Arts & Culture Feature – Division I, Division II, Middle School
Celebrate creativity and cultural expression. This category invites students to produce a story inspired by a given prompt that focuses on the people and ideas behind the arts, whether visual, musical, theatrical, cinematic, or cultural. You might profile a student artist, explore a community tradition, or go behind the scenes of a performance. These stories should highlight impact, originality, or personal expression. Entries must include interviews, b-roll, voiceovers, and reporter stand-ups. Designed for advanced (Division I), intermediate (Division II), and beginner (Middle School) students depending on experience level. Entry Time Limit: 3 minutes or less | Max Team Size: 4 students

Commercial – Division I, Division II, Middle School
Sell it with style. Use a given prompt to develop a 30-second promotional video for an original product, service, brand, or concept. The idea must be created by the student team and not based on any existing name brand. You may promote fictional products, school events, clubs, fundraisers, or even small, locally owned businesses (with permission). Entries may include live action, animation, or graphics but must deliver a message that’s clear, creative, and compelling. Designed for students at all levels, with versions available for advanced (Division I), intermediate (Division II), and beginner (Middle School) experience levels. Entry Time Limit: Exactly 30 seconds | Max Team Size: 6 students

Human Interest Feature – Division I, Division II, Division III, Middle School
Shine a light on people with stories worth sharing. Based on a given prompt, this category highlights individuals or groups whose personal experiences, passions, or challenges leave a lasting impact. Whether heartwarming, inspiring, or emotional, these stories should connect with viewers and showcase strong character-driven storytelling. Entries must include interviews, b-roll, natural sound, voiceovers, and reporter stand-ups. Versions available for advanced (Division I), intermediate (Division II), beginner (Division III), and middle school levels. Entry Time Limit: 3 minutes or less | Max Team Size: 4 students

Movie Trailer – Division I, Division II
Your movie doesn’t need to exist, but the hype should feel real. In this contest, teams will create a high-energy, visually compelling trailer based on a provided prompt. Your job is to grab attention fast, showcase key scenes, hint at the plot, and leave your audience wanting more. Think like a studio marketing team: what will make people line up to see this film? Focus on storytelling, tone, editing, and creativity to bring your fictional movie to life. Designed for advanced (Division I) and intermediate (Division II) students. Entry Limit: 1 team per school | Max TRT: 60 seconds | Team Size: Up to 6 students

Music Video – Division I, Division II, Middle School
Visualize the music. Using provided songs, students will create a cinematic interpretation of a recorded song through performance, storytelling, or visual design. The video should reflect the tone and rhythm of the music, resulting in a cohesive, engaging visual experience. Designed for advanced (Division I), intermediate (Division II), and beginner (Middle School) students. Entry Time Limit: Full length of provided song | Max Team Size: 6 students

Short Film – Division I, Division II, Division III, Middle School
Craft a complete cinematic story from start to finish. Based on a given prompt, this category is open to original short films in any genre or format, including documentary, live-action, and animation. Entries must include a clear beginning, middle, and end, with strong structure, pacing, and visual storytelling. Title graphic and credits are required and count toward the total runtime. Designed for advanced (Division I), intermediate (Division II), beginner (Division III), and middle school students. Entry Time Limit: 3 minutes or less | Max Team Size: 6 students

Vlog – Division I, Division II
Step in front of the camera and take us through your world. This personal, self-filmed video should respond to a given prompt and reflect the creator’s unique experience or perspective. Vlogs are typically unscripted, first-person, and may include humor, commentary, or behind-the-scenes moments. They are not traditional news packages. They are creative, personality-driven reflections of student life. Designed for advanced (Division I) and intermediate (Division II) students. Entry Time Limit: 3 minutes or less | Max Team Size: 6 students

Commentary – Open, Middle School
Share your voice and your viewpoint. In this category, a single student will deliver a video commentary on a topic of their choice based on a given prompt. The piece should reflect a clear opinion or perspective, supported by reasoning, evidence, or personal experience. While it may be persuasive, the tone can range from serious to humorous. To maintain a strong, personal connection with the audience, only one student should appear on camera. Creative use of visuals, graphics, or sound is encouraged to help engage the audience and strengthen your message. Designed for students of all skill levels, from beginner to advanced, with a Middle School version available. Entry Time Limit: 2 minutes or less | Max Team Size: 4 students

Convention Promo – Open
Get the crowd hyped. This contest challenges students to create a short, high-energy promo that captures the excitement of the STN Convention experience. The piece should be upbeat, visually engaging, and designed to build anticipation for future events. Use past convention footage, graphics, music, voiceover, or whatever best tells the story and brings the energy. Designed for students of all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Entry Time Limit: Exactly 90 seconds | Max Team Size: 6 students

Anchor Team – Open, Middle School
Bring your broadcast presence to the forefront! In this contest, teams will receive provided newswire copy to rewrite for broadcast and deliver in a single, unedited live take. The goal is to simulate a real-world anchor segment — smooth delivery, confident presence, and seamless teamwork are key. Two students will anchor on camera, while additional team members may assist with scripting or production. No graphics or post-production edits allowed. It’s all about the on-camera performance. Entry Limit: 2 teams per school | Max TRT: 60 seconds | Team Size: Up to 2 students

NAT Package – Open
Let sound tell the story. In this category, students will produce a feature story based on a given prompt using only natural sound and interview soundbites. No reporter stand-ups or voiceovers are allowed. The story should feel complete without narration and must end with a strong, memorable soundbite that leaves a lasting impression. Designed for students of all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Entry Time Limit: 3 minutes or less | Max Team Size: 4 students

News Story – Division I, Division II, Middle School
Deliver the facts with clarity and impact. This category challenges students to create a timely, fact-based story based on a given prompt. Stories must include interviews, b-roll, natural sound, voiceovers, and reporter stand-ups, and should answer the who, what, when, where, why, and how. The goal is to inform your audience with accuracy and purpose. Designed for advanced (Division I), intermediate (Division II), and beginner (Middle School) students. Entry Time Limit: 2 minutes or less | Max Team Size: 4 students

Podcast Segment – Open
Bring your voice and visuals to life through dynamic storytelling. This category challenges students to produce a video podcast segment guided by a given prompt. The episode must include an on-camera host, visual storytelling elements, soundbites, and creative production features such as intro music, graphics, transitions, and short segments. Content can include news, interviews, commentary, or a mix of all three. Designed for students of all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Entry Time Limit: 10 minutes or less | Max Team Size: 4 students

PSA – Division I, Division II, Middle School
Make an impact in 30 seconds. Based on a given prompt, students will create a clear, creative message about a current societal issue. Each PSA must include a statement of the issue, a supporting statistic, and a strong call to action. Entries may use live action, animation, or graphics to engage and inform the audience. Designed for advanced (Division I), intermediate (Division II), and beginner (Middle School) students. Entry Time Limit: Exactly 30 seconds | Max Team Size: 6 students

Silent Film – Open
Tell a story without saying a word. This category challenges students to produce a film guided by a given prompt with no synchronized dialogue or sound effects. Music is allowed and should support the pacing and emotion of the piece. Use body language, facial expressions, and visual composition to bring the story to life. Title graphic and credits are required and count toward the total runtime. Designed for students of all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Entry Time Limit: 3 minutes or less | Max Team Size: 6 students

Sports Commentary – Open
Share your voice and your viewpoint, but this time from the sports desk. In this category, a single student will deliver a video commentary on a sports-related topic based on a given prompt. The piece should reflect a clear opinion or perspective, supported by reasoning, stats, examples, or personal experience. While it may be persuasive, the tone can range from serious to humorous, depending on the topic and approach. To maintain a strong, personal connection with the audience, only one student should appear on camera. Creative use of visuals, graphics, highlights, or sound is encouraged to help engage viewers and strengthen your message. Designed for students of all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Entry Time Limit: 2 minutes or less | Max Team Size: 4 students

Sports Panel – Open
New for STN 2026! Bring your sports knowledge and on-camera presence to the screen. In this category, a team of 3 or more students will discuss a sports-related topic in a group format, offering opinions, insights, or analysis. The tone can range from serious to fun, but the discussion should be focused, well-researched, and engaging. All students must contribute meaningfully. Creative use of visuals, graphics, or sound is encouraged to give it the feel of a professional sports talk show. Think of shows like ESPN’s First Take, Around the Horn, or Pardon the Interruption. Entry Time Limit: 5 minutes or less | Max Team Size: 6 students

Vertical Man on the Street – Open
Quick. Candid. Creative. In this contest, students will produce a vertical video segment (9:16 format) capturing authentic, on-the-street reactions to a prompt or question. Whether serious, silly, or surprising, the goal is to engage real people and capture a range of voices and viewpoints. The segment must include at least three different interviews and should feel fast-paced, polished, and social media-ready. Personality, editing style, and audience engagement are key. Entry Time Limit: 2 minutes or less | Max Team Size: 4 students

Vertical Short Film – Open
Tell a cinematic story made for mobile. This category asks students to create a short film based on a given prompt in vertical 9:16 format. Stories can be in any genre or format, but must include a complete narrative arc from beginning to end. Title graphic and credits are required and count toward the total runtime. Designed for students of all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Entry Time Limit: 2 minutes or less | Max Team Size: 6 students

Weather Report – Open
Forecast with flair. In this category, students will create a weather segment based on a given prompt. The report should feature an on-camera reporter using visuals and graphics to explain local or national weather conditions. Your goal is to make weather informative, clear, and engaging for the audience. Designed for students of all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Entry Time Limit: 2 minutes or less | Max Team Size: 4 students