Video Essay Scholarship Competition Guidelines

Theme: The theme of the video essay should be about celebrating Black culture, heritage, and contributions to society. Participants are encouraged to explore topics such as cultural identity, social justice, community empowerment, and personal experiences within the context of Black culture.

Format: Video essays should be submitted in digital format, preferably as MP4 files, with a maximum duration of Five [5] minutes. Participants have the creative freedom to choose their preferred style, whether it be documentary-style narration, spoken word, visual storytelling, or a combination thereof.

Content: The video essay should be original and thought-provoking, offering unique insights, perspectives, or reflections on the chosen theme. Participants are encouraged to draw from personal experiences, research, interviews, or artistic expression to convey their message effectively.

Clarity and Creativity: Entries should demonstrate clarity of thought, coherence in presentation, and creativity in execution. Participants should strive to engage and captivate the audience through compelling storytelling, visual aesthetics, and effective communication of ideas.

Authenticity: Participants are encouraged to be authentic, genuine, and true to their own voice and experiences. The video essay should reflect the individual's personal connection to the theme and their commitment to celebrating and uplifting Black culture.

Technical Specifications: Videos should be of high quality, with clear audio and visuals. 

Submission Process: Participants must submit their video essays through the designated submission portal provided by the scholarship committee. The deadline for submissions is July 1, 2024. Late entries will not be accepted.

Judging Criteria: Entries will be evaluated based on criteria such as originality, creativity, clarity of expression, relevance to the theme, emotional impact, and overall presentation. Videos will be posted on our social media where scholars can have family and friends vote on submissions. Community votes will count for 25% of the total points while the other 75% of the points will be given the festival committee.

Prize: The winner of the video essay scholarship competition will be awarded a scholarship to be used for attending a HBCU in the fall of 2024, along with recognition and exposure at the Black Culture Festival. The scholarship prize aims to support the recipient's academic pursuits, creative endeavors, or community initiatives related to Black culture.

Additional Information: Participants should review all guidelines, terms, and conditions provided by the scholarship committee before submitting their entries. 

We encourage all aspiring scholars, artists, and storytellers to seize this opportunity to share their voices and contribute to the celebration of Black culture at the festival. Good luck to all participants!