Up to $5,000 ConnectHER Film Competition

About this opportunity

The ConnectHER Film Festival is an international youth film competition run by ConnectHER, a US nonprofit, for short films about issues facing women and girls, from barriers to education and health to climate, poverty and conflict. Filmmakers aged 13 to 25 anywhere in the world can enter, and winning films earn scholarship prize money and a place at the festival's awards ceremony. Since 2013 the festival has received 2,250 films from 96 countries and awarded $345,000.

What you get:

Judges' Choice Award: $5,000 for the winner and $2,500 for the first runner up
$2,500 for each category winner: Best Documentary, Best Narrative, Best Animation, People's Choice, Global Impact, Stand Up Men, Women and Work, Educating Girls, Women and Health, Women and the Environment
Prize money is paid to the filmmakers as an unrestricted scholarship, split per the team's request
A chance to have your film shown in the online People's Choice gallery and screened at the ConnectHER awards ceremony

What you'll do:

Make an original short film, ideally 3 to 6 minutes (animation 2 to 6), on one of the festival's themes affecting women and girls
Any form is welcome: documentary, narrative, animation, live action
End the film with a graphic naming two organisations working to solve the issue, and subtitle it in English
Submit through the online form with a shared Google Drive or Dropbox folder holding the film, a headshot, a thumbnail and proof of identity

Key dates:

Submissions open July 1, 2026
Entry deadline October 1, 2026
Online People's Choice gallery goes live December 1
People's Choice voting ends January 1
Finalists announced February 15
Awards ceremony date to be announced

More information:

Full entry rules on the Submit page and answers on the FAQ page
Questions to filmfest@connecther.org

Who can apply

Filmmakers must be 13 to 25 years old at the submission date; everyone doing the scripting, directing, filming and editing must meet this age rule, while actors can be any age
Open to filmmakers in all countries
Any gender may enter, as long as the film addresses issues affecting women and girls
Up to four student filmmakers per entry, each meeting the eligibility rules
Up to two films per person, on two different topics
Films must be completed after October 1, 2025 and not yet screened at other major film festivals
Films must be 3 to 6 minutes (animation 2 to 6 minutes), in .mov or .mp4, subtitled in English
Films must be principally human made; generative AI for substantive visual, audio or narrative content is not allowed, and AI-assisted technical tools must be disclosed
Valid proof of identity is required; minors need parent or guardian consent
Music must be original or royalty free

About this opportunity

What you get:

Judges' Choice Award: $5,000 for the winner and $2,500 for the first runner up
$2,500 for each category winner: Best Documentary, Best Narrative, Best Animation, People's Choice, Global Impact, Stand Up Men, Women and Work, Educating Girls, Women and Health, Women and the Environment
Prize money is paid to the filmmakers as an unrestricted scholarship, split per the team's request
A chance to have your film shown in the online People's Choice gallery and screened at the ConnectHER awards ceremony

What you'll do:

Make an original short film, ideally 3 to 6 minutes (animation 2 to 6), on one of the festival's themes affecting women and girls
Any form is welcome: documentary, narrative, animation, live action
End the film with a graphic naming two organisations working to solve the issue, and subtitle it in English
Submit through the online form with a shared Google Drive or Dropbox folder holding the film, a headshot, a thumbnail and proof of identity

Key dates:

Submissions open July 1, 2026
Entry deadline October 1, 2026
Online People's Choice gallery goes live December 1
People's Choice voting ends January 1
Finalists announced February 15
Awards ceremony date to be announced

More information:

Full entry rules on the Submit page and answers on the FAQ page
Questions to filmfest@connecther.org

Who can apply

Filmmakers must be 13 to 25 years old at the submission date; everyone doing the scripting, directing, filming and editing must meet this age rule, while actors can be any age
Open to filmmakers in all countries
Any gender may enter, as long as the film addresses issues affecting women and girls
Up to four student filmmakers per entry, each meeting the eligibility rules
Up to two films per person, on two different topics
Films must be completed after October 1, 2025 and not yet screened at other major film festivals
Films must be 3 to 6 minutes (animation 2 to 6 minutes), in .mov or .mp4, subtitled in English
Films must be principally human made; generative AI for substantive visual, audio or narrative content is not allowed, and AI-assisted technical tools must be disclosed
Valid proof of identity is required; minors need parent or guardian consent
Music must be original or royalty free

Up to $5,000 ConnectHER Film Competition

About this opportunity

Who can apply

AI Verification

Good to know

Worth checking yourself

Sources checked

Up to $5,000 ConnectHER Film Competition

About this opportunity

Who can apply

AI Verification

Good to know

Worth checking yourself

Sources checked