Directing Change Program & Student Film Contest

Overview

The Directing Change Program and Student Film Contest is a California-based competition where youth ages 12 to 25 create 30- or 60-second short films about mental health, suicide prevention, and substance use. Founded in 2012 as a nonprofit organization, the program operates under California's mental health movement and runs on an annual cycle with a submission deadline of March 1. There is no entry fee.

The contest is not a traditional film grant. It is a themed competition with a public health mission: films must communicate positive, youth-focused, action-oriented messages about mental health and suicide prevention to peers and communities. Winning films are integrated into California's statewide suicide prevention social marketing campaign and may be broadcast on TV, online, in social media, and in movie theaters. The program also lists on FilmFreeway for broader visibility.

For young filmmakers in California, this is one of the few competitions where the subject matter constraint is also the reason the work gets distributed. A winning film does not just earn a cash prize - it reaches audiences through a public health infrastructure that no student film festival can match.

Submission Categories and Prizes

The contest has six submission categories, each with specific content guidelines and prize structures. Films are 60 seconds for live-action categories and 30 seconds for the Animated Short category.

Suicide Prevention (60-second PSA)

Regional judging with finalists advancing to statewide judging. Prizes per region:

• 1st Place: $500
• 2nd Place: $300
• 3rd Place: $200

Mental Health Matters (60-second PSA)

Regional judging with finalists advancing to statewide judging. Prizes per region:

• 1st Place: $500
• 2nd Place: $300
• 3rd Place: $200

Through the Lens of Culture (60-second PSA)

Single round of statewide judging. Prizes:

• 1st Place: $1,000
• 2nd Place: $500
• 3rd Place: $250

Walk in Our Shoes (60-second PSA, middle school only)

Open exclusively to middle school students (ages 12-14). Single round of statewide judging. Prizes:

• 1st Place: $500
• 2nd Place: $300
• 3rd Place: $200

Substance Use (60-second PSA)

Prizes:

• 1st Place: $1,000
• 2nd Place: $500
• 3rd Place: $250
• 4th and 5th Place: $100

Hope and Justice (60-second PSA)

Single round of statewide judging. Prizes:

• 1st Place: $500
• 2nd Place: $300
• 3rd Place: $200

Additional Prizes

• Schools and organizations associated with a first-place statewide film receive a trophy
• Schools and organizations associated with a first-place regional film in Mental Health or Suicide Prevention receive a trophy
• Up to two participants from the first-place film team receive travel stipends to attend the red-carpet award ceremony (subject to funding availability)
• Winning films are featured on the Directing Change website and may be broadcast on TV, online, on social media, and in movie theaters

Eligibility Requirements

• Age: Participants must be between 12 and 25 years old
• Location: Must be located in California
• Affiliation: Must be associated with a California middle school (grades 6-8), high school (grades 9-12), college, university, club, community-based organization, or other agency or program
• Adult advisor: Every film team must identify an adult advisor who reviews the film. The advisor can be a teacher, parent, social worker, friend, or other adult. The advisor must register and create a profile before youth participants can submit
• Release forms: All cast and crew members must complete electronic release forms. Participants under 18 must also have a parent or legal guardian sign the release form
• No limit on submissions: There is no limit on the number of entries a participant, school, or organization can submit. There is also no limit on the number of people who can work on a single film

Content Rules and Disqualification Criteria

Films must follow specific content guidelines designed to align with suicide prevention communication best practices. Violating these guidelines can result in disqualification or significant point deductions during judging:

• Films must not portray a suicide death or attempt
• Films must not feature items that could be used in a suicide attempt
• Films must avoid stigmatizing language
• Films must include the required end slate and title slide (available in the Submission Tool Box on the Directing Change website)
• Films in languages other than English must include captions
• Films must avoid visible brands and logos
• All copyrighted music and materials must have proper releases obtained before submission
• Use of premade templates or AI models is not permitted
• Films must communicate a message that is hopeful and focused on what someone can do to reach out for help, connect others to help, or reduce stigma

Judging Process

All films are pre-screened by the Directing Change Film Contest Team. The strongest films advance to a panel of regional or statewide judges who select 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, and honorable mention winners in each category. Films in the Suicide Prevention and Mental Health categories are first judged within one of five regions in California. First-place regional winners in these categories advance to a second round of statewide judging by industry professionals and celebrities. Past judges have included actress Kristen Bell and writer/director Angela Cohen. Middle school students compete at a statewide level only. The Animated Short, Through the Lens of Culture, Hope and Justice, and Walk in Our Shoes categories also have a single round of judging.

How to Submit

1. The adult advisor registers and creates a profile on the Directing Change website
2. Each youth participant creates a profile, uploads a signed release form, and enters the advisor code
3. All cast and crew members must also create profiles and sign release forms under the same advisor
4. One team member completes the entry form, selects all cast and crew from the advisor's list, and uploads the film to the Directing Change Vimeo channel
5. The entry form with the film link must be submitted by midnight PST on March 1

Entry forms can be saved for up to 30 days before final submission. Films can be submitted to other film festivals after the March 1 deadline.

Who Should Apply

California-based youth and young adults ages 12 to 25 who want to make short films about mental health, suicide prevention, or substance use. Teachers looking for a structured filmmaking project with built-in educational resources and curriculum integration will find the program well-documented. The contest is free to enter, has no limit on the number of submissions, and provides a distribution platform that no student film festival can match: winning films are broadcast statewide through California's mental health marketing infrastructure.

See Also

For short film distribution and festival strategy after production, see Film Festival Strategy: Getting Your Film Seen. For building a short film production schedule, use the Production Schedule Calculator. For understanding how to budget a short film, see Documentary Financing: Building Your Stack.