Cincinnati's homegrown film and video makers are buzzing about a new competition in August that involves a run-and-gun mission to write, shoot and edit a short film in two days.

The 48 Hour Film Project proved a hit last year in six cities - Washington, New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Austin - and for the 2003 round several new locations have been added, including Cincinnati.

Teams are assigned a genre, a prop, a character and a line of dialogue by random drawing. Then each team, must use the elements in a digital project created entirely between 7 p.m. on Aug. 8 and 7 p.m. Aug. 10. Finished work will be screened and judged (at a site yet to be named) on Aug. 11. The winning entry will compete against the best work from other cities for prizes such as computer equipment.

Entry deadline is July 18. For applications, visit Web site .

Documentary screening

Straight Outta Hunters Point, a documentary about hip-hop music, gang conflict and environmental degradation in a San Francisco neighborhood, screens Monday at 8 p.m. at SSNova gallery, entry at 603 W. McMicken Ave., at the back of the Mockbee Building. Admission is $5. For more information about the movie, directed by Kevin Epps, visit Web site. For information about the gallery event, e-mail info@ssnova.org or visit Web site.

Teens featured

Teen filmmakers Brian Amburgey and Tyler Wirtanen will be featured guests on Viewfinder, a locally produced talk show about film and video hosted by Alphonzo Wesson III, on WCET Channel 48 on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. to talk about their new production, Who Is Charles? The short film, starring local actor Bob Elkins and Cincinnati native Felix Tipper, will be unveiled at a local screening in July; details are pending. For more information, e-mail tyler_wirtanen@yahoo.com.

Free movies for kids

Beginning Wednesday, June 25 with The Rugrats Movie, Showcase Cinemas Springdale will offer free admission to a special 10 a.m. film once a week to youngsters who present a book report at the box office. Children under 6 and accompanying adults also can see the movies for free.

Dates and titles of upcoming free films are: July 2, Antz; July 9, Stuart Little 2; July 16, Hey Arnold! The Movie; July 23, Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie; July 30, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron; Aug. 6, Space Jam; Aug. 13, The Wild Thornberrys Movie.

Official book report forms are available at the theater, 12064 Springfield Pike, and online.

'The Roadies'

The Roadies is among the latest local short movies about to debut; a trailer for the 55-minute project is online at roadiesmovie.tripod.com. A screening is planned for August, including live music from Motion Sick Love Slaves and Leap Skyward Questions? E-mail kksm1th@yahoo.com.

E-mail mmcgurk@enquirer.com