2017 Directing Change at City College Student Film Contest

GETTING STARTED….

This information sheet gives you all you need to know to enter the 2017 Directing Change at City College student film contest.

  • All San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar College students are eligible to enter
  • To enter, you must submit an original 60 second film promoting suicide prevention and mental health
  • There are 3 categories: General Student Population, Veteran Students, and LGBTQIA Students
  • Film submissions are due by midnight on Wednesday, March 1, 2017
  • 1st place winners will be selected in each category by a judging panel and announced at the award ceremony
  • Cash prizes of $500, $150, and $100 will be awarded to first, second, and third place winners of all films submitted despite the category
  • All students submitting films will be recognized at an award ceremony in March 2017 (date to be announced)
  • No professional film equipment or experience necessary - films are judged primarily on content; it's about the message!
  • Contestants 25 years old and under can also submit their films to the state-wide competition for increased opportunities to win prizes

If you are interested in entering the contest, follow these 6 steps:

  1. Review the Judging Formfor scoring measures
  2. Email us at to let us know you’ll be participating
  3. Select a submission category:
  4. Mental Health or Suicide Prevention for the General Student Population
  5. Mental Health or Suicide Prevention with a focus on Veteran Students
  6. Mental Health or Suicide Prevention with a focus on LGBTQIA Students
  7. Create a 60-second film about mental health or suicide prevention focusing on one of the categories listed(pay close attention to judging form for content guidelines)*Note: Include a closing slide with the student lead’s name and email for identifying purposes.
  8. Upload film as “unlisted” to YouTube (see instructions for this on website)
  9. Submit the following forms to by the contest deadline March 1, 2017

Entry Form (with link to film posted on YouTube)

Release of Intellectual Rights Forms(one for each student on film team)

Release of Image and Voice Forms(one for each person seen or heard in film)

Location Contract (if you are shooting on private property of any kind)

Any other copyright forms (if you are using copyrighted images or music)

For films submitted under the Veteran Students category:

In addition to the mental health or suicide prevention criteria, the following is a list of criteria for films entered into the Veteran Students category:

  1. Films should explore suicide prevention or mental health through the lens of a Veteran student: Your film should send a positive message about the importance of supporting others and how people can play a vital role in ensuring that Veteran students get the help they need. A film might do a wonderful job in presenting information about or from the perspective of a Veteran student, but does it also make a connection to how this influences help-seeking, suicide prevention, mental health, mental illness and/or reducing stigma related to mental illness? This can be done in many different ways and here are a few ideas:
  2. Explore how reducing mental health stigma and encouraging people to seek help might look different as a Veteran student. Your film could dispel myths and misconceptions about mental health and suicide prevention that might be prevalent as a Veteran and show that seeking help is not shameful, mental illnesses are common and treatable, and recovery is possible.
  3. Demonstrate how Veteran support groups can provide encouragement and strength when dealing with mental health challenges or emotional crises.
  4. Inspire action.Be creative and create a message that will inspire positive action about mental health or suicide prevention.Think of it this way: After someone watches this film what are they asked to do? Will the film inspire them to feel, act or think differently? We would like the films to be action oriented and encourage change and support. For instance, where to get help, how to offer support to someone, how to get involved or learn more information. We have asked our film makers to be creative: To not just tell someone what to do, but show them how to do this. For example:
  5. You can explore Veteran resources in San Diego such as Veterans Village of San Diego and Courage to Call
  6. You can show the Vet Center on campus

Resources to assist you with your content for your submission to the Veteran Students category:

  1. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Veterans and Active Duty
  2. Real Warriors
  3. 211/Courage to Call
  4. Veterans Crisis Line

For films submitted under the LGBTQIA Students category:

In addition to the mental health or suicide prevention criteria, the following is a list of criteria for films entered into the LGBTQIA Students category:

  1. Films should explore suicide prevention or mental health through the lens of a LGBTQIA student: Your film should send a positive message about the importance of supporting others and how people can play a vital role in ensuring that LGBTQIA students get the help they need. A film might do a wonderful job in presenting information about or from the perspective of a LGBTQIA student, but does it also make a connection to how this influences help-seeking, suicide prevention, mental health, mental illness and/or reducing stigma related to mental illness? This can be done in many different ways and here are a few ideas:
  2. Explore how reducing mental health stigma and encouraging people to seek help might look different as a LGBTQIA. Your film could dispel myths and misconceptions about mental health and suicide prevention that might be prevalent as someone who identifies as LGBTQIA and show that seeking help is not shameful, mental illnesses are common and treatable, and recovery is possible.
  3. Demonstrate how LGBTQIA support groups can provide encouragement and strength when dealing with mental health challenges or emotional crises.
  4. Inspire action.Be creative and create a message that will inspire positive action about mental health or suicide prevention.Think of it this way: After someone watches this film what are they asked to do? Will the film inspire them to feel, act or think differently? We would like the films to be action oriented and encourage change and support. For instance, where to get help, how to offer support to someone, how to get involved or learn more information. We have asked our film makers to be creative: To not just tell someone what to do, but show them how to do this. For example:
  5. You can ask individuals to join the Trevor Project’s “We are Here Movement”.
  6. Encourage students to start a LGBTQIA group on campus.

Resources to assist you with your content for your submission to the LGBTQIA Students category:

  1. The Trevor Project
  2. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – How Do Mental Health Conditions Affect the LGBTQ Community
  3. Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Issues in Counseling
  4. GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network)

Please carefully review all info at:

Disqualification: Suicide and mental health are complex and sensitive subjects, which need to be addressed with compassion and knowledge. All entries need to be suitable for schools and the general public viewing audience; otherwise,they may be disqualified. This contest has special content that must be included and specific content that must be avoided for the safety and respect of the audience.Entries that show portrayals of suicide deaths or attempts (such as a person jumping off of a building or bridge, or holding a gun to their head) even in dramatization will be eliminated. Additionally, entries must be sensitive to racial, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation, and gender differences. All films deemed to have inappropriate content will be disqualified from entry into the contest. Again, please pay close attention to the judging form which is available on our website.