Open Call for Participation: 
"Reinterpreting Conflict: October 7th 2023"

Digital Storytelling Challenge: Transforming the Narrative of Wars and Conflicts over Social Media

We are thrilled to announce the Digital Storytelling Challenge: Transforming the Narrative of Wars and Conflicts over Social Media, a creative social media competition open to all international students, high school level and above. 

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This competition invites international students to delve into the intricate narratives of the events of October 7 in Israel, the resulting Hamas/Israel War, and the widespread reactions to these events on college campuses and in cities across the globe. We ask students to react to these current events and to create engaging, succinct, and informative videos for social media that maintain a balanced, unbiased approach to the situation.

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Eligibility:

• Students enrolled in any international high school or any accredited international college or university. Includes graduate and film school students. 

• Individual or team participation is welcome. Teams are limited to up to 5 members.

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Competition Focus:

•  Short, compelling videos that offer a reinterpretation of the complex issues surrounding the October 7th 2023 events and/or the surrounding Hamas/Israel conflict.

• Content should aim to inform, educate, and engage viewers in a style reminiscent of popular TikTok channels, such as Morning Brew or Washington Post.

• Content should present intricate story lines in a simplified, accessible manner, suitable for a younger, social media-savvy audience.

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Submission Guidelines: 

• Videos should be tailored for TikTok or Instagram Reels and not exceed 3 minutes.

• Upload the video to your profile and tag @reinterpreting_conflict and #reinterpretingconflict 

• Deadline for entries:  May 31, 2024.

• Submissions must also be submitted via the form on this website (see below).

• Submissions must be original and adhere to ethical standards of storytelling. 

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Judging Criteria:

• Clarity and effectiveness in conveying complex issues.

• Creativity in presentation and narrative style

• Effectiveness in portraying a balanced, unbiased story, and not presenting a one-sided point of view.

• Technical quality and innovative use of the medium

• Audience engagement and suitability for social media platforms

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Prizes:

• 1st Place: $2,500 

• 2nd Place:  $1,500 

• 3rd Place: $1,000

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Winners will also receive a certificate of excellence from our judges and have the opportunity for their short films to be turned into a longer form series, to be produced by experts on our judges panel. 

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For the complete competition rules, click here