Kids’ Film Competition

About the Competition

Utah students in grades K-8 may enter fiction or nonfiction short films (5 minutes or less) for competition. Films will be judged based on the filmmakers’ ability to clearly tell a story or convey a message, artistic style, and technical skill.

Theme

There is no set theme for the Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition, so you are free to create films about any topic. The theme is open to allow students to submit entries they have created for other contests, festivals, and class assignments, as well as films created specifically for the Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition.

Rules

Be sure to follow all Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition rules (see the “Competition Rules & Terms” tab). If any of the rules are not followed, your film will not be eligible for Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition screenings or awards.

Categories

Fiction

Fictional films are those “created from the imagination, not presented as fact, though it may be based on a true story or situation” (Britannica.com). All films on a fictional topic should be entered into this category. Submissions to the fiction category may be short films or animations such as dramas, comedies, thrillers, etc.

Nonfiction

Nonfiction films are those that are “based on facts, real events, and real people, such as biography or history“ (Oxford Languages). All nonfiction films should be entered into this category. Submissions to the nonfiction category may be documentaries, public service announcements, news packages, etc.

Resources

• Visit the Utah Education Network Learning Hub

• Visit Utah Film Center’s Filmmaking Resources Page  for a list of videos and resources that can help you through the filmmaking process.

Submission Process

Films must be submitted via FilmFreeway (see link below) no later than 11:59 pm on March 1, 2026.

Winners will be selected by category (fiction and nonfiction) and age group. Finalists and winners will be invited to a red carpet screening event on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Viridian Event Center in West Jordan. All nominated films will be screened at this event, winning films will be announced, and prizes will be distributed. 

Winners will receive prizes such as filmmaking equipment, gift cards, and more! 

Finalists and winners of the Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition will receive FREE access to exclusive filmmaking workshops from leading Utah filmmakers to improve their craft and FREE all-inclusive passes to the Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Kids on April 25, 2026. 

Stay tuned as we get closer to the competition!

Film Competition Purpose

The Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition connects Utah’s K-8 students and educators to meaningful film and broadcast opportunities. The competition is part of the Utah Film Center’s (UTFC) Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Kids. Films submitted to the competition should be aligned with the mission of this organization, which is to connect Utah districts, schools, and higher education institutions to quality educational resources.

UTAH FILM CENTER

The competition supports the Utah Film Center’s mission of connecting people, stories, and ideas through film, artist support, and media arts education. By amplifying diverse perspectives in Utah through the medium of film, we help set the scene for a richer understanding of our neighbors, fellow human beings, and the world around us. To learn more, visit www.utahfilmcenter.org. 

 Film Contest Do’s

Rules

DO follow all the rules if you want your film to be eligible for Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition screenings and awards.

Theme

DO choose your own theme! There is no set theme for the Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition, so you are free to create films about any topic.

Categories

DO submit your film in one of two categories:

• Fiction – Fictional films are those “created from the imagination, not presented as fact, though it may be based on a true story or situation” (Britannica.com). All films on a fictional topic should be entered into this category. Submissions to the fiction category may be short films or animations such as dramas, comedies, thrillers, etc.
• Nonfiction – Nonfiction films are those that are “based on facts, real events, and real people, such as biography or history“ (Oxford Languages). All nonfiction films should be entered into this category. Submissions to the nonfiction category may be documentaries, public service announcements, news packages, etc.

Submissions

DO submit as many films as you want to! Films that you have already submitted to other festivals or contests are welcome as long as this does not break other festival/contest rules. Films with ‘World Premiere’ status may be given priority for screening at the Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Kids, but previously premiered films are still eligible for awards. Please do not submit previous years’ submissions to the Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition.

Student Work

DO your own work. Adults may guide and teach students, but students must do all their own writing, filming, and editing.

Time Limit

DO keep your film to five (5) minutes or less. Films that are longer than five minutes will not be considered for the Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition awards.

Credits & Citations

DO include credits in your film and cite your sources.

• Credits are not included as part of your time limit.
• Credits should list the sources of all your video footage, images, music, and sound effects.
• For nonfiction films, credits should also include a list of citations showing where you obtained data and information included in your film.
• The Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition has specific guidelines you must follow for any borrowed media used in your film. Follow this credit/citation format in your credits:
• Name of the work
• Name of the owner/creator
• Location of the work
• Here is an example of what a citation should look like:

“A Little Reggae” by Soundzabound from Soundzabound.com

Here is another example:

“Bluffs on North Beach, Yaquina Bay” by Crawford, J. G. from New York Public Library Digital Collections

Here is another example:

“Happy Tune” by Your Name was created in GarageBand

• The Next Vista for Learning resource website has a list of recommended sites where you can find openly licensed media to use in your film. 

Submission Deadline

DO submit your entry on time. Any films submitted after the deadline will not be considered for Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition screenings or awards.

Technical Specifications

DO use the following technical specifications when you export your video:

• Video files should be HD quality: 1920×1080 and 29.97 (30) FPS.
• Video files should be MP4 format.
• All entries should be shot in landscape (widescreen/horizontal). Portrait (vertical)

Videos will not be accepted unless artistic or practical reasons exist for using this type of footage. If vertical footage is used, there must be a background behind the main video clip.

• Audio should be stereo mixed.
• For any films in a language other than English, subtitles are helpful but not required.

Promotional Materials (Optional)

DO provide the following promotional materials when you submit your film:

• 1-5 still images/screenshots from your film
• A short synopsis of your film – not to exceed 200 words

For Finalists Only

DO complete the media release and licensing forms when you receive them from Utah Film Center to ensure we can screen your film and broadcast the awards ceremony LIVE on YouTube.

Film Contest Don’ts

Content

DO NOT include any content in your film that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortuous, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, or invasive of another’s privacy. Such films will not be considered for Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition screenings or awards.

Accuracy

DO NOT submit films that propagate false, misleading, or slanderous information.

Copyright

DO NOT break copyright laws. Any entry that infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, or other proprietary rights of any party will not be considered for Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition screenings or awards.

Be sure to obtain proper licensing and permission for borrowed media (video, images, music, and sound effects) used in your film. Filmmakers must obtain Internet publication, broadcast, and public performance rights for all borrowed media.

Borrowed media used in your film must have one of the following licenses:

• Any original media created by the filmmaker is acceptable.
• Any media with one of the following Creative Commons licenses is acceptable:
• CC BY
• CC BY-SA
• CC BY-NC
• CC BY-NC-SA
• CC0
• Public Domain
• Any copyrighted media used with permission from the copyright owner is acceptable.
• The copyright owner must complete the media release form to acknowledge their limited release of the media.

Any copyrighted media for which a license has been purchased is acceptable as long as the license that has been purchased allows for the distribution methods UTFC will use. Proof of purchase must be provided.

Brands

DO NOT include any visible brands in your film. If a brand logo is visible, it must be modified during production or blurred in post-production.

Audio

DO NOT submit films that have poor audio. Films with inaudible sounds will be disqualified.

Project Status Definitions

After a film is received by the Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition, it will receive one or more of the following status designations:

Undecided

The judges are still reviewing the project.

Not Selected

The project is not selected for screening at this season’s Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition.

Selected

This film will play at the Tumbleweeds Film Festival and may be featured through additional online and broadcast mediums.

Nominee

This project is nominated for a possible Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition award.