Thousands of British Columbians have been sprinting through the filmmaking process this weekend as part of the province’s largest indie film festival.

B.C.’s largest, most hectic – and fast-paced indie film festival – back for its 11th year.

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There are nearly 200 teams scattered across the province producing movies – bound by one major constraint – they only have 48 hours to do it.

“Basically, people are allowed to do anything in their films that’s allowed by international laws,” said Joel McCarthy, co-founder and festival director of Run & Gun Film Festival.

The festival has become a major proving ground for local talent, counting stars like Hudson Williams among its past and current participants.

“It sold out within two minutes, and we expanded it, said Stephen Morgan, junior festival director.

“We usually have 150 or 160, this year we went no limits, and here could be 3,000 people making films right now.”

While Vancouver is popularly known as Hollywood North, its indie scene has been turning heads with many in the industry eager to show what they can do outside the rigidity of a commercial set.

Aspiring filmmakers hoping to prove what they are capable of.

“He has been participating in the Run & Gun Film Festival and our other film competitions for the past five years, and so it’s been really cool to see someone who’s always involved in the community become an international superstar overnight,” McCarthy said, referring to Hudson Williams, the star in the hit TV show Heated Rivalry.

“There are rumours he might be a juror for Run N Gun. If you’re making a Run N Gun this year, you might have Hudson Williams watching.”

“These are professional filmmakers, these are people who work on set, or they’re aspiring to, they’re former students, or they’re in film school, and they make a big production of this. This is a big chance for them to show exactly their own creativity and their own style,” McCarthy added.

But more than that, the festival has become a cherished opportunity to simply create.

“Just how many laughs we’re having on set today, it’s just a good reminder that filmmaking doesn’t need to be so serious. It should be fun, I think we all in Vancouver stress about it so much, but it’s supposed to be fun,” said Zakiah Shana Dumansky, a Run & Gun filmmaker.

“The community of Run & Gun has been so amazing, and everybody who has come together to help out has just been incredible,” said Kyra Weston, another Run & Gun filmmaker.

Once the scripting, costume design, shooting, and editing are wrapped up, the contestants anxiously wait to see whether they will be selected as one of the finalists whose short films get screened at the awards gala.

This indie oasis is a welcome change of pace in a city where independent ventures have been crushed by regulations and the cost of living.

“Arts and culture are so important, and a lot of the people who are trying to work as artists in this city are just barely getting by, and anything that can support the arts, I’m a big fan of,” McCarthy said.

Films will be screened at Vancouver’s Rio Theatre over several days towards the end of June, with the final competition and gala happening at the Orpheum on July 4.