For a wonderful integration of student created video and government or civics class content consider the annual C-SPAN StudentCam documentary contest
“C-SPAN's annual national video documentary competition that encourages middle and high school students to think critically about issues that affect our communities and our nation.
We're asking students in grades 6-12 to create a short (5-6 minute) video documentary on a topic that relates to the competition theme, "If you were a newly elected member of Congress, which issue would be your first priority and why?”
The submission deadline for all entries is Friday, January 20, 2023. [See 2024 dates in comment below] With cash prizes totaling $100,000 each year, C-SPAN awards prizes to the top 150 student documentaries. If you are a teacher and listed as an adviser on one of the top 50 winning films, you will also receive a cash award.
Also, if you would like us to mail you a FREE printed version of our 12"x 18" StudentCam competition poster to display in your classroom, please complete this form: Poster Request.(Google Form)”
C-SPAN StudentCam Poster
A Story
In 2004 C-SPAN introduced a student film contest CampaignCam, now called StudentCam. I gave the information to my students and encouraged those who were interested to participate.
In February of that year, Gavin Newsom, then mayor of San Francisco, directed that same-sex marriage licenses would be issued at City Hall. On the designated day, which was a rainy February 12th, a long line of couples formed around City Hall hoping to finally be wed. One of my students, camera in hand, took this opportunity to interview couples who were in the line. What resulted was a meaningful and beautiful story. His video captured a prize in the StudentCam contest that year and was aired on C-SPAN. The educational lessons and impact went far beyond the classroom.
In the years since, many of my students have participated in the StudentCam Documentary contest as well as many other film festivals. They didn’t always take away a prize, but they always enjoyed, were engaged and learned from the process. And with the increased excellence of video and sound capture with iPhone and iPad, along with the shooting and editing capabilities in iMovie, creating a documentary is no longer beyond the technical reach of students.
Share your experience with student film contests?
Student involvement in local, state, national or international video contests adds so much to learning across all curricular areas. What contests or film festivals do your students participate in? What historic moments might they have captured?
Please list film festivals and share your story about student participation and learning in film contests.
#EveryoneCanCreateVideo
Posted on September 25, 2022
This looks like a great motivation competition for students, shame it isn't in Australia!