Student Film Competition

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2024 FINALISTS
Congratulations to all students worldwide who submitted a film to the 13th Annual Student Film Competition, to be presented in April 2024. The jury was so impressed with the film's content, quality, and variety of subject matter. Congratulations to our winners! .

MIDDLE SCHOOL

1ST PLACE: Improve 4 min, Khanh Tue Nguyen, Vietnam

2ND PLACE: IOFF 3 min, Stella Vu, USA

3RD PLACE: Minecraft Coral 5 min, Max Lu, USA

MIDDLE SCHOOL FINALISTS

Hooked: The Unwanted Innocents 3 min, Collin Steadam, USA

Ethics v. Marine Conservation 5 min, Renzo N. Mendoza, USA

HIGH SCHOOL

1ST PLACE: Life’s Tides 3 min, Julianna Huffman, USA

2ND PLACE: Inside the Waves 4 min,, Ngô Khánh Thư, Vietnam

3RD PLACE: Phytoplankton In a Nutshell, 4 min, Don Petchsangroj, Thailand

HIGH SCHOOL FINALISTS

Siento el Océano a Través del Kayak, (I Feel The Ocean Through My Kayak)
2 min, Rosario Elizabeth Valenzuela Landeros, Mexico

Two Sides 4 min, Aslı Baloğlu, Turkey

Interested in seeing all of the films as the Student Film Competition Finalists?
Click HERE to watch the IOFF Virtual Film Program, available until April 22nd

The IOFF Student Film Competition is designed to give young students an opportunity to tell their stories about the ocean. No experience is required, and we encourage all students to have fun with the film project.

Students have two ways they can participate:

1. Influencer TikTok Version:

Submit a one-minute video on your favorite ocean topic, something you’ve learned recently about the ocean and sea life, or interview a family member about their favorite ocean topic. 

2. Filmmaker Version: 

Submit a 1 to 5-minute video on your favorite ocean topic, which can be a storytelling version, a documentary on your favorite topic, or an educational video in any fun style you choose. 

GUIDELINES

Students will make a "big splash" and have their voices heard through filmmaking! Creativity and ingenuity are highly encouraged. Winning films will be chosen based on creativity and the ability to tell a story that leaves the audience better informed and/or moved about the ocean. This competition is free to enter for all students. Films must be five minutes or less and touch upon at least one of these ocean-related topics: 

• Ocean environments

• Ocean wildlife

• Ocean science

• Ocean cultures

• National Marine Sanctuaries

• Ocean sports

• Ocean industries

• Ocean history

• Ocean conservation issues, including climate change, pollution, overfishing, marine debris

Winning films will be chosen based on creativity and the ability to tell a story that leaves the audience better informed about or moved by the ocean.

RULES FOR 2024

The rules are easy and straightforward:

• All films must be about the ocean

• All films must be less than 5 minutes in length

• Films must be made entirely by an individual student or a group of students

We look forward to getting your submission and hearing your story about the ocean! Here are the details:

• 2024 Student Film Competition Information Sheet

• 2024 Student Film Competition Rubric

• Exporting/ Uploading Instructions and Resources

JUDGING AND PRIZES

An elite jury of professional filmmakers and ocean conservationists will judge all submissions. The three top winners in each category — middle and high school — will be eligible to win cash prizes.