful that the man had the vision and let her run with it.

What’s Going on Here? How 3MPS Works & FAQs:

The Three-Minute Picture Show exists solely to inspire uncritical creativity! Anyone ages 6 and up, regardless of experience, can sign up to take part. Participants have the month of July to create a cinematic masterpiece, 3 minutes or less, and upload it (don’t worry, we’ll tell you how) to 3-minute HQ. They also receive encouraging emails throughout July, and for those who can make it to a screening in Portland or San Francisco, get to see their films on the big screen in front of a live audience at our glamorous, faux-Oscars style screenings! The Black-Tie Gala is for adults and The Twinkling To-D0 is for films made by kids ages 6-17. Kids can work solo, with friends or even with their favorite grown-ups. In fact that’s why we added the kids screening in 2010, because we thought it would be a cool project for kids and adults to do together. Don’t live close to San Francisco or Portland? No problem! 3MPS receives entries from all over. You do not need to be present to be a winner! Don’t know what to wear to The Black Tie Gala or Twinkling To-Do? You worked hard to make your film and you deserve a fancy screening! Really anything goes, but we are literally rolling out our (admittedly short) red carpet for you and our fake paparrazi team can’t wait to take your picture, so we hope you take it up a notch! Think red-carpet meets Halloween and you’re good to go! How do I sign up? Register on our site to reserve your space. We’ll ask you a few questions so we know which screening to play your film at and we’ll get your email so we can stay in touch with you throughout the film making process. There is a very small sign up fee which simply helps us cover our expenses. Will my film play for sure? Short answer, most likely yes! We know that great ideas and creativity can make up for lack of experience and encourage you to make the best film that you can. All films made for The Twinkling To-Do MUST be appropriate for all ages. Seriously. When and where will the film screenings take place? The Portland screenings will take place on Saturday, August 20 at the Clinton Street Theater. Times to be determined. The San Francisco screenings will take place on Saturday, August 27 at the Victoria Theatre, times to be determined. While The Twinkling To-Do is all about family fun, we recommend that those under 18 do not attend The Black Tie Gala & Film Screening.