Call for entries — third annual
A 60–90 second video contest benefiting [Your Charity Name]. Every entry — win or lose — triggers a $5 sponsor donation to the cause.
Submissions close in
Deadline: Oct 02, 2026 · 11:59 PM ET
This year's theme
Reel Change invites filmmakers of any skill level — phone in hand or full crew — to tell a true or fictional story in under 90 seconds. No budget, no crew, and no filmmaking degree required. What matters is the story, and the cause it's in service of.
Every film submitted (whether it places or not) unlocks a $5 donation from our sponsor to [Your Charity Name]. The films with the most public votes and the strongest jury scores share $4,000 in cash prizes, donated in the winners' names.
Prompt
Show a single, specific act of generosity, courage, or repair — the kind that's easy to overlook but changes something real. Documentary, animation, narrative, or experimental all welcome.
Call sheet
Register and upload your film any time before the deadline.
11:59 PM ET. No extensions — start early.
All entries go live for two weeks of open audience voting.
Top films screen live at our virtual premiere event.
Prizes and donations are announced and paid out that night.
$4,000 in prizes
Chosen by the jury. Donated to [Your Charity Name] in the filmmaker's name, plus a featured slot at screening night.
Determined entirely by public vote during the two-week voting window.
Open to enrolled students at any level, any country.
Read before you shoot
| Length | 00:60–01:30 (60–90 seconds, including credits) |
|---|---|
| Format | MP4 or MOV, H.264 codec |
| Resolution | 1920×1080 minimum, landscape or vertical |
| Max file size | 500 MB |
| Language | Any spoken language, English subtitles required |
| Entry fee | Free |
| Eligibility | Open worldwide, ages 13+ (with guardian consent under 18) |
| Entries per person | Up to 2 |
| Deadline | Oct 02, 2026 — 11:59 PM ET |
Meet the jury
Two-time festival winner, judging her fourth Reel Change.
Sees firsthand where every donated dollar goes.
Now mentoring this year's student entrants.
Common questions
Yes — up to two entries per person. Each is judged and voted on separately, and each still triggers the $5 sponsor donation.
No. Phone footage is welcome and has won before. Judges score for story and impact, not production value.
100% of sponsor-matched entry donations and prize funds go directly to [Your Charity Name]. A donation receipt is issued to each filmmaker in their name.
Yes. List every credited collaborator on the entry form — prize money is split however your team agrees in advance.
You do. By entering you grant Reel Change a non-exclusive license to screen and share your film for contest and charity-promotion purposes.
Last step
Upload your finished video somewhere we can stream it from (YouTube unlisted, Vimeo, or a shared drive link), then tell us where to find it below.
Not a filmmaker?
You can support [Your Charity Name] directly — no camera required.