An exciting part of the annual Thunder Bay International Film Festival (TBIFF), this youth competition celebrates stories of exploration, conservation, and inspiration within the Great Lakes.

Student Shorts is open to all students in grades 6 - 12. The competition encourages youth to create stories about the Great Lakes region - an important resource locally, regionally, and nationally.

Films must be 3 minutes or less (including credits).

Films will be selected on the basis of creativity, skill, and the ability of the filmmakers to tell a story, to inform an audience, and/or to move an audience to take action.

Films will be reviewed and judged prior to a public screening of selected films in Alpena, Michigan, on the Saturday of the Thunder Bay International Film Festival. Awards will be presented following the program.

Awards & Prizes

-Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place shorts.

-Awards will be presented following the live program.

-Attendance is not required to win.

Rules & Terms

-Films must be 3 minutes or less (including credits) and follow the theme.

-All audio/video/graphic content must be original, copyright free or have written permission, and be properly documented.

-No explicit content. Films may be disqualified at the discretion of the judges.

-Video creation tools will be allowed for production, with documented use of such tools. Human creation is preferred. Use of any artificial intelligence should be acknowledged.

-All of the production must be the work of youth or youth-led teams (capture, edit, produce).

-Films will be reviewed and judged prior to a public screening of selected films in Alpena, Michigan on Saturday of the Thunder Bay International Film Festival.

-Awards will be presented following the program. Attendance is not required to win awards.

-Films must be submitted through FilmFreeway by December 15th.