BIG History. BIG Story. BIG Opportunity.
The Second COVID-19 World Student Film Festival is an attempt to reinvigorate local school communities by providing a positive common activity and purpose in our pandemic plagued world.
The Big Picture
What? The Second Annual COVID-19 World Student Film Festival is a free, easy-to-access online opportunity. Last year's film festival included film submissions from 76 secondary schools in 30 countries (and 11 states) on 6 continents. Films housed on YouTube.
Who? A coalition of willing students, schools, and performing, broadcasting, and film artists throughout USA and the world (Year 7/Grade 6 – Year 13/Grade 12).
Where? Film Festival will occur online and films will be shot and produced in locations throughout the World.
When? Student submissions due on May 14. International winners announced on May 28.
How? Students will work individually or in student production teams via class or extra-curricular activity.
Why? Because a reinvigoration of the community is acutely needed among students and families living in communities around the world impacted by COVID-19.
Film Festival Details
Who will serve as official film festival jurors? Judges will include distinguished journalists, authors, actors, musicians, artists, dancers, chefs, poets, scriptwriters, casting agents, film critics, theatre and film directors, producers, editors, animators, broadcasters, political commentators, academicians, leaders in government, religion, NGOs, and more
What sorts of short films may students enter into the festival? The film festival consists of twenty-one categories inclusive of fiction and nonfiction options. The sections below provide a glimpse into how films will be placed and assessed. No movie can be placed in more than two categories.
Film Categories
Option 1: My Animation
Defined: Fiction or nonfiction. Any genre on any film festival topic. Could also be claymation or Lego stop motion. Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance, and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production. Under consideration: artistic construction, screenplay, sound, camera angles, editing, and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of characterization(s), singing, rapping, movement, voiceovers, artistry.
Content: Under consideration: cohesion, originality, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, and reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 2: My Art
Defined: Arts and crafts (sculpting, painting, photography, drawing, etc…). This may be fiction or nonfiction and include such options as monologues, dialogues, interviews, docudramas, stop motion, accelerated motion, musicals, raps, animation, PowerPoints, Prezis. Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance, and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, editing, camera work, and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication & artistry.
Content Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: arts, crafts, clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness.
Option 3: My Cause
Defined: Problem or challenge or need that a student feels passionate about addressing (being part of a solution/ making a positive change). This may be fiction or nonfiction and include such options as monologues, dialogues, interviews, dramatizations, docudramas, musicals, raps, animation, PowerPoints, Prezis. Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, camera work, editing and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication & artistry.
Content Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 4: My Dance
Defined: Any student dance (original or not). A chance to demonstrate talent and skill through movement. This may be fiction or nonfiction and include such options as monologues, dialogues, interviews, docudramas, musicals, raps. Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, editing, camera work, and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication.
Content Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 5: My Faith
Defined: The philosophy or religion that a student relies upon for meaning, guidance, purpose, peace, and salvation (eternal or not). This could be fiction or nonfiction and include such options as monologues, dialogues, interviews, dramatizations, docudramas, musicals, raps, animation, PowerPoints, Prezis, etc... Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance, and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, editing, camera work, and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication & artistry.
Content Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 6: My Fashion
Defined: Anything related to fashion (a fashion show, a new style, cultural or religious garb, etc...). This may be fiction or nonfiction. Animation is allowed. Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, camera work, editing and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication & artistry.
Content Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 7: My Food
Defined: Anything diet-related. I.e. cooking show, new recipe, cultural, health, religious, geographic, and/or environmental factors. This may be fiction or nonfiction. Animation is acceptable. Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance, and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, camera work, editing, and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication & artistry.
Content Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 8: My Future
Defined: Student aspirations or predictions about the future. May include family, home, possessions, wealth, career, service lifestyle, achievements, travel, and/or residence. This may be fiction or nonfiction and include such options as monologues, dialogues, interviews, dramatizations, docudramas, musicals, raps, animation, PowerPoints, Prezis, etc... Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance, and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, camera work, editing, and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication & artistry.
Content Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 9: My Humour
Defined: Anything funny. A clever attempt to make viewers smile and laugh. This may be fiction or nonfiction and include such options as monologues, dialogues, interviews, dramatizations, docudramas, musicals, raps, animation, PowerPoints, Prezis, etc... Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance, and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, camera work, editing, and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication.
Content Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 10: My Idea
Defined: Literally, any new idea. This may be fiction or nonfiction and include such options as monologues, dialogues, interviews, dramatizations, docudramas, musicals, raps, animation, PowerPoints, Prezis, etc... Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance, and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, camera work, editing, and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication & artistry.
Content Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 11: My Investigation
Defined: Inquiry to discover and examine facts about any person, thing or idea. Could be a basic fact check. This may include such options as monologues, dialogues, interviews, docudramas, musicals, raps, animation, PowerPoints, Prezis, etc... Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance, and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, camera work, editing, and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication.
Content Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 12: My Love
Defined: A thing, place, person, animal, or idea with which (or with whom) a student holds great affection. This may be fiction or nonfiction and may include such options as monologues, dialogues, interviews, dramatizations, docudramas, musicals, raps, animation, PowerPoints, Prezis. Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, camera work, editing and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication & artistry.
Content Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 13: My Music
Defined: Either voice or instrument or any combination, original or not. A chance to portray talent and skill through music. This may be fiction or nonfiction. Animation is acceptable. Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, camera work, editing, and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, song, instrumental, any other in-front-of-camera communication & artistry.
Content Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 14: My News
Defined: Report on interesting, surprising or distinctive stories related to either a student’s direct experience or to the experience of those within his or her social, school, community or family network). This may be fiction or nonfiction. Animation is acceptable. Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, camera work, editing and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication & artistry.
Content Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 15: My Perspective
Defined: Personal commentary on a social, political, cultural, religious, or philosophical matter. This may be fiction or nonfiction and include such options as monologues, dialogues, interviews, docudramas, dramatizations, musicals, raps, animation, PowerPoints, Prezis. Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, editing, camera work, and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication & artistry.
Content Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 16: My Poetry/Spoken Word
Defined: Fiction/Nonfiction. Must be original. Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, editing, camera work, and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication & artistry.
Content (only applicable to COVID-19 experience). Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 17: My Shakespeare
Defined: Anything related to Shakespeare - his life, his characters, his stories, his words. This may be fiction or nonfiction and include such options as monologues, dialogues, interviews, docudramas, dramatizations, musicals, raps, animation, PowerPoints, Prezis, etc... Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, editing, camera work, and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication & artistry.
Content Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 18: My Story/FICTION
Defined: Student's original story. Any genre. Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, editing, camera work, and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication & artistry.
Content Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 19: My Story/NONFICTION
Defined: Slice of a life (autobiographical). Must have a plot. This may include such options as monologues, dialogues, interviews, docudramas, musicals, raps, animation, PowerPoints, Prezis. Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, editing, camera work, and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication & artistry.
Content (only applicable to COVID-19 experience). Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 20: My Trailer
Defined: Trailer to a movie that a student wants to produce or see produced. This may be fiction or nonfiction and include such options as monologues, dialogues, interviews, docudramas, dramatizations, musicals, raps, animation, PowerPoints, Prezis, etc... Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, editing, camera work, and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication & artistry.
Content Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
Option 21: My World
Defined: Glimpse of where and how a student lives (could be in the context of family, school, community, or culture). This may be fiction or non-fiction and include such options as monologues, dialogues, interviews, docudramas, dramatization, musicals, raps, animation, PowerPoints, Prezis, etc... Judging criteria may take into account overall presentation, performance and content:
Presentation: Reflecting on general quality of production (with consideration given to level of technology used - phones are acceptable). Under consideration: directing, set, sound, editing, camera work, and other aspects.
Performance: Quality of voice-over narration, in-front-of-camera communication & artistry.
Content Totality of information conveyed. Under consideration: clarity of message, originality, cohesion, relevancy, insightfulness, cleverness, reference to or integration of COVID-19.
What will the judging process look like? The judging process will consist of 2 phases: Local & Global. See timeline and sequence below.
Local School COVID-19 Student Film Festival. Each school develops its own process for determining which films will move to the final international round (maximum of three films per category per school). Submissions to the international round must be done at some point between Monday, March 15, and Friday, May 14.
COVID-19 International Student Film Festival. The inter-school competition will include judges external to participating schools. Overall COVID-19 Film Festival Winners will be announced on Friday, May 28.
What if a finalist submission does not achieve placement in Phases 2? Does that mean it will not receive any award or special recognition? Two answers. First, all final round contenders will receive a digital ”Finalists Certificate”. The final blue-ribbon jury will also announce a variety of additional awards not mentioned in the judging process description. Categories may include “Most Novel”, “More with Less”, “Best Actor”, etc…
Will junior high/middle school students be competing with their senior high counterparts? No. Middle/JH students will compete separately from SH students. However, the film festival does not oppose some vertical diversity in student production teams. While every film must be submitted either in the JH/Middle or SH category, the following combinations would be permissible:
A. Junior high, KS3, middle school students may serve as major or minor actors as well as secondary crew members in SENIOR HIGH productions. Adults may play minor acting roles.
B. Senior high students may play secondary roles as actors and/or crew-members in JUNIOR HIGH productions. Adults may also play minor acting roles.
Will winners receive prizes? Yet to be determined. Working on it.
Will each school’s student videos be made available to the general public? We hope that each school submits as many films as possible to the web platform of the COVID-19 World Student Film Festival. Student production teams themselves will determine whether or not their names are included in their film credits or YouTube titles. Needless to say, The more films available, the more enriching the experience for all participants.
What are the rules and guidelines for films submitted to the May 14 International Round?
THE DO’S
All films must represent original work by the members of each production team.
All films must be 2 minutes or less. All others will be disqualified.
All films must reference COVID-19 somehow and somewhere in each submitted film (via words or image);
All films must be produced primarily by secondary students (KS3, middle school, junior and senior high).
All submissions to the international festival on or before May 14 must include an Image Release Form (available on request).
All films that utilize 3rd -party music must clear this with the original owners/license holders.
All films may include names of student production team members; however, all films must include the name of the responsible Production Team and school represented.
THE DON’TS
No submission can contain any third party work, INCLUDING ANY MUSICAL RECORDING OR COMPOSITION, unless (1) Production Team has a license to use such work in the submission from the owners/licensors; (2) such work is in the public domain.
No submission may contain pornography or obscene content.
No submission can infringe on a third party’s intellectual property/privacy rights.
What if a submission does not adhere to the rules and guidelines of this film festival? If the international film festival organizers are aware of a submission that has not adhered to the above stated rules and guidelines, that submission will be eliminated from the competition. However, if time allows and the violation was accidental, festival organizers will attempt to provide the Production Team an opportunity to resubmit their film.
What will serve as the web platform for the May 2021 final round? COVID-19 Student Film Festival YouTube Page. COVID 19 World Student Film Festival YouTube Site
2021 COVID-19 International Student Film Festival
Timeline & Sequence
PHASE 1 (Local School Level)
February -May 14 (ANYTIME): Students produce films during or after school.
Friday, May 14: Deadline for local school finalists to submit films to COVID-19 World Student Film Festival website.
PHASE 2 (COVID-19 International Student Film Festival)
May 16 - 27: Finalists judged by 2021 COVID-19 International Blue Ribbon Jury
Friday, May 28: COVID-19 International 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners announced in ALL 21 Categories.