Our panel of judges are still finalizing the 150 winning entries in C-SPAN's 2020 StudentCam competition but we are excited to share some of the top videos from this year's competition.View each of the top 12 entries (as determined by C-SPAN's judges) and Cast Your Vote for your favorite. Your vote will not determine the final placement of these videos among the 150 winning entries, but the documentary that receives the most number of votes will receive an additional cash prize of $500 and will be recognized as the 2020 "Fan Favorite."
The submission period has closed and entries are currently being judged. Winners will be announced on the StudentCam website on Wednesday, March 11 at 9am ET. Good luck to all participants!
StudentCam is C-SPAN's annual national video documentary competition that encourages students to think critically about issues that affect our communities and our nation.
This year students in grades 6-12 were asked to create a short (5-6 minute) video documentary on a topic related to the competition theme, "What's Your Vision in 2020? Explore the issue you most want presidential candidates to address during the campaign."
With cash prizes totaling $100,000 each year, C-SPAN awards prizes to 150 student documentaries, and over 50 teacher advisors. Since 2004, C-SPAN has awarded over $1 million dollars in cash prizes to past winning students and teachers.
“What's Your Vision in 2020?”
Explore the issue you most want presidential candidates to address during the campaign.
Your video should analyze the current or historical significance of your chosen issue and include differing points of view.
Click here for a printable Student Checklist (Google Doc)
- The competition is open to all students in grades 6-12. Grades 6-8 compete in the Middle School category, and grades 9-12 compete in the High School category. For more information, visit our Prizes page.
- Students may compete individually, or in teams of either 2 or 3 members.
- Documentaries must include clips of supporting or opposing C-SPAN video that relate to the chosen topic.
- Winning StudentCam documentaries will thoroughly explore a variety of viewpoints related to the chosen topic, including those that may oppose the filmmakers points of view. We recommend that you interview experts on your chosen subject.
- Documentaries must be between 5-6 minutes in length. *End credits, if applicable, must begin after the 5-minute mark but are permitted to run longer than the allotted 6-minute time frame.
- Entries must include either end credits or a works cited list.
Key dates, including the submission deadline and the announcement of winning videos.
- Monday, January 20
The submission deadline for all entries in StudentCam 2020.
- February 24 - March 1
The public can cast their vote for "Fan Favorite" from the top 10 videos, as determined by C-SPAN judges.
- Wednesday, March 11
The 150 prize winning videos will be announced on C-SPAN and on studentcam.org.