A film submitted to the How-To category should be a practical film designed to teach the audience how to learn a new skill, complete a project, or perform a specific task (no more than 7 minutes in length, not including credits).

How-To

Judging of all films will be conducted by an outside third party, and the linked rubric above will be used to score each film, based on the following description.

Judging Information - Content and Impact portion criteria:

Purpose - Presents an explicit skill, project, or task for completion and establishes a rationale for the explanation.

How-to topics should be focused so that the audience can easily determine what exactly the filmmaker wants them to learn. Vague topics could leave the audience confused and wondering where the process is taking them.
The audience and judges should not only be able to learn how to perform the skill, project, or task but also the WHY of learning about it. Student filmmakers should strive to ensure that their audience understands why this information should interest them.

Originality - Explains the skill through an original format, displaying creativity and/or imagination.

How-To films should be original productions, with the filmmaker's own steps and structure built in, not a visual representation of an existing online how-to article.
Student filmmakers should strive to insert creativity and/or imagination into the steps of their How-To film. If a submission is covering the topic of how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, what makes this particular submission stand apart from other films covering the same topic?

Process - Presents a logical process for the skill, project, or task with very clear instructions for completing each step.

How-To's should be structured logically (typically chronologically) for the audience. In these cases, transitions become very important so that the audience can judges can follow along easily.
Student filmmakers should consider how much background knowledge their audience likely has about the steps and components involved in completing the process. Is any jargon used in the process of the film? Perhaps an explanation or definition of those terms is needed.

Narration - Displays clear evidence of rehearsal.

Narration (voiceovers) of steps and explanations should be well-spoken and free of errors, showing evidence of rehearsal. Filmmakers should rerecord narration when necessary.

BEFORE YOU SUBMIT

Use this checklist to be sure you have completed all requirements:

1) Was my film created AFTER last year's Film Festival submission date of March 14, 2025?

2) Is this the only film I'm submitting to THIS category?

3) Does my film meet the time limit requirements for THIS category (not including credits)?

4) Is my film appropriate for a K-12 school event?

5) Did I, or another student, do ALL the work on this film (brainstorming the idea, determining the structure, recording each shot, and editing the final product)?

Note: For K-2 students, teachers may offer direct guidance with these tasks; however, ultimately, the students are responsible for completing them.

6) Am I submitting my film to the correct category and division?

7) Did I include ALL required information in the film's credits (writer, director, actors, videographer, editor, cite all music and images, editing program)?

8) Did I verify none of the music I used in my film is copyrighted?

9) Does my film adhere to the Film Festival's AI policy?

If you answered "No" to any of the above questions, you should revisit that section before submitting, otherwise your film is subject to disqualification.