Simu Liu and Letitia Wright Named Honorary Judges for AGBO’s 5th Annual Global Filmmaking Competition, “No Sleep ‘til Film Fest”

Meta joins as presenting sponsor for the virtual short film festival which opens for submissions on September 26th and will be judged by AGBO’s Creative Leadership, including the Russo Brothers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AGBO celebrates the fifth edition of their filmmaking competition, “No Sleep ‘til Film Fest,” inviting filmmakers from all over the world to make a short film in only 48 hours. This year, the studio welcomes actor and producer Simu Liu and actress and filmmaker Letitia Wright as honorary judges, alongside AGBO’s Creative Leadership team, including Co-Founders Anthony and Joe Russo.

“Simu and Letitia are truly admirable artists who push creative boundaries while also making space to uplift and mentor the next generation of storytellers,” said AGBO Chief Creative Officer Angela Russo-Otstot. “We’re especially proud to have them join us in celebrating the filmmakers participating in this festival, which so perfectly reflects AGBO’s mission to foster innovative filmmaking while connecting diverse voices and audiences from around the world.”

This year, Meta joins the festival as the Presenting Sponsor, underscoring its commitment to empowering creativity and innovation in storytelling through cutting-edge technology and community support.

AGBO’s Philanthropic Commitment: Building a Global Creative Community

At the heart of “No Sleep ‘til Film Fest” is AGBO’s mission to champion emerging filmmakers and create spaces for them to connect, collaborate and grow. The two-day festival challenges participants to make films that are three minutes or less for a chance to win prizes and receive ongoing mentorship from the independent studio. The virtual festival will be open worldwide for submissions from September 26th – 28th with a creative prompt released online September 26th at 5pm PT; filmmakers will have 48 hours to write, produce, and edit their films based on the prompt. All submissions are due at 5pm PT on September 28th and winners will be announced November 12th.

AGBO’s support for new filmmaking voices extends well beyond the festival itself. The top three winners will receive a filmmaking prize package – equipped with essential resources and best-in-class equipment from Meta, RED Digital Camera, GoPro, Blackmagic Design, Avid, happy® coffee and AGBO – to fuel their future filmmaking endeavors. Winners will also join the AGBO Storytellers Collective, an alumni network connecting filmmakers from other AGBO-sponsored initiatives such as the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum and the Slamdance Film Festival Fellowship, where the Russos premiered their first feature film in 1997.

Through ongoing guidance, resources, and networking opportunities, AGBO fosters lasting relationships with its filmmakers – serving as mentors, collaborators, and champions long after the competition ends. The Storytellers Collective is designed not only to keep filmmakers and grant recipients connected with AGBO, but also with one another, cultivating a dynamic community of globally diverse artists who inspire and uplift one another. Over the past four years, “No Sleep ‘til Film Fest” has received more than 2,500 submissions from over 60 countries, showcasing the power of storytelling to bridge cultures and spark innovation.

Celebrating Excellence in Short Filmmaking

The festival’s panel of judges include AGBO Co-Founders Anthony and Joe Russo, Partner Donald Mustard, Chief Creative Officer Angela Russo-Otstot, Chief Innovation Officer Jake Aust, Chief Marketing Officer Marian Koltai-Levine, President of Film Michael Disco and President of Television Scott Nemes. Members of the Storytellers Collective will also participate in awarding the “AGBO Storytellers Collective Award” to an outstanding filmmaker who will join the alumni network.

The festival’s 2024 winners include “Dear Nora” directed by Christina Brennan (US), “FALL” directed by Ben David Sharp & Josh Madison Lewis (UK), and “The Universal Language" directed by Elijah Boulton (Canada). Their films, along with this year’s winning entries, can be found on AGBO’s fan community AGBOVERSE and the company’s social channels.

To join the competition and to view official rules, please visit https://AGBO.com/NoSleep. AGBO’s “No Sleep ‘til Film Fest” will open for submissions September 26th, 2025 and close September 28th, 2025. There is no entry fee, the festival is free to enter and open to filmmakers worldwide. See terms and conditions for further eligibility details.