2026 National Arts Competition Application Requirements

Film

Please follow the requirements as closely as possible. Failure to comply with the requirements may make your application ineligible for an award.

Submit one (1) MAIN short film that you directed/animated. A second OPTIONAL film can be submitted where you are either the director/animator or cinematographer. Total time for the entire application should not exceed ten (10) minutes. Submissions must be in English or with English subtitles.
- If the optional second film is submitted, keep in mind that applications are judged as a whole, and should reflect the applicant’s aesthetic tastes and intellectual and emotional interests as well as a competent understanding of technical elements. Make sure that you are submitting your strongest work!
- The time requirement is a MAXIMUM time limit. You are not required to fill up the full 10 minutes. Even 2-minute shorts have been previously awarded!
- Excerpts are acceptable.
- Submissions that do not have a primary artistic focus on filmmaking will not be considered for an award. This includes video footage of staged plays, theatre performances, and art installations.

Applicants can apply in animation, documentary, narrative and/or experimental/music video.
List the following information when prompted: Title, year completed and any additional role(s) in the making of the film. Please select all that apply.
Save and name your file(s) as “[Title of the Film]” and upload each selection as a separate video file.
- Total size for each file cannot exceed 2 GB.
Do not indicate your name or any identifying information on your submission(s). Credits should be removed whenever possible.
Total size for each file cannot exceed 2 GB.
CHECK YOUR WORK.  After uploading your film(s), please verify that the file(s) uploaded upright (not sideways or upside down) and play smoothly with clear sound (if applicable).

All submitted work must be entirely original and must not infringe on the copyright, trademark, or intellectual property rights of any other individual or entity.
For their own personal documentation, applicants are responsible for obtaining and securing any and all rights, licenses, consent and permissions, if applicable, from third parties in relation to any copyrighted material that is not their own (e.g., music used in the film).
You are welcome to submit materials that have been part of other applications, competitions or projects. YoungArts does not own any works submitted to its competition, however if your work has been submitted to other competitions, you are responsible for getting permission to submit to YoungArts, if necessary.