Challenge participants from past years have created incredible films. Watch the winning films to inspire your creativity for the next challenge. Learn more about the genres and themes, as well as the required props and locations from previous challenges.

These requirements, which change each year, include choosing at least two of the year’s required props and featuring a minimum of one of the listed settings.

2019 Challenge

Genre: Science Fiction

Theme/Motif:

  • Exploring the unknown
  • Changing history
  • Learning from an unsuspecting teacher

Setting: an apartment/house, a recreational area, such as a park, a backyard, a garage, a laboratory

Required props: a phone, a book bag or satchel, a spoon, the number ‘100’ as a prop or in spoken dialogue

BEST FILM
“Parents Inc.”, by Amy Hopper

BEST ACTOR
Nicole Evans, “Human Helper”

BEST DIRECTOR
Carl Hansen, “I/O”

BEST AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
“The Vanished”, by Rachel Handler

2018 Challenge

Genre: Buddy Comedy

Theme/Motif:

  • Rivalry
  • An unlikely couple
  • Dynamic Duo

Setting: an apartment/house, a recreational area, such as a park, a backyard, a garage, a warehouse, a storage room

Required props: a hat, coffee cup, watch or clock, glasses, a journal, keys, or a ring

BEST FILM
Carl Hansen – “Check Mate”

BEST ACTOR
J.B. Abajian – “Visibility”

BEST FILMMAKER
Day Daniells – “Hit On”

BEST AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
David Tenenbaum – “Footloose”

2017 Challenge

Genre: Family Comedy

Theme/Motif:

  • The new normal
  • Wrongful accusation

Setting: living room, family room, kitchen, garage, car, backyard or park

Required props: a hat, a family heirloom, a photograph, an apple, a calculator, glasses, or a towel

BEST FILM
Cory Reeder – “Best Friend”

BEST ACTOR
Jamie Brewer – “Whitney’s Wedding”

BEST FILMMAKER
Jonathan Johnson – “Siblings Liebencrantz”

BEST AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
Cory Reeder –“Best Friend”

2016 Challenge

Genre: Mystery

Theme/Motif:

  • Righting a wrong
  • Cracking the code

Setting: a living room, driveway, parking lot, the woods, or a park

Required props: coffee cup, bowl, clipboard, floss, hand sanitizer, umbrella

BEST FILM

David Harrell – “Lefty and Loosey”

BEST ACTOR

Diana Elizabeth Jordan – “Boxed Out”

BEST FILMMAKER
Rosser Goodman – “{In}visible”

BEST AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
Antonio Quistian Jr. – “Minority Effect”

2015 Challenge

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Theme/Motif:

  • Being reunited / a reunion of some kind
  • A first encounter

Setting: a living room, driveway, parking lot, the woods, or a park

Required props: bow tie, comb/hairbrush, lollipop, loose change, balloon

BEST FILM
Jenna Kanell – “Bumblebees”

BEST ACTOR
Steve Way – “Spanish Love 101”

BEST FILMMAKER
Dickie Hearts – “Passengers”

BEST AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
Stephen Saux – “I Understand You”

2014 Challenge

Genre: Dramedy

Theme/Motif:

  • Underdog
  • An unlikely couple

Setting: an apartment/house or a recreational area

Required props: flowers, popcorn, hat, hand wipes, mirror

BEST FILM
John Lawson – “Hands Down”

BEST ACTOR
Rachel Handler – “Disabilidates”

BEST FILMMAKER
Justin Possenti – “Wheelz”