Impact America is launching the inaugural Stories from the Line national filmmaking challenge and invites undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates to submit four-minute documentary portraits that chronicle the experiences of families struggling to rise and remain above the poverty line in America.

Stories from the Line offers a counter-narrative to the erroneous and often prejudiced stereotypes of poverty that dominate our media. The competition, open to undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates, asks participants to document stories from hard-working families, particularly those in both urban and rural communities who are living paycheck to paycheck with limited job security. We encourage students with a passion for economic justice to partner with young, emerging filmmakers in collaborating on a film submission.

The winning films will be posted to the Stories from the Line website, shared with thousands of universities, nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and media outlets, and the filmmakers will earn scholarships for undergraduate or graduate study – including a $10,000 scholarship grand prize. The deadline for submissions is April 14, 2017.

Impact America is a nonprofit organization that engages college students and recent graduates in addressing community needs, empowering a generation to promote positive change through collaborative efforts in the communities we serve. A major goal of this project is to provide a platform to college students and recent graduates to help educate the public about the challenges that the majority of working families face on a daily basis while raising their families, seeking well-paying job opportunities, and helping advance their children’s education.

Grand Prize: $10,000 scholarship to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies, or to pay off student loans from the previous two years. Winner will be selected by the Judges Panel.

First Runner-Up Prize: $2,000 scholarship to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies, or to pay off student loans from the previous two years. Winner will be selected by the Judges Panel.

Audience Choice Prize: $2,000 scholarship to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies, or to pay off student loans from the previous two years. Winner will be selected through a two-week, online public voting period following the submission deadline.

All winning films will be posted to the Stories from the Line website and shared with thousands of university faculty, nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and media outlets.

To enter, complete and submit the following form: http://impactamerica.com/stories-from-the-line/submit-your-film/

Visit http://impactamerica.com/sfl-rules/ for complete rules and to download required forms.

I. CONCEPT

Stories from the Line facilitates bold, honest, and effective documentary portraits submitted by young filmmakers that navigate the complexities and nuance comprising the experience of millions of families struggling to rise and remain above the poverty line in America. We call on young filmmakers to document stories from these hard-working families, particularly those in both urban and rural communities who are living paycheck to paycheck with limited job security. A major goal of this project is to provide a platform to college students and recent graduates with a passion for filmmaking to help educate the public about the challenges that the majority of working families face on a daily basis while raising their families, seeking well-paying job opportunities, and helping their kids get a good education.

Although each story could stand alone, taken as a whole, they provide a counter narrative to the over-generalized and often prejudiced stereotypes frequently presented in the media. Both meaningful and hopeful, Stories from the Line encourages a life-affirming, higher-level discourse that inspires college students and recent graduates out of apathy, cynicism, and inertia, and toward a vision of collective responsibility, social obligation, and empathy for families working toward a better future in America. Ultimately, we wish to foster a sense that every individual’s life has dignity and worth, and everyone’s health, education, and potential to succeed is worth fighting for.

Most college students –- the majority of whom were raised in households in socioeconomically homogeneous, suburban neighborhoods — and many college graduates around the country have virtually no personal knowledge of the challenges faced by the majority of families in America who are living paycheck to paycheck. Most of them have grown up and live in communities as adults completely disconnected from what the majority of families deal with every day. Ultimately, we see that reflected in the media and in the way that many of our politicians talk about programs and policies that affect lower income American families. Those misperceptions do a disservice to the incredible sacrifices that parents all over this country make for their children.

Current film students and young filmmakers from all backgrounds can play an important role in raising the level of discourse about families living at or near the poverty line in America. We challenge them to identify a compelling story to tell that upsets the traditional dialogue about individuals and families living in poverty. Stories from the Line provides a unique platform for filmmakers to reach outside of their personal sphere or to draw from more personal experiences and connections to elevate a more honest narrative about the everyday challenges these families face. Each spring, young filmmakers are invited to submit 4-minute profile pieces to a competition, with the winning films being posted to the Stories from the Line website and and shared with thousands of university faculty, nonprofit organizations, advocacy organizations, and media outlets, and the filmmakers earning scholarships for undergraduate or graduate study.

II. DEFINITIONS

Contest: the Stories from the Line contest

Contest Participant: an individual who meets the eligibility requirements to participate in the Contest and submits an entry into the Contest

Grand Prize: $10,000 in scholarship payments to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies, in any field, at any accredited institution of higher education in the United States within three years after winning the competition, or to be used to pay off student loans for undergraduate or graduate school at any accredited institution of higher education in the United States incurred within the two years previous to winning the competition

Grand Prize Winner: the Contest Participant (or Contest Participants, if film was submitted by more than one individual) selected to win the Grand Prize by the Stories from the Line judges

First Runner-Up Prize: $2,000 in scholarship payments to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies, in any field, at any accredited institution of higher education in the United States within three years after winning the competition, or to be used to pay off student loans for undergraduate or graduate school at any accredited institution of higher education in the United States incurred within the two years previous to winning the competition

First Runner-Up: the second-place Contest Participant (or Contest Participants, if film was submitted by more than one individual) selected by the Stories from the Line judges

Audience Choice Prize: $2,000 in scholarship payments to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies, in any field, at any accredited institution of higher education in the United States within three years after winning the competition, or to be used to pay off student loans for undergraduate or graduate school at any accredited institution of higher education in the United States incurred within the two years previous to winning the competition

Audience Choice Selection: the Contest Participant (or Contest Participants, if film was submitted by more than one individual) whose Submitted Film receives the highest number of popular votes via an online voting process determined by the Sponsor

Audience Choice Contestant: a Submitted Film that is selected to participate in the contest for the Audience Choice Prize

Recent Graduate: an individual who has graduated from an accredited college or university after June 30, 2015 (with either an undergraduate or graduate degree)

Sponsor: Impact America, 1901 6th Ave N, Suite 2400, Birmingham, AL 35203

Submitted Film: a film submitted to the Contest by a Contest Participant or Contest Participants

Primary Film Participant: an individual (or representative of a family) whose life events and story are the primary focus of a Submitted Film’s narrative

III. ELIGIBILITY

The Stories from the Line Contest (the “Contest”) is open only to any undergraduate or graduate student who is under age 28 as of January 1, 2017, currently enrolled in an accredited college or university, or who is a recent graduate from an accredited college or university and is under age 30 as of January 1, 2017, is eligible to participate as a Contest Participant. A recent graduate is an individual who has graduated from an accredited college or university after June 30, 2015 (with either an undergraduate or graduate degree). Individuals must be at least eighteen (18) years old by April 14, 2017, at 11:59p.m., Central Time.

Employees of Impact America as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) and household members of each such employee are not eligible. AmeriCorps volunteers who serve with Impact America as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) and household members of each such AmeriCorps volunteer are not eligible. This Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Participation constitutes Contest Participant’s (or Participants’) full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest. Winning a prize is contingent upon Contest Participant(s) fulfilling all requirements set forth herein or hereafter set by Sponsor.

If an individual has a disability that he/she believes prevents him/her from participating in the Contest, that individual or that individual’s representative should call (205) 934-0664 for assistance.

If more than one individual contributes to the creation of the Submitted Film, the entry may list multiple Contest Participants. All Contest Participants for the Submitted Film must meet eligibility requirements.

The following form must be signed by the Contest Participant(s) selected to win the Grand Prize, the Contest Participant(s) selected to win the First Runner-Up Prize, and all Contest Participants who participate in the Audience Choice Contest, and submitted to the Sponsor by the date provided by the Sponsor: media release form (see Appendix A).

The following form must be signed by all Contest Participants and submitted with the Contest submission by the Contest deadline: statement confirming eligibility and agreeing to official rules of Contest and releasing Contest Participant’s name, address, telephone number, and email address to Impact America in order to allow Impact America to enter Contest Participant(s) in the Contest (see Appendix B).

The following form must also be signed by all Primary Film Participants and submitted with the Contest Submission by the Contest deadline: Statement of Eligibility for Primary Film Participant (see Appendix C).

Contest Participants whose films are selected to appear on the Stories from the Line website, whether or not they win the Grand Prize or other prizes, must obtain a media release form (see Appendix A) from all individuals who appear in the Submitted Film. The Sponsor reserves the right to request copies of the signed media release forms from the Contest Participant.

IV. HOW TO ENTER

Contest Participants must submit a link to an original short film uploaded on Vimeo, at impactamerica.com/stories-from-the-line in order to be eligible to be selected for any of the prizes. Entries into the Contest must be received by Sponsor no later than April 14, 2017, by 11:59 p.m., Central Time, to be eligible for a prize.

Submitted Films should tell a story about an individual or family who is living at or near the poverty line in America. The individual or family profiled must be in a household situated at less than 150% of the poverty line in one calendar year within the past three years and at least 51% of the household income received during that year must have come from earned income from wages or salary. The 2016 Federal Poverty Guidelines will be used to determine eligibility, e.g., a household of two which has earned less than $23,895 (which is 150% of the federal poverty guideline for a household of two); a household of three which has earned less than $30,135; a household of four which has earned less than $36,375, etc. The 2016 Federal Poverty Guidelines can be found at the Department of Health and Human Services website.

Filmmakers must submit a completed Statement of Eligibility for Primary Film Participant (see Appendix C) certifying that the individual or family featured in the film meets the income requirements stated above. Sponsor retains the right to request further documentation to verify household income of Primary Film Participant.

Subject matter portrayed in Submitted Films may include, but is not limited to, issues faced by the working poor, perceptions and misperceptions of poverty, health care or education disparities, housing, or child care. We encourage Contest Participants to be creative in identifying and telling a compelling story about a family’s experience at or near the poverty line.

Submitted Films must be no longer than four minutes and 30 seconds in length. Oral and written content of Submitted Films should be in English or provide English subtitles or other means of interpretation.

Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, invalid, illegible, or misdirected entries, all of which will be disqualified.

V. TIMING

The Contest begins on January 1, 2017, at 12:00a.m., Central Time, and ends on April 14, 2017, at 11:59p.m., Central Time. Sponsor’s computer is the official timekeeping device for this Contest.

VI. PRIZES

On or about April 17, 2017, Impact America will announce the start of the Audience Choice Competition. The Judges or the Sponsor will select the Audience Choice Contestants from the eligible Submitted Films. Each film selected as an Audience Choice Contestant will be posted on the Stories from the Line Facebook Voting Page and a two-week public voting period will commence.

On or about May 8, 2017, Impact America will announce the winning entries for Grand Prize and First Runner-Up Prize selected by the Judges from those Contest Participants who have entered the Contest. Winning entries will be evaluated on the following criteria: (a) effectiveness in highlighting challenges facing individuals and families living at or near the poverty line, (b) clarity of message and storyline, (c) emotional appeal (ability to connect audience to the character(s)) and (d) technical quality of video composition. The Audience Choice Prize will be announced at this time as well, awarded to the Contest Participant whose film receives the largest number of votes during the public voting period.

Grand Prize: a $10,000 scholarship to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies, in any field, at any accredited institution of higher education in the United States within three years after winning the competition, or to be used to pay off student loans for undergraduate or graduate school at any accredited institution of higher education in the United States incurred within the two years previous to winning the competition. If the winning entry was submitted by multiple Contest Participants, the scholarship prize will be divided among those individuals.

First Runner-Up Prize: a $2,000 scholarship to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies, in any field, at any accredited institution of higher education in the United States within three years after winning the competition, or to be used to pay off student loans for undergraduate or graduate school at any accredited institution of higher education in the United States incurred within the two years previous to winning the competition. If the winning entry was submitted by multiple Contest Participants, the scholarship prize will be divided among those individuals.

Audience Choice Prize: a $2,000 scholarship to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies, in any field, at any accredited institution of higher education in the United States within three years after winning the competition, or to be used to pay off student loans for undergraduate or graduate school at any accredited institution of higher education in the United States incurred within the two years previous to winning the competition. The winner of this prize will be chosen by public voting. The Grand Prize winner is excluded from eligibility for this prize. In the event that the Grand Prize winning film also receives the most votes in the Audience Choice Competition, the film receiving the second most votes in the Audience Choice Competition will be deemed the winner of the Audience Choice Prize. If the winning entry was submitted by multiple Contest Participants, the scholarship prize will be divided among those individuals.

Scholarships may only be applied to costs associated with undergraduate or graduate programs sponsored by accredited colleges or universities within the United States.

Impact America is in no way responsible for any tax consequences or loss of eligibility for public benefits resulting from the Prize Winners’ receipt of prize(s).

VII. VERIFICATION

All potential winners are subject to verification by Sponsor whose decisions are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest. A Contest Participant, Grand Prize Winner, First Runner-Up, or Audience Choice Winner is not a winner unless and until his or her eligibility has been verified and he or she has been notified that verification is complete.

All potential winners must continue to comply with all terms and conditions of these Official Rules, and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements. The Grand Prize Winner, First Runner-Up, and Audience Choice Winner will be notified by phone. If the Grand Prize Winner, First Runner-Up, or Audience Choice Winner cannot be reached, he or she forfeits the prize. In the event that the Grand Prize Winner, First Runner-Up, or Audience Choice Winner is disqualified for any reason, the Sponsor will award the applicable prize to an alternate winner.

VIII. PUBLICITY

Except where prohibited, participation in the Contest constitutes a Contest Participant’s consent to the use of his or her name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions and/or hometown by Sponsor, along with its agents and representatives, for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration.

IX. GENERAL CONDITIONS

Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the Contest, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures or any other factor beyond Sponsor’s reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Contest, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. In such event, Sponsor reserves the right to award the prizes from among the eligible entries received up to the time of the impairment. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

X. RELEASE

By participating in the Contest, a Contest Participant agrees to release and hold harmless Sponsor and the Sponsor’s officers, directors, employees, attorneys, and agents (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any claim or cause of action, including, but not limited to, personal injury, death, or damage to or loss of property, arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use or misuse of any prize.

XI. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY

The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by Contest Participants, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest; (2) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in network hardware or software; (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Contest; (4) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Contest or the processing of entries; or (5) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from Contest Participant’s participation in the Contest or receipt or use or misuse of any prize. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded.

XII. DISPUTES

Except where prohibited, Contest Participant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate Alabama State Court located in Jefferson County, Alabama; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Contest, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (3) under no circumstances will Contest Participant be permitted to obtain awards for, and Contest Participant hereby waives all rights to claim, indirect, punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the Contest Participant and Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Alabama.

XIII. RULE CHANGES

Sponsor reserves the right to modify these rules at any time regardless of whether an entry has been submitted by a Contest Participant at the time of modification. The most updated rules can be found at the following website address: impactamerica.com/stories-from-the-line.

XIV. FOR INQUIRIES OR INFORMATION

Please contact (205) 934-0664 or visit impactamerica.com.

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A: MEDIA RELEASE >

APPENDIX B: STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY & RELEASE OF INFORMATION >

APPENDIX C: STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY FOR PRIMARY FILM PARTICIPANT >