Please read each scoring guide carefully as the rules and/or requirements may be different from last year's competition.
Cinematic Trailer
In this category, entrants will showcase their editing, pacing, and narrative storytelling skills by creating a compelling, high-impact movie trailer for an original or existing concept.
Inspired by the dramatic scope and visual excitement of major cinematic blockbusters, this category challenges students to distill a larger story into a gripping 90-second preview. Submissions should feature professional-grade trailer conventions, such as strategic pacing, rhythmic editing matched to music or sound design, engaging title cards, dramatic voiceovers or dialogue snippets, and visually striking cinematography that builds suspense, emotion, or excitement without giving away the entire plot.
Entries may be based on original screenplays/concepts or serve as an innovative reimagining of existing stories (adapted from books, historical events, or original student scripts). All content must be school-appropriate and original student work. If utilizing copyrighted music, sound effects, or external film clips, students must ensure their use falls under educational fair use guidelines or is replaced with royalty-free alternatives.
Scoring Guide for Cinematic Trailer
(submissions must be 90 seconds or less)
Key Criteria Elements Covered:
- Narrative Pacing: Focuses on the unique art of trailer editing—building hooks, rising action, and a climactic cliffhanger.
- Cinematic Style: Encourages dynamic visual effects, professional color grading, dramatic audio mixing, and strong typography/title design.
- Creative Freedom: Welcomes both original creative writing and imaginative cinematic adaptations.
Documentary
Research and produce a documentary on an issue, topic, or person of importance to your community. The documentary should strive to add value to the general discussion by bringing in new information, identifying unrecognized problems, providing or
suggesting new solutions, or offering a unique perspective. If the documentary is a biography, whether your subject is living or deceased, he or she should have a strong connection to the Central Valley, and the film should utilize student interviews
with the subject, his or her friends and family, or those who have expert knowledge of him or her. If the individual is deceased, photos and/or video footage of that person along with testimonials and interviews from the subject's friends and
family should be the backbone of the film. This is NOT a typical class biography report translated into a film; it must emphasize topics and people of LOCAL importance.
Scoring Guide for Documentary
(submissions must be 4 minutes or less)
Key Criteria Elements Covered:
- Local Focus: Must center on an issue, topic, or person with a strong, direct connection to the Central Valley.
- Added Value: Must go beyond basic facts by introducing new information, uncovering unrecognized problems, offering fresh perspectives, or proposing solutions.
- No Generic Reports: Must avoid standard "classroom report" formats in favor of deep, community-centered storytelling.
- Living Biography Requirements: Requires original, student-led interviews with the subject, family, friends, or local experts.
- Deceased Biography Requirements: Must rely on archival photos/video footage paired with first-hand testimonials and interviews from family, friends, or experts.
- Target Audience: Central Valley community members and film festival judges looking for meaningful local impact.
General Advertisement
Create an advertisement for a local business or public service. Ads should be the product of a collaboration between the students and business owner. Ads should be sensitive to the purpose and targeted to a specific demographic. Be sure to include
information as applicable to the business (i.e., location, hours, etc.) Ads should engage the viewer and promote the local business positively.
Scoring Guide for General Advertisement
(submissions must be 30 seconds)
General Public Service Announcement
A public service announcement airs to benefit the general public, to improve the society we live in and frame the best hope for our lives today and our children's lives tomorrow. Produce a film drawing attention to an important LOCAL issue. The
film should address the general public and clearly answer two very important questions: 1) Why should I care about this issue? and 2) What action would you have me do to support this issue?
Scoring Guide for General Public Service Announcement
(submissions
must be 90 seconds or less)
Opioids, Fentanyl & Marijuana Prevention Public Service Announcement
Students should create a 90-second PSA designed to bring awareness to the harm and danger associated with drug use among youth. Videos may address one or all of the following: prescription drugs, opioid/fentanyl misuse; and/or marijuana use (including marijuana vaping).
Scoring Guide for Opioids, Fentanyl & Marijuana Prevention Public Service Announcement
(submissions must not exceed 90 seconds)
Download the Tulare County Prevention Coalition logo
Download the Tulare County HHSA - Mental Health/AOD logo
* Please note that this category is open to both middle school and high school students. All students will participate in one competition, regardless of age.
Animation 2D or 3D
This category seeks to promote the technical field of 2D or 3D animation programs and honor our students' climb up the steep learning curve of such programs. Films in this category must use animation software such as Flash or Toon Boom for 2D animation,
and Maya, 3D Studio Max or Blender for 3D animation. Animation generators such as GoAnimate cannot be used. Though technical prowess holds scoring merit, judging weight will side with the story as well. Cool effects will not overshadow a good story.
Scoring Guide for Animation 2D or 3D
(submissions
must be 5 minutes or less)
Cinematic Trailer
In this category, entrants will showcase their editing, pacing, and narrative storytelling skills by creating a compelling high-impact movie trailer for an original or existing concept.
Inspired by the dramatic scope and visual excitement of major cinematic blockbusters, this category challenges students to distill a larger story into a gripping 90-second preview. Submissions should feature professional-grade trailer conventions, such as strategic pacing, rhythmic editing matched to music or sound design, engaging title cards, dramatic voiceovers or dialogue snippets, and visually striking cinematography that builds suspense, emotion, or excitement without giving away the entire plot.
Entries may be based on original screenplays/concepts or serve as an innovative reimagining of existing stories (adapted from books, historical events, or original student scripts). All content must be school-appropriate and original student work. If utilizing copyrighted music, sound effects, or external film clips, students must ensure their use falls under educational fair use guidelines or is replaced with royalty-free alternatives.
Scoring Guide for Cinematic Trailer
(submissions must be 90 seconds or less)
Key Criteria Elements Covered:
- Narrative Pacing: Focuses on the unique art of trailer editing—building hooks, rising action, and a climactic cliffhanger.
- Cinematic Style: Encourages dynamic visual effects, professional color grading, dramatic audio mixing, and strong typography/title design.
- Creative Freedom: Welcomes both original creative writing and imaginative cinematic adaptations.
Documentary
Research and produce a documentary on an issue, topic, or person of importance to your community. The documentary should strive to add value to the general discussion by bringing in new information, identifying unrecognized problems, providing or suggesting new solutions, or offering a unique perspective. If the documentary is a biography, whether your subject is living or deceased, he or she should have a strong connection to the Central Valley, and the film should utilize student interviews with the subject, his or her friends and family, or those who have expert knowledge of him or her. If the individual is deceased, photos and/or video footage of that person along with testimonials and interviews from the subject's friends and family should be the backbone of the film. This is NOT a typical class biography report translated into a film; it must emphasize topics and people of LOCAL importance.
Scoring Guide for Documentary
(submissions must be 4 minutes or less)
Key Criteria Elements Covered:
- Local Focus: Must center on an issue, topic, or person with a strong, direct connection to the Central Valley.
- Added Value: Must go beyond basic facts by introducing new information, uncovering unrecognized problems, offering fresh perspectives, or proposing solutions.
- No Generic Reports: Must avoid standard "classroom report" formats in favor of deep, community-centered storytelling.
- Living Biography Requirements: Requires original, student-led interviews with the subject, family, friends, or local experts.
- Deceased Biography Requirements: Must rely on archival photos/video footage paired with first-hand testimonials and interviews from family, friends, or experts.
- Target Audience: Central Valley community members and film festival judges looking for meaningful local impact.
Create an advertisement for a local business or public service. Ads should be the product of a collaboration between the students and business owner. Ads should be sensitive to the purpose and targeted to a specific demographic. Be sure to include information
as applicable to the business (i.e., location, hours, etc.) Ads should engage the viewer and promote the local business positively.
Scoring Guide for General Advertisement
(submissions
must be 30 seconds)
General Public Service Announcement
A public service announcement airs to benefit the general public, to improve the society we live in and frame the best hope for our lives today and our children's lives tomorrow. Produce a film drawing attention to an important LOCAL issue. The film should
address the general public and clearly answer two very important questions: 1) Why should I care about this issue? and 2) What action would you have me do to support this issue?
Scoring Guide for General Public Service Announcement
(submissions
must not exceed 90 seconds)
Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention Public Service Announcement
This category is different than normal PSAs, requiring a heightened level of sensitivity and handling. There is specific content that must be avoided for the safety and respect of the audience (see the scoring guide for details). PSAs should communicate a hopeful message about suicide prevention that is focused on what the viewer can do to prevent suicide.
Submissions should thoughtfully address one or more of the following core themes:
• Risk Factors & Warning Signs: Recognizing early behavioral or emotional changes that indicate someone might be
struggling.
Scoring Guide for Mental Health Awareness & Suicide Prevention Public Service Announcement
(submissions must not exceed 90 seconds)
Music Video (includes both Original and Cover)
The Music Video category allows for both "Original and Cover" films. The category invites student filmmakers to merge visual storytelling with musical artistry. Whether bringing an original student composition to life (Original) or crafting a fresh artistic interpretation of an existing song (cover), submissions should showcase strong rhythmic editing, compelling performance, and cohesive visual style. Entries must demonstrate high technical quality in camera work, lighting, and audio synchronization while maintaining a school-appropriate narrative or concept.
Scoring Guide for Music Video
(submissions must be 3 minutes or less)
Key Criteria Elements Covered:
- Performance & Synchronization: Precise lip-syncing, engaging screen presence, and edits cut tightly to the track's rhythm.
- Visual Identity & Style: Creative use of cinematography, dynamic framing, lighting design, set styling, and color grading to establish a clear mood.
- Conceptual Storytelling: A distinct narrative, thematic abstract style, or choreographed concept that enhances the musical composition.
- Technical Integration: High-fidelity audio playback paired seamlessly with crisp video editing and polished post- production.
Opioids, Fentanyl & Marijuana Prevention Public Service Announcement
Students should create a 90-second PSA designed to bring awareness to the harm and danger associated with drug use among youth. Videos may address one or all of the following: prescription drugs, opioid/fentanyl misuse; and/or marijuana use (including marijuana vaping).
Scoring Guide for Opioids, Fentanyl & Marijuana Prevention Public Service Announcement
(submissions must not exceed 90 seconds)
Download the Tulare County Prevention Coalition logo
Download the Tulare County HHSA - Mental Health/AOD logo
* Please note that this category is open to both middle school and high school students. All students will participate in one competition, regardless of age.
In this category, entrants will produce a dynamic video segment that brings attention to important news, events, athletics, or human-interest stories happening within their school or local community.
Submissions should emulate professional broadcast media and can range from traditional studio-style news programs and investigative packages to dynamic athletic highlights (practices, games, or tournaments) and school-spirit event coverage.
- Studio-style updates, campus announcements, and investigative or human-interest packages.
- Dynamic athletic highlights, game/tournament recaps, and club or fine arts feature segments (band, drama, choir, dance).
- Visual explorations, local character studies, or vignettes celebrating the unique landmarks, history, agriculture, geography, and people that define the surrounding region.
Videos may feature on-camera student anchors/reporters, voiceovers, interviews, B-roll footage, and well-executed action shots.
All entries must portray featured individuals, teams, schools, and topics in a positive and respectful manner. If incorporating music or external media, students must strictly adhere to copyright guidelines. No professional anchors or non-student stand-ins are permitted.Scoring Guide for School & Community Highlight
(submissions
must be 3 minutes or less)
Key Criteria Elements Covered:
- Format Flexibility: Accommodates studio news desks, on-the-scene reporting, athletic recaps, and cultural or club event features.
- Core Elements: Encourages student anchoring, interviews, clean audio, balanced storytelling, and strong visual editing/action framing.
- Tone & Standards: Maintains the positive, school-appropriate, and copyright-compliant guidelines expected of festival submissions.