Ninth annual 50 Hour Slam kicks off tonight at KSPS Studio

You can do a lot in 50 hours.

You can take a long road trip, start and finish a book, or binge-watch two or three shows you’ve been meaning to catch up on.

This weekend, teams of filmmakers will attempt to write, shoot and edit a short film, all in 50 hours as part of the ninth annual 50 Hour Slam.

Films must be between three and six minutes and must incorporate specific criteria. Last year, teams had to include in their film a seed, a shot of the skating ribbon and, depending on the number they received when they signed in, inspiration from a piece of art created by a local artist (Vanessa Swenson, Reinaldo Gil Zambrano or Lisa Waddle) touching on the theme of growth.

The slam kicks off tonight at KSPS Studio, 3911 S. Regal St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and close at 7:15 p.m. Teams then have until 9:30 p.m. Sunday to turn in their film.

A panel of professional filmmakers, critics and independent judges will select 15 films, which will then be screened at the Bing Crosby Theater on May 4. The judges will select the top film and the audience will vote for their favorite, which will be announced after the screening.