Student Film Competition
The Student Film Competition is an annual event that encourages – and incentivizes – students from across Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino Counties to practice their storytelling skills. Students work in and outside of classrooms to produce their own short films which are then entered into a competition. Winners receive cash prizes and premiere on the big screen at the annual AVFest in the spring.
2022 Student Film Competition
AVFilm is accepting submissions for the 2022 AVFilm Student Film Competition. The screening competition will take place during AVFest (April 29-May 8, 2022) on Saturday, May 7th at The Clover Theater in Cloverdale. Awards will follow the screening.
There are now three separate divisions:
- Films made in school as part of a class project – middle and high school – (Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino County student only). In partnership with the Sonoma County Office of Education, we will accept the top films from SCOE’s FIVE MINUTE FILM FESTIVAL. Students do not need to enter twice. Submissions will be delivered from SCOE to AVFilm.
- Films made independently by students – middle and high school – must be submitted via Film Freeway (see below for details)
- Films made by college students (must be currently enrolled at the time of submission) – these must be submitted via Film Freeway (see below for details)
Here are the jury categories and their prizes
MIDDLE SCHOOL – SCHOOL PROJECT FILM
(Sonoma, Lake, & Mendocino County students only)
- Best technical achievement in filmmaking – $50 cash prize for teacher’s classroom
- Best storytelling – $50 cash prize for teacher’s classroom
- Best overall film – $100 cash prize for teacher’s classroom
HIGH SCHOOL – SCHOOL PROJECT FILM
(Sonoma, Lake, &Mendocino County students only)
- Best technical achievement in filmmaking – $50 cash prize for teacher’s classroom
- Best storytelling – $50 cash prize for teacher’s classroom
- Best overall film – $100 cash prize for teacher’s classroom
MIDDLE SCHOOL – INDEPENDENT FILM
- Best technical achievement in filmmaking – $100 cash prize for student
- Best storytelling – $100 cash prize for student
- Best overall film – $250 cash prize for student
HIGH SCHOOL – INDEPENDENT FILM
- Best technical achievement in filmmaking – $100 cash prize for student
- Best storytelling – $100 cash prize for student
- Best overall film – $250 cash prize for student
COLLEGE – CLASS PROJECTS & INDEPENDENT FILM
(must be currently enrolled at accredited U.S. college at the time of submission)
- Best technical achievement in filmmaking – $100 cash prize for student
- Best storytelling – $100 cash prize for student
- Best overall film – $250 cash prize for student
The overall winner – across all categories – will receive the JOSEPH CARNATION, JR. STUDENT FILM AWARD and a cash prize of $1,000 in honor of our late supporter, career educator, and student advocate, Joe Carnation. This award is only available to a student residing in Sonoma County at the time of their submission.
Rules & Guidelines
- Students may reside inside or outside Sonoma County unless otherwise specified.
- Any school project film must be submitted by 3/31/2022. Independent films must be submitted by 3/31/2022.
- Films are not to exceed a running time of five (5) minutes. School projects should submit a portion of an assignment if the final work exceeds five minutes. Independent works may write and ask for an exception.
- Films are welcome to be any medium or genre (animation, live-action, narrative, documentary, etc.).
- Films must submitted through Film Freeway for consideration. Email tess.mchaffie[at]avfilmpresents.org for your fee waiver code. College students will need to provide a letter of enrollment when requesting a code.
- Submission will require an info/photo release form for all applicants under the age of 18 emailed to Tess at tess.mchaffie[at]avfilmpresents.org
- Submissions in a language other than English are encouraged, but they must include English subtitles. Click here for suggestions on free subtitling software.
Selection & Judging
Submissions will be judged by the AVFilm Selection Committee consisting of film industry professionals and community leaders. If a film is selected for the final competitive screening, the entrant will be contacted by AVFilm. The screening competition will take place during AVFest (April 29-May 8, 2022) on Saturday, May 7th at The Clover Theater in Cloverdale. Awards will follow the screening.
