Multicultural Youth Leadership Day Short Film Contest (1)

Festival start: 11 May 2026      Festival end: 11 May 2026

As part of Multicultural Youth Leadership Day, Utah high school students in grades 9–12 are invited to participate in a short film competition focused on this year’s theme: Tell Your Story, Shape Your Future.

Students are encouraged to create a short video (3–5 minutes) that shares something about their story — their culture, family, community, challenges, goals, or experiences that have shaped who they are and who they want to become. The goal of the film competition is to give students a platform to share their voice, reflect on their experiences, and inspire others.

Finalist videos will be shown during Multicultural Youth Leadership Day at the Utah State Capitol on May 11.

Film Topics

Students may choose to create a short film about topics such as:

• A challenge you have overcome
• A person who inspired you
• Your culture, family, or community
• A problem you want to help solve
• What leadership means to you
• How your story has shaped your future
Students are encouraged to be creative.

Films may be interviews, personal stories, documentaries, spoken word, animation, or other creative storytelling formats.

Cash Prizes: 1,050€

Finalists will be selected by a panel of judges. Finalists will receive prizes valued at $500 for first place, $350 for second place, and $200 for third place.

• Participants must be high school students in Utah

• Film length: 3–5 minutes

• Films must be recorded in horizontal (landscape) orientation

• Students may work individually or in small groups

• Films must be appropriate for a school audience

• Films should relate to the theme Tell Your Story, Shape Your Future

• Films must be submitted by May 4, 2026.

• Finalists will be notified before Youth Leadership Day and must be able to attend the event on May 11. Selected films will be shown at the event at the Utah State Capitol.