Directing Change Student Film Scholarship

The Directing Change Film Contest is for young people ages 12 to 25 who want to combine creative expression with making a difference in their communities by creating stories about mental health, suicide prevention, substance use, and other topics that matter.

Step 1: Select and Adult Advisor

All youth participants need an adult advisor. As a first step the adult advisor needs to register. An advisor can be anyone, a teacher, friend, parent, social worker, or other adult. If no one comes to mind, contact us and we can connect you with one of our mentors. Visit the contest rules to learn about the role of the adult advisor.

Step 2: Sign Release Forms

Youth (and their parents/legal guardians if under 18) need to sign a release form. By signing the form, youth share ownership of any submitted entries with us. This means you can still use your entry in any way you would like, but you also give us the right to your entry, for example to show it on our website and social media channels.

Step 3: Complete a Profile

Once the advisor has created their profile and you have your release forms signed, it’s your turn. A youth profile is required to submit an entry to the contest. As part of creating your profile, you will have to upload the signed release form and you need an advisor code from your adult advisor.

Step 4: Select a Submission Category

Each submission category comes with specific prizes, content and submission guidelines. There is no limit on the number of entries youth can submit. As you work on your film project, make sure all cast and crew create a youth profile and sign release forms. You won’t be able to submit your entry form until they do!

Step 5: Submit Entry

The annual submission deadline is March 1. Identify one person on your team to submit the entry form. To submit an entry you will need two things: 1) A code from your advisor and 2) Select everyone who worked on your film (cast and crew) from a list. Only people who have a youth profile under the same advisor will be available to be selected.

Step 6: Cross Fingers - Judging in Progress

Directing Change is a statewide contest. For some categories, you will first compete in your region based on the county you live in with winners advancing to a second round of statewide judging by industry professionals and celebrities. Past judges have included actress Kristen Bell and award-winning writer/director and producer Angela Cohen. All statewide winners will be recognized at the red-carpet award ceremony.