One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest - Middle School (Grade 6-8)
$200 Cash Prize + $200 Grant
One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest - Middle School (Grade 6-8) is a competition by One Earth Film Festival for students in Grade 6 to 8, open to students across India. Registration closed 25 Jun 2026. It is free to take part.
Mode
Online
Eligibility
Grade 6 to 8
Fee
Free
Duration
3–8 minutes; animation minimum 45 seconds.
Format
Both · Teams of 10
Time needed
Varies based on film concept, production, and editing time
Key dates
- Registration closed
- 25 Jun 2026
- Competition
- 27 Sept 2026
Online · Film Freeway
About this opportunity
The One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest invites students worldwide to create short environmental films that address pressing sustainability challenges and propose solutions. The Middle School division is open to students in Grades 6 to 8 (ages 11 to 14) and runs alongside Elementary, High School, Senior Year and University, Post-Graduate, Animation/Stop-Motion, and the Sally Stovall Prize for Creativity.
Middle School entrants choose one of seven sustainability topics: Climate, Energy, Food, Transportation, Waste, Water, or Wildlife and Ecosystems. Submissions must present a clear problem and propose a solution, with films judged on educational value, inspiration potential, and adherence to the chosen theme.
Live-action films must run between 3 and 8 minutes; animated or stop-motion entries must be at least 45 seconds. There is no submission fee, and entries are made through the Film Freeway portal. International students, including those from India, are eligible when affiliated with an approved school or institution that signs the contest's International Institution Letter Agreement.
Middle School winners receive a 200 US dollar cash prize and a 200 US dollar matching grant directed to a nonprofit of the winner's choice. Selected films are premiered online and screened at the One Earth Film Festival the following April, giving young filmmakers an international platform for their environmental storytelling.
Eligibility
- Grade level
- Grade 6 to 8
- Age range
- 11 to 14 years
- Location
- Nationwide
Prerequisites
- Affiliation with an approved school or institution
- Signed parent or guardian permission for entrants under 18
- Selection of one of the seven listed sustainability topics
Open to middle school students in Grades 6 to 8 (ages 11 to 14) globally, including India. International entrants must be affiliated with an approved school or institution that signs the contest's International Institution Letter Agreement. Films must address one of seven sustainability topics with a problem-and-solution focus.
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Academic details
Difficulty: Beginner
Rewards and recognition
Award
$200
Middle School category winners receive a $200 cash prize plus a $200 matching grant directed to a nonprofit of the winner's choice. International winners choose from three sponsor-proposed United States nonprofits.
Recognition
International film festival screening
Skills your child builds
Highlights
- Seven sustainability themes guide film topics
- Matching grant directs prize money to a nonprofit chosen by the winner
- Open to international students through institutional affiliation
- Films premiere online and at a recognized environmental film festival
How entries are judged
Films are judged on educational value, ability to inspire and raise awareness, and, for entrants in Grade 11 and below, the clarity with which the film addresses a chosen sustainability problem and proposes a solution. Submissions also undergo compliance checks for eligibility, film length, and format.
Selection process
One winner is selected per category. Winning films are featured in an online premiere and screened at the One Earth Film Festival the following April.
How to apply
- 1Choose one of the seven sustainability topics and develop a problem-and-solution short film concept
- 2Produce a live-action film between 3 and 8 minutes, or an animated film of at least 45 seconds
- 3Create a Film Freeway account and submit the film through the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest page
- 4Complete the online oath and permission form, with a parent or guardian signature for entrants under 18
- 5International entrants submit a signed Affiliated International Institution Letter Agreement from their school
Fees & financial support
Fee details
There are no submission fees for the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to register for One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest - Middle School (Grade 6-8)?
The registration deadline is 25 Jun 2026. Registration for this edition has closed.
Is One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest - Middle School (Grade 6-8) free?
This opportunity is free to participate in.
Who can participate in One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest - Middle School (Grade 6-8)?
Students in Grade 6 to 8. Children aged 11 to 14.
What will my child gain from One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest - Middle School (Grade 6-8)?
$200 cash prize for the Middle School category winner. $200 matching grant directed to a nonprofit of the winner's choice. International platform reaching environmental film audiences. Hands-on experience in filmmaking, scriptwriting, and editing. Builds environmental awareness and solution-oriented thinking.
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