Your Story. Your Voice. Your Impact.

Welcome to the FND In Focus Annual Video Competition participant hub! 

This is your go-to space for everything you need to know to create and submit your entry. Whether you’ve been making videos for years or this is your first time hitting “record,” you are welcome here. Your unique perspective matters — and your video could help change the way the world understands Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).

By entering, you’re joining a national community of advocates, storytellers, and changemakers working to 

Flip the Script on FND 

showing what textbooks miss, breaking down stigma, and inspiring action. 

⚠️ Important: Video submissions will only be accepted between 

November 1, 2026 at 9:00 AM EST and January 31, 2027 at 11:59 PM EST.

Any entries submitted before or after this window will not be accepted or counted, even if they are received.

Who Can Enter

The competition is open to all individuals and teams located in the United States.

Participants may include:

• People living with FND

• Family members and supporters

• Advocates and community members

• Healthcare professionals

• Students and creatives

• Anyone interested in helping raise awareness

Eligibility to participate in the FND In Focus Video Competition is based on the requirements outlined below.

Participants must:

• Be located or residing in the United States (50 states only)

• Can be of any age; participants under 18 must submit a Parent/Guardian Consent Form in order to participate. 

• No prior experience required—the competition is open to all skill levels

• Submit only one (1) video entry per person or team; multiple submissions from the same participant or team will not be accepted

Conflict of Interest Restrictions

To ensure fairness and integrity within the competition, the following individuals are not eligible to participate:

• Competition organizers, staff, or individuals directly involved in planning, judging, or administration

• Judges and their immediate family members

• Anyone with access to confidential information or insider scoring materials

See the Official Contest Terms & Conditions here. 

No prior filmmaking experience required — creativity and authenticity are what count most!

Permissions & Rights

By submitting your video, you:

How Videos Are Judged

All eligible submissions are reviewed by a panel of judges and scored using a standardized rubric.

Each video is evaluated across five (5) categories, each worth up to 5 points:

• Relevance to Theme: How clearly and thoughtfully does the video address the annual competition theme?

• Accuracy & Responsibility: How accurately and responsibly does the video represent Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)?

• Creativity & Originality: How unique and imaginative is the concept and execution?

• Storytelling & Communication: How effectively does the video tell a story or communicate its message?

• Impact & Clarity: How impactful and clear is the video overall?

Judges may award up to 5 additional bonus points for exceptional quality, giving a maximum total possible score of 30 points.

Scores from all judges are averaged to determine the Judges’ Pick winners.

Ties are broken using rubric category scores, starting with Relevance to Theme, followed by additional review if needed.

The highest-scoring videos (after Judges’ Pick winners are determined) advance to the People’s Choice voting round, where the public can watch the finalists and vote for their favorites. 

In addition, the top 10% of remaining high-scoring submissions are recognized as Honorable Mentions, helping highlight outstanding videos from across the competition.

You can find the Official Scoring Rubric in the Participant Resources page.

Prizes & Recognition

Note: All prize amounts are in U.S. Dollars (USD). Prizes are subject to change, depending on sponsorships or donations received.

Prizes are distributed by Not Defined By FND, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All awards support educational and awareness efforts in line with our charitable mission.

Participants have the opportunity to be recognized through several award categories:

Participant Resources

To help you prepare your submission, visit the Participant Resources page to download these materials:

Questions?

Visit our FAQ page or contact us at:

📧 info@notdefinedbyfnd.org or visit the Contact Us page.