Presented by Bill Wilson Center | May 2026

Bill Wilson Center is reimagining our annual Building Dreams fundraiser with something bold and new, the first annual Youth Voices Benefit Film Competition. This inspiring event will shine a spotlight on the creativity, resilience, and stories of young people in our community, while raising critical funds to support BWC’s programs and services.

This fall, we’re inviting Bay Area youth and young adults ages 13–30 to create a short film (2–5 minutes) using just a smartphone or tablet. We’re accepting entries from youth and young adults with lived experiences such as homelessness, housing insecurity, mental health struggles, or involvement with the justice or foster care systems.

The theme for 2025–2026 is “Home”, what it means, how it shapes us, and the resilience it takes to find or create it. A panel of judges will review submissions, and the top films will be screened at the festival.

Why This Matters

At Bill Wilson Center, we believe in amplifying youth voices and creating platforms where their experiences of resilience, belonging, and hope can be heard. The Youth Voices Benefit Film Competition is more than an event, it’s a movement to highlight the challenges, triumphs, and creativity of the next generation.

Film Competition Guidelines

Who Can Enter?
• Ages 13 - 30
• Open to San Francisco Bay Area and Santa Cruz County residents
• Must have lived experiences aligned with Bill Wilson Center’s mission of supporting youth and families, including but not limited to challenges such as homelessness, housing insecurity, mental health struggles, involvement with the justice or foster care systems, and other adversities faced by youth, young people, and families
• Under 18: Parent/legal guardian/judge/case manager permission required

Film Requirements
• Length: 2 - 5 minutes (credits included)
• Format: Digital file via FilmFreeway
• Equipment: Recorded on a smartphone or tablet
• Must be your original work, no copyrighted music/images without permission
• The winner must be able to attend film screening in May 2026

Theme to Explore
• Home - What does it mean to you? Share a story of resilience, struggle, or discovery through the lens of home.

Character Development
• Keep it PG - PG13 - avoid strong profanity, nudity, smoking, adult themes, or excessive violence, and be appropriate for a general audience
• Handle tough topics (grief, bullying, addiction, discrimination) with empathy
• Show characters with respect despite circumstances
• Show struggles and positive coping skills
• Highlight growth, resilience, self-discovery

Rules to Remember
• Get permission from anyone in your film (and for any music used)
• If chosen, you’ll need signed release forms
• By submitting, you allow Bill Wilson Center to screen/share your film (with credit to you)
• Winner must be able to attend film screening in May 2026

How Films Will Be Judged
• Creativity & Originality
• Storytelling & Impact
• Connection to Theme
• Technical Quality

Learn more and enter your film at bit.ly/bwcfilm or email jvega@billwilsoncenter.org for more details and entry forms.

Awards & Prizes

1st Place: $2,500
2nd Place: $1,500
3rd Place: $750
4th Place: $250

The selected finalists are required to attend the in-person screening in Santa Clara County in May 2026 to present their film and participate in the award ceremony, where they will receive recognition for their work.

Rules & Terms

Official Competition Rules

Youth Voices Benefit Film Competition

These Official Rules govern the Youth Voices Benefit Film Competition (“Competition”). By entering, you agree to abide by these rules and the decisions of the organizer, which are final and binding.

1. Eligibility
Open to residents of the 9 San Francisco Bay Area Counties and Santa Cruz County, ages 13-30.
Parental/guardian consent required for participants under 18.
The winner must be able to attend film screening in May 2026
Employees, officers, contractors, and immediate family members of the organizing nonprofit are not eligible.
No purchase, payment, or donation is required to enter or win.

2. Entry Requirements
Length: Films must be 2-5 minutes (including credits).
Format: Digital file submitted via FilmFreeway.
Original Work: The film must be created solely by the participant.
No Autobiographies: Films may be inspired by lived experiences but must not directly depict the participant themselves.
Copyright: Entries may not use copyrighted music, video, or images without proper licensing or written permission.

3. Theme
This year's theme is “Home”, and we're looking for films from youth and young adults with lived experiences like homelessness, housing insecurity, mental health issues, or involvement with the justice or foster care systems.

4. Tone & Content
Films must be appropriate for PG or PG-13 audiences.
Sensitive topics (e.g., grief, bullying, addiction, discrimination) must be portrayed responsibly and with empathy.
Entries may not contain profanity, crude humor, hate speech, or discriminatory content.
Characters must be portrayed with dignity and respect, avoiding stereotypes.

5. Technical & Legal Requirements
Participants must secure written consent from all individuals appearing in the film.
If selected, filmmakers must provide signed release forms for cast, crew, and any third-party content.
By submitting, participants grant the organizer a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to screen, display, and share their films for promotional and educational purposes (with credit to the filmmaker).

6. Judging Criteria
A panel of judges selected by the organizer will evaluate submissions based on:
• Creativity & Originality
• Storytelling & Impact
• Relevance to Competition Themes
• Technical Quality
• Judging is skill-based only. Chance plays no role in determining winners.

7. Prizes
1st Place: $2,500, 2nd Place: $1,500, 3rd Place: $750, 4th Place: $250

8. General Conditions
The organizer reserves the right to disqualify entries that do not comply with these rules.
Participants agree to release the organizer from liability related to participation or prize use.
The organizer is not responsible for technical failures, incomplete submissions, or late entries.
This competition is void where prohibited.

9. Organizer
This Competition is organized by Bill Wilson Center, a nonprofit based in Santa Clara, California.