Festivals & Contests (for students)

DoGoodDocs - Social Issues Documentaries
Deadline: generally October to register, but finished film usually due in late Nov
What: documentary highlighting a non-profit organization that deals with a social issue (example: domestic violence).
Award: cash scholarship, plus cash donation to the non-profit organization featured in the film, and the student's school. Total award amount for first prize is $10,000.

SI DocFest is now on Twitter! You can follow by going to http://twitter.com/sidocfest and clicking on "Follow".

KCSM Spotlight Festival
Deadline: generally in February
What: Open to high school students, film of any genre must be between 3 and 5 minutes in length. Copyright music okay (check the fine print though...). Projects may be completed as a group, however you must specify which student performed which role.
Award: may include software, cash, and broadcast on TV.

Multimedia Fest (MVROP)
Deadline: on hiatus, expected to resume as an online festival in Spring 2012
Why: We've discontinued the live-event festival due to lack of participation by both the community and those who enter. Less than half who entered were actually showing up, and that makes it hard for us teachers to maintain the motivation to spend 10-20 hours per week of personal time planning the event.

The LegiSchool Project
Deadline: Last year deadline was early Nov... may change.
What: Various contests, check web site for next contest.
Award: paid trip to the state capitol

Project Youth View
Deadline: between December and March, has varied.
What: Video produced by a youth age 21 or younger. Must be less than 10 minutes in length.
Award: decided by "audience choice" it may include cash, animation studio tour, and classes.

Safe Jobs for Youth Month PSA Contest
Deadline: generally mid-February.
What: Teens between 14 and 18 can enter by making a :30 PSA "highlighting job safety and health".
Award: cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place

Save Me A Spot in College
Discontinued

Screenagers - Bay Area High School Film Festival
Deadline: November 2010?
What: Individual films and videos must be no longer than 15 minutes, and filmmakers may submit up to two pieces. The films are shown at the Pacific Film Archive, a local showcase for independent and world cinema.
Award: unknown

Student Cam - sponsored by C-SPAN
Deadline: mid-January
What: Documentary competition for students in grades 6-12. Video must be between 5 and 8 minutes in length and "explores an issue of national significance, reflects more than one point of view, and includes C-SPAN video". May be completed in teams of up to 3 students.
Award: $50,000 in cash prized to be distributed

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