WEMTA Book Trailer Contest Guidelines 2025-2026

1. Book trailer video must:

   • represent a 2025 - 2026 Battle of the Books or Golden Archer Nominee,

   • be original work completed by student(s),

   • contain book title and author in video,

   • not be longer than 1 minute 30 seconds (1 minute length is preferred)

   • include the book’s cover (please use an original photograph of the book’s cover)

   • Students can only submit one video

2. All images that are not self created must be copyright free/creative commons/royalty free, etc. and proper citation of the image source must be appropriately cited and clearly visible at the end of the book trailer. Check out http://search.creativecommons.org/ to start your search. 

3. All music that is not self created must be in the public domain (for example, Pixabay Music: https://pixabay.com/music/).  Music that comes with a movie-making program such as iMovie, WeVideo, or Animato may be used.  The end credits must include where music originated and the reason it is free to use (example:  Song A performed by Band B was sourced from the free music in Animoto).

   • NOTE: Use of copyrighted materials without documented approval from the copyright holder will cause disqualification.  This contest does not fall under educational fair use exemptions.

4. Each student participating in the contest must submit a signed release form: 2026 Book Trailer Release Form.  All submitted trailers become the property of WEMTA.  The release forms should be uploaded into your Google Drive (or other cloud system) and shared via link when completing the Book Trailer Submission Form: 

5. Google submission form due by Friday, January 30th, 2026. Direct Link- 2026 Book Trailer Submission Form

7. Videos are scored using a Book Trailer Rubric

8. Failure to follow these guidelines in full will result in disqualification.

9. All winning videos must be provided to the book trailer coordinator as a video file (.mp4, .mov, etc) via Google Drive to be posted on WEMTA website. Links are not acceptable as these can become inactive when students graduate. Please keep this in mind when finalizing videos.

Questions? Email Deidre Olson at bktrailer@wemta.org

Wisconsin Readers Rock!