Categories
| Category | Max. Time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Animation | 2-8 min. | A film that creates continuous motion by means of rapid display of a sequence of static images that minimally differ from each other. Animations may be Digital, Hand-Drawn, or Stop-Motion. |
| Broadcast News | 3-8 min. | A newscast with focus on the visual medium, suited for television or Internet. |
| Commercial/PSA | 30-60 sec. | (PSA = Public Service Announcement). Announcements intended for television or the Internet that aim to persuade or sell a product or influence the public toward a cause or action. |
| Demonstration | 5-8 min. | Non-fictional film to specifically instruct how to do something, following a specific process. |
| Documentary | 5-8 min. | Non-fictional film intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instructing, informing or maintaining a historical record. |
| Experimental | 3-8 min. | An artistic filmmaking practice that focuses on sensory aesthetics and is often characterized by the use of various abstract techniques (out-of-focus, rapid cuts, etc.), the absence of linear narrative, and often has the goal of placing a viewer in a thoughtful space. |
| Music Video | 2-5 min. | A multimedia expression centered around a piece of music. |
| Narrative | 5-8 min. | A film that depicts a fictional or fictionalized story or event, framed within humorous, serious, or science fiction/fantasy genre. |
Contest entries are accepted online. No qualification process is required to enter; it’s an open contest for any school who is a member – or becomes a member – of WISDAA (in 2025, we will waive first-year dues for new schools).
Contest Timeline
Coming in 2026! We are working on holding an in-person screening event with educational workshops, likely to be held at UW-Madison.