All Maine students grades K-12 are eligible to submit short films in the Narrative, Documentary, and Creative categories.

You could win filmmaking gear or a $500 Grand Prize!

Submissions are due by 11:59pm on June 15, 2025.

SELECTION CRITERIA AND PRIZES

Films will be judged by category: Narrative, Documentary, and Creative (animated, experimental, etc.)
Works are selected on the basis of Originality, Content, Style, and Technique
Submitted films are reviewed by a committee consisting of educators, media arts professionals, and MSFVF alumni.
In addition to prizes for winners, finalists and honorable mentions receive a certificate of merit. Prizes vary annually, but have included filmmaking gear, cash prizes, subscriptions to Adobe Creative Cloud, and more!

ENTRY FEE

There is no entry fee to submit your film!

OFFICIAL RULES

Submissions are due by 11:59pm on June 15, 2025.
Anyone 19 years of age or younger who is a resident of Maine and in grades K-12 is eligible.
Maximum length for entries is 10 minutes.
Submissions are considered and judged by three age groups: Grades K-6; Grades 7-8; Grades 9-12.
The entire production must be the work of the person or persons entering the competition. For group productions, choose the age of the oldest authoring member of the group. There is no age limit for actors, documentary subjects, or musicians who may appear in the production.
Whenever possible, we urge students to use original music, copyright-free music, or music they have obtained permission to use. See the Creative Commons website for more information about types of permissions and resources for royalty-free music.
The Maine Student Film & Video Festival (MSFVF) is an educational event, and we encourage teachers, artists, and advisers to work with their students; however, the actual video production and editorial decisions must be made by students.
Judges award winners and recognize finalists in each category. Judges may expand or reduce the number of awards in any given year, and all decisions are final.
Maine Film Center shall have the right to download and share and digital copies of submitted works for publicity and promotion in all formats and distribution outlets including broadcast, cable, internet, and future distribution and exhibition formats.
Maine Public may air selected student works on Maine Public Television. In order for your film to be considered for public broadcast, all rights to music, archival footage, or any copyrighted content must be cleared.