As part of Thunder Bay International Film Festival, the NEMIGLSI network and partners host a Student Film Competition. Middle and High School students (6th-12th grade) are eligible to enter individually or as a team, and there is NO entry fee for the competition. Interested in submitting a film? See the details here. Film "shorts" submissions will open in September of 2024 with the theme being "Life in the Great Lakes."
Save the 4th weekend of January 2025 on your calendar now. That is when the 13th annual Thunder Bay International Film Festival will happen. The Student Film Competition winners will be announced at the festival on Saturday afternoon.
Film Festival – Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (thunderbayfriends.org)
JUDGING & PRIZES
.png "at-the-(2).png")
All submissions will be judged by a jury of professional filmmakers and Great Lakes conservationists. Judging will be completed a week before the competition and the winners will be announced on Saturday as part of the Film Festival. A group of selected student films will be shown on the big screen, including the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners. There will also be a quick vote after the viewing of films to determine a People's Choice Award!
Cash prizes will be awarded to all winners, thanks to sponsorship from the Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
It is free to attend the Student Film Competition program during the Film Festival.
Competition Winners
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR FILMMAKERS AND WINNING FILMS!
2024 WINNER
Illusion, Aliviah Chisholm, Harbor Springs High School
2022 WINNER
2038, William Shultz and Nick Lusardi, Alpena High School
2021 WINNER
Mermaids Specifically, Nick Lusardi, Alpena High School
2020 WINNER
His Boots Are Empty, Nick Lusardi, Alpena High School
2019 WINNER
Exploration is Essential, Akia Rutherford, Rogers City High School
2018 WINNER
Holly and Jack In: Sanctuaries Are, Jack MacDonald, Alpena High School
2017 WINNER
#BiodiversityIs Unity, DyShauna Rutherford, Rogers City High School
2016 WINNER
Aquanauts, Jake Chapman, William “Sam” Nichols, and Kelly Cool, Stockbridge High School
Quote from the teacher of the 2024 Winner:
"Thank you for hosting such a wonderful event and experience for the youth of Northern (and all) Michigan. We've already adjusted our fall sequence in our AEVE class and will be sure to promote the festival with ample time for more students to participate [next year].
COMPETITION GUIDELINES
Subject matter should focus on the theme, Life in the Great Lakes, and it should connect to how you experience and explore and are inspired by the world around you.
All film genres will be accepted.
We encourage creativity with all film entries!
RULES & ELIGIBILITY
-
Entries will be accepted from all students in grades 6 -12th. Entry is not exclusive to organized school programs.
-
Film submissions must be 3 minutes or less in length (including credits).
-
Films must be produced and made in entirety by student(s) or student teams, but entrants may have an adult mentor.
-
All audio/video/graphic content must be original, copyright free or have written permission and be properly documented.
-
Video creation tools will be allowed for production, with documented use of such tools.
-
Final submissions should either be in .MOV format (1080 Widescreen preferred) or online link (Youtube, Vimeo, etc) and must include a completed student submission form.
- Submissions are DUE: Early January, date TBA; if you have questions email daniel.moffatt@noaa.gov or call 989.590.1297
Alpena, MI 49707
