• Arrive early! Plan to arrive at least 20–30 minutes before your slate begins. 
• Check in and enjoy the VIP experience! We welcome everyone who helped bring your film to life to attend and celebrate. This is your premiere! Student filmmakers who RSVP with their Teacher Producer when final films are submitted in March will be recognized as official VIP Filmmakers and receive festival credentials, exclusive lagniappe, and their Student Filmmaker Badge. Wear it proudly. You earned it!
• Stay for the full “Slate.” Each slate runs about one hour and features around 8 short films. Remain for the entire screening to support every filmmaker. Every film deserves a full audience!
• Vote for Audience Choice! You may vote after watching a full slate. To vote in both divisions, you must watch one complete Middle School slate and one complete High School slate!  (But we hope you watch more!)
• Vote for the Poster Competition. Student posters are displayed throughout the festival. Take time to look at the artwork and vote for your favorite. These filmmakers designed those too!
• Celebrate the experience! We welcome everyone who helped bring your film to life to attend and celebrate! Enjoy the red carpet, take photos, visit festival activities (like Production Island), and talk with other students about their films and creative process.
• What is Production Island? It is an interactive space where student filmmakers can participate in hands-on activities, experiment with new ideas, and connect with industry professionals and other young creators between screenings.
• Attend the Awards Ceremony.  If you can, join us Sunday for the Awards Ceremony and see winners announced live. Cheer loudly. Celebrate boldly. You are part of something big!

Here’s everything you need to know to plan your weekend, understand how screenings work, and participate in festival voting.

Full Festival Slate Schedule will be Posted Here 1-2 weeks prior to the festival.

What is a Slate? Films are grouped into one-hour screening blocks called Slates.

• Each Slate includes about 8 short films.
• Slates are organized by Division (Middle School or High School) and by School.
• All films from the same school appear in the same Slate.
• Each Slate runs approximately one hour.

When you attend a screening, you are attending a full Slate.

How do the Theaters work? The festival runs in three theaters simultaneously, with staggered start times throughout the day.

• Each Slate is assigned to one specific theater and stays in that theater all weekend.
• If your film is in Theater A, it will always play in Theater A.
• Each theater screens three to four different Slates.
• Each Slate is shown three times over the course of the weekend. Once Friday; twice on Saturday.
• Our team at Check-in will be glad to help if there is any confusion!

Audience Conduct & Expectations: Film Prize Junior is an all-ages, professional festival environment that celebrates student filmmakers and provides a positive viewing experience for filmmakers and their supporters. All attendees are expected to:

• Be ready to enter the theater 10 minutes before the Slate begins.
• Remain seated for the full Slate.
• Silence phones and other devices.
• Avoid entering or exiting during films unless necessary.
• Show respect for every filmmaker on screen.
• Dispose of all food, drinks, and trash properly to help keep the theater clean.

Disruptive or disrespectful behavior may result in removal from the theater. In serious cases, further consequences may impact a film’s standing in the festival.

Every student worked hard to be here. Give each film your full attention.

How to Vote: Film Prize Junior is committed to a fair and transparent voting process. Voting is intended for in-person festival attendees only. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in maintaining a fair and respectful competition.

• All votes must be submitted using a verified email address or cast in person via paper ballot and confirmed by an FPJR staff member.
• Each individual may vote only once per division. Duplicate votes for the same film will be disqualified.
• Any fraudulent, manipulated, or unverifiable votes will be removed.
• Films associated with fraudulent voting activity may be disqualified from Audience Choice and Juried consideration.

What Awards are Presented? Film Prize Junior presents awards in both the Middle School and High School divisions.

Grand Prize (Best Film – Juried) – One Grand Prize Winner is selected in each division.

• $1,500 Film Equipment Grant to the School or School Beneficiary
• $1,000 to the Teacher Producer
• $500 in Student Celebration Funds

Grand Prize (Best Poster – Juried) – One Grand Prize winner is selected by our panel of judges as the official Best Poster of the year.

• Opportunity to design next year’s official FPJR commemorative poster
•  $250 commissioned fee, payable upon completion and approval of the final design

Audience Choice Award (In-Person Festival) – One Audience Choice Winner is selected in each division. Selected solely by in-person audience vote.

• $1,500 Film Equipment Grant to the School or School Beneficiary
• $250 to the Teacher Producer
• $500 in Student Celebration Funds

Audience Choice Award (Poster) – One Audience Choice Winner is selected in each division. Selected solely by in-person audience vote.

Genre & Technique Awards – Films compete in their division and selected genre. Selected by FPJR Staff in each division.

• Comedy
• Drama
• Sci-Fi/Fantasy
• Thriller
• Documentary
• Animation 

Founder’s Circle Awards – Awarded to schools that demonstrate commitment not only by completing their films, but by actively participating in the full Film Prize Junior festival experience — including meaningful attendance and engagement throughout the weekend.

Each selected school (or school beneficiary) is eligible to receive a $250 reimbursement grant to support participation in the following year’s Film Prize Junior festival. This award is reimbursement-based. Funds are distributed only after eligible expenses are incurred and approved, and only if the school submits a film to the subsequent festival. Funds are not paid in advance and are not awarded directly to individual students.

• Film Prize Junior has secured a hotel block at the Holiday Inn Express Downtown (102 Lake Street).
• Please use this FPJR DEDICATED BOOKING LINK to book rooms for your students and chaperones. We encourage out-of-town groups to book before March 29th to receive the FPJR price ($109/night).
• Other hotels in the area are likely to be much more expensive and booked quickly due to other local events.
• Carpooling & Transportation – Schools are responsible for coordinating transportation. Groups traveling together are encouraged to communicate arrival times with FPJR in advance.
• Out-of-Town Groups – School groups and chaperones traveling from outside the area should check in with the FPJR team upon arrival. We are honored that you made the trip to celebrate your student filmmakers. In some cases, limited travel assistance may be available. Accommodations can only be considered for groups that confirmed attendance in advance. Please reach out to the Teacher Producer for more information.

• Come as you are!
• That said, red carpet attire is absolutely welcome if you want to dress to impress.
• Want to show off your Prize spirit? Feel free to come dressed as your character for some extra recognition and fun photo ops!

Visit the VIP Lounge. VIP Filmmakers and Teacher Producers have access to our designated VIP Lounge, featuring exclusive festival lagniappe, light refreshments, and space to relax between screenings.

Take only what you need so all VIP guests can enjoy the experience throughout the festival weekend. Anyone misusing VIP access, removing food from the lounge for others, or taking excessive materials may have VIP privileges revoked.

Explore Production Island. Throughout the festival, industry professionals host live demonstrations and interactive experiences featuring different parts of the film industry. Students can explore camera work, sound, editing, hair & makeup, and more.

This is an excellent opportunity to learn directly from working creatives.

Visit the Photo Booth. Strike a pose! Our festival photo booth includes props and costumes so you can capture the moment with your cast and crew. Make memories. Take photos. Share the celebration online via #vivalafilmprizejr

Vote in the Poster Competition! Student film posters are displayed throughout the festival. Take time to view the artwork and cast your vote for your favorite. FPJR presents Audience Choice awards in both the Middle School and High School divisions, as well as one overall Juried Poster Award.

Attend the Red Carpet Event! Join us Saturday evening from 5:00 to 8:00 for our official Red Carpet Celebration and Wrap Party! Teacher Producers and student filmmaker cast and crew are invited to step into the spotlight for a special red carpet experience featuring:

• Professional red carpet photos
• Live, on-stage interviews with a festival host
• Short, fun recorded interview segments
• Light refreshments
• A celebratory atmosphere to close out the weekend

Filmmaking teams may sign up for interviews at the event. Interviews are first come, first served and will be kept short, energetic, and fun.

This is your chance to share your story, talk about your creative process, and celebrate your hard work in front of a live audience. This event is RSVP only. 

Beyond FPJR: Experience the ArtBreak Festival! While you’re in town, in the same convention center explore the ArtBreak Festival, one of the largest student arts festivals in the country. ArtBreak features thousands of student artworks, live performances, interactive exhibits, and hands-on creative experiences for all ages. It is free and open to the public.

Younger siblings are especially encouraged to attend. It is an energetic and colorful celebration of student creativity. Learn more at artbreaksb.com to see their full schedule of events.

What Is the Virtual Red Carpet? The Virtual Red Carpet is your final opportunity to promote your film before the Virtual Festival begins!

Held April 28–30, the Virtual Red Carpet features recorded interviews with Student Filmmakers who sign up in advance. Teams who did not attend the in-person Red Carpet receive priority sign-up access.

During the interview, filmmakers can reflect on their experience, celebrate their cast and crew, and encourage their school community to tune in for the Virtual Festival.

What Is the Virtual Festival? Following the in-person event, all approved films are showcased online during the Virtual Festival, April 30 – May 7th.

This allows filmmakers to share their work with classmates, extended family, and supporters who were unable to attend in person.

Virtual Audience Choice Voting – Virtual Audience Choice voting takes place online during the Virtual Festival. The same integrity rules apply:

• Votes must be submitted with a complete name and verified email address.
• Each individual may vote once per division.
• Duplicate votes or multiple votes for the same film will not be counted.
• Fraudulent or manipulated voting activity may result in disqualification.

We strongly encourage teams to clearly instruct their supporters on how to vote properly to ensure every valid vote counts.

The Virtual Audience Choice Winner will be announced online on May 8, 2026. The winning filmmaking team will receive $500 in Celebration Funds to recognize and celebrate their achievement.