Video Contest
Each year the Freedom Festival Video Contest gives rise to expressions of patriotism from students in K-12th grades throughout the nation.
As a student you can tell a compelling story through video with attention to visual impact and artistic detail, while offering an inspirational message to your audience.
This year’s theme focuses on the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights. Deadline is March 1.
- Entry Deadline is April 1, 2025
Awards and Prizes
Cash prizes will be based on judging criteria.
Grade 10-12: Win up to $500.00
Grade 7-9: Win up to $250.00
Grade 4-6: Win up to $100.00
Grade K-3:Â Win up to $75.00
Contest Guidelines
Theme: First Amendment
Eligibility: Open to all students K-12
Media: Video (mp4 format recommended)
Submission Deadline: March 1
Divisions: K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12
All entries must be the student’s original work. No one else is allowed to alter it in any way.
Works must be submitted as a digital format only or a public url in case the file is too big.
All information presented in the video must be cited, giving credit to the original source. Plagiarism of any kind will result in disqualification. You DO NOT need to include your citations in your video. IF CHOSEN AS A FINALIST, you must submit a list of your sources, properly cited.
No personal or identifying information may appear on the video itself, so NO names, grades, teachers’ names or school names on the video.
Any music used in the video must be free of copyright.
- Find the copyright owner. To get permission to use a copyrighted song, you’ll need to find the artist or owner of the song and contact them directly.
- Discuss a permission agreement.
- Create a written permission agreement.
Video Contest Rubric
| Judging Criteria |
|---|
| 10 9 8 |
|---|
| 7 6 5 4 |
|---|
| 3 2 1 0 |
|---|
Exposition of Theme (40%)
∙ Presents ideas clearly
∙ Develops ideas showing depth and/or higher-level thinking (analysis, etc.)
∙ Provides support for claims (examples, narrative, data)
Meets all criteria at a high level; ideas are clear and developed
Meets some criteria; uneven in addressing theme; only partially connects to one or more festival theme.
Meets few criteria; does not adequately address theme;
lacks connection to at least one festival value.
Creativity (30%)
∙ Presents ideas or concepts clearly and is well planned
∙ Develops ideas showing originality, thoughtfulness, and creative expression
Meets all criteria at a high level; ideas are clear and creatively developed.
Meets some criteria; uneven; has lapses in clarity or creative development.
Meets few criteria; often unclear or undeveloped.
Visual Impact (20%)
∙ Video has visual and audio appeal
∙ Artistic details enhance the message
∙ Video holds attention and leaves an impression of the topic
Meets all criteria at a high level; easy to follow; visuals attract and impress.
Meets some criteria; demonstrates uneven organization.
Meets few criteria; lacks organization; has a significant number of errors.
Inspirational (10%)
∙ Video is uplifting and communicates a positive message
∙ Shows appropriate audience awareness and sensitivities
Meets all criteria at a high level;
stylistically pleasing and age appropriate.
Meets some criteria; uneven in style.
Meets few criteria; stylistically
inappropriate.
Are you a teacher?
Empower Future Leaders: Join the First Amendment Commemorative Contests and Ignite Patriotism in Your Scholars!
Download The Educational Events Poster
Ideas For The First Amendment Theme
In a 1-2:30 minute video students may choose to illustrate the purposes and applications of the First Amendment that may include its history, adoption, and recognition of significant individuals involved. Or they may focus on any concept or specific freedom included in the First Amendment such as the Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech, etc. Students may also apply the First Amendment protections to current or historical situations and court cases. Along with the cash prizes that will be awarded, the winning videos may be played at some of the Freedom Festival’s patriotic events.
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Do you think the freedoms identified in the First Amendment would already be protected in a democracy where citizens have a role in shaping the government? Was it necessary to establish these rights in an official document?
The First Amendment does not permit people to do anything they want to do. How and why are the liberties and rights of people not unlimited? In what kinds of situations do you think it is fair and reasonable to limit freedom of expressions?
For students: The cost of Hope of America has been $10 for many years. Registration is paid online by individual parents directly to the Hope of America organization. This includes a Hope of America tee shirt for the child. After the program, parents will have digital access to a recording of the performance and a group photo on our Hope of America website. A portion of each registration helps pay for production costs, facility use, traffic officers, and ushers/security. Students will need to bring a flashlight and a pair of sunglasses.
Financial accommodations: We want ALL students to be able to participate in this amazing experience! Often a principal has resources which can be used to help cover students’ registrations. Each year through our website, generous parents donate toward the registration of an additional child or two. These funds can help cover the registration for families for whom $10 is a hardship. Certain grants that your school may have could also be used. Please ask! Let us help you to find the financial resources to allow for EVERY child who wants to participate to do so!
Are the First Amendment freedoms among the “self-evident” and “unalienable rights” referred to in the Declaration of Independence? What is the relationship of the Declaration of Independence to the Bill of Rights?
What do you think about Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis statement that the founding generation “believed that freedom to think as you will and to speak as you think are means indispensable to the discovery and spread of political truth; that without free speech and assembly discussion would be futile; that with them, discussion affords ordinarily adequate protection against the dissemination of noxious doctrine; that the greatest menace to freedom is an inert people; that public discussion is a political duty; and that this should be a fundamental principle of the American government.”?