Submission Information

Short Film (5 Minutes or less)

Create a short film that tells a complete and compelling story in 5 minutes or less. Use your creativity to develop imaginative visuals, engaging characters, and a strong narrative. Whether it’s a comedy, drama, or something totally unique, focus on delivering a clear and memorable story. Make sure your film demonstrates your best skills in storytelling, directing, and editing. Keep it concise, impactful, and original!

Documentaries (5 Minutes or less)

Create a short documentary that captures real-life stories, moments, or issues in under 5 minutes. Your documentary can take many forms—whether it’s a news story, a Rock-U-Mentary about a band/artist, or a funny Mock-U-Mentary that puts a fun twist on real events. Focus on topics like personal journeys, cultural experiences, social issues, or unique discoveries. Use your skills to craft a clear and engaging narrative, supported by strong visuals and authentic storytelling.

Animation (3 Minutes or less)

Celebrate the art of animated storytelling by creating a film using one of the following styles: stop-motion, cut-out animation, motion graphics, claymation, or AI-generated animation. Use your creativity and technical skills to bring characters, objects, or ideas to life in a way that captivates your audience. Focus on engaging visuals, imaginative storytelling, and offering a unique perspective to your viewers through animation.

How-To  (3 Minutes or less)

Create a fun and engaging instructional video that teaches the audience how to do something simple, such as tying a shoelace, making a snack, or mastering a quick life hack. Focus on clear instructions, step-by-step demonstrations, and a creative approach to keep viewers interested. Use visuals, music, and narration effectively to make your video both informative and entertaining. Remember to keep it concise!

Promotion/Commercial (30 Seconds Maximum) 

Create a commercial that promotes the ABCUSD film festival by showcasing what makes it special. Highlight the unique aspects, such as the variety of film categories, the exciting atmosphere, special events, or opportunities for rising filmmakers. Use creative visuals, music, and messaging to grab attention and make a lasting impression—all within a 30-sec time frame!

Public Service Announcement (1 Minute or less)

Create a powerful and impactful PSA that shines a light on critical issues and inspires action. Use creative storytelling to deliver a clear and urgent message on topics that matter to your community and the world. Your goal is to make a lasting impression in 1 minute or less, motivating viewers to think, feel, and take meaningful steps toward positive change.

Examples include: 

Environment

• Reducing Plastic Waste: Use Reusable Items

• Conserving Energy: Turn Off the Lights

Community and Kindness

• Standing Up Against Bullying

• Helping New Students Feel Welcome

Personal Growth 

• Time Management Tips for Students

• How to Stay Motivated in School

Digital Responsibility 

• Think Before You Post: Social Media Etiquette

• The Importance of Screen-Time Balance

Design an eye-catching and creative movie poster that represents the spirit of a fictional film of your creation. Your poster should capture the audience’s attention, showcase your artistic and digital technology skills, and effectively communicate the theme, tone, or message of the film.

• Size: 11x17 inches

• Format: Digital (JPEG or PDF, 300 DPI resolution)

• Original artwork only—no copyrighted images or designs.

  1. Designs should be created in a digital platform like Canva or Adobe. 

  2. Original artwork means created by the student and not copyrighted. 

• Ensure text is readable and visuals are high quality.

Content to include on poster:

• Film title (must be prominently displayed)

• Tagline (optional but encouraged)

• Key visuals or graphics that reflect the film’s theme

• Credits section (e.g., director, writer, and cast names—real or fictional)

General Rules

Must be a current ABCUSD student in 7th-12th grades.

Format and length (Specified under Formatting Requirements below)

Limit of 2 entries per student.

All films that are not in English must have English language subtitles.

Must include the following information:

• Directed by, production Team, Royalty free Music, School Site, Age, and  Grade.

A signed Media Release form will be required for every person that worked on the film (crew), acted in the film (cast), or whose voice can be heard in the film (cast).

Overall Guidelines

• No violence (acts, weapons, blood, etc.)

• No drugs

• No bullying

• No sexual content

• No politics

• Copyright free music & visuals

FORMAT SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL FILM SUBMISSIONS

• 1080p, H.264, Audio -6dB

• Films should be submitted in  .mov, .mp4, or .m4v format.

• Premiere Pro: Export in 1080p 

• WE Video: Export to Mp4 

Submission (file) Naming Convention:

LastName_School_Category 

*For School name use abbreviation, CHS, AHS, etc.

FORMAT FOR MOVIE POSTER DESIGN SUBMISSIONS

Size: 11x17 inches

Format: Digital (JPEG or PDF)

Original artwork only—no copyrighted images or designs.

Ensure text is readable and visuals are high quality.

Content to include on Movie Poster:

Film title (must be prominently displayed)

Tagline (optional but encouraged)

Key visuals or graphics that reflect the film’s theme

Credits section (e.g., director, writer, and cast names—fictional)

Movie Poster Submission (file) Naming Convention:

LastName_School_Poster 

*For School name use abbreviation, CHS, AHS, etc.

We are inviting all finalists to submit a short (60-90 sec) video acceptance speech by April 1st. Student creators please record an acceptance video (imagine it’s the Oscars). This is the chance for personal statements or thank-you’s to those that supported the project! Upload the video the Acceptance Speech Assignment in Google Classroom. At the live event, this video will play as students walk up to the stage. Note: being asked to create a video is not a guarantee that you have won the award. You will only see your video acceptance if your finalist project is announced as the winner. 

All students are required to complete a student media release to submit a film or movie poster. (Click below to access form)

     ABCUSD Student Media Release Form

If you need additional support, please contact a CTE Film/Media Teachers at your school site:

• Carmenita Middle School - Ms. Angela Kao and Ms. Jamie Kenyon 

• Fedde Middle School - Mr. Joseph Ochoa 

• Haskell Middle School - Mr. Eric Gutierrez and Mr. Joseph Ochoa 

• Ross Middle School - Mr. John Sandate 

• Tetzlaff Middle School - Mr. Ryan Romero 

• Artesia High School - Mr. Joe Romero

• Cerritos High School - Mr. Joe Randeen 

• Gahr High School - Mr. Christopher Thiessen

• Tracy High School - Ms. Shelley Richey

• Whitney High School - Mr. Darly David