2026 Halloween PSA Challenge 

This year we invite students to follow the prompt described in a fictitious press release, sent out by a fictitious safety commission, which is designed to give students a taste of a potential “real-world” client and project. The press release explains what the assignment is but students must also follow the rules and safety expectations as described below.

Please click below to access the press release:

What is a PSA?

A public service announcement is a message spread in the interest of the public. Their objectives are to bring awareness to a subject and change public attitudes, opinions, or behavior towards an issue. PSAs can be instructional, comedic, or even shocking to elicit emotion and action. We encourage you to watch last year’s winners to get an idea of the assignment.

Judging Criteria:
Entries will be evaluated primarily on the strength of the PSA’s message, creativity, and overall impact. Your PSA doesn’t need to be technically perfect! Judges will place more emphasis on your message, creativity, and ability to make an impact than on professional-level filming or editing. Focus on having something meaningful to say and finding a creative way to say it.

There is no live public screening of the Halloween PSA submissions. Submissions will go on our YouTube page after judging. Awards are based on submissions received.

Rules:

(1)  Open to New Hampshire high school students only. All films must be produced solely by students currently enrolled and attending a New Hampshire public or private high school (grades 9-12) or enrolled in homeschooling.

(2)  Must be 90 seconds or less in length

(3)  Must include one Dutch angle shot (also called canted angle, more about this below)

(4)  Students must fill out and submit the Media Release & Permission Form found at the forms page

(5)  Copywritten music or content is NOT allowed in any capacity

(6)  Must submit via Google Form provided. (Either student or a teacher can do this.) You can submit here.

(7)  PSAs must have been produced after June 2026

(8)  Films can either be produced as part of a school project, group, independently, or as part of an after-school club. (Film Club/Media Club, etc.) Please include a director(s) name. Director: the student or students primarily in charge of creative control and direction of the PSA. This can be multiple people. Directors can only be students.

(9)  A student can only be a director for no more than 2 PSAs.

(10) PSA submissions must have an Adult Supervisor who overlooks the safety and well being of all students involved. Adult Supervisor must fill out the “Adult Supervisor” form for all films they oversee. This can be found at the forms page.

(11)  Students must follow the Safety Rules, Weapons Policy, and AI Policy as described below.

Safety Rules:

(1)          Do not do anything that puts another person in danger.

(2)          No nudity.

(3)          We encourage students to explore difficult and sensitive topics responsibly, with thoughtfulness and empathy. Films must not glorify, celebrate, or advocate for violence, illegal activity, self-harm, gun violence, substance misuse, or dangerous acts. Only STAGED violence is allowed (see rule 1), however we encourage filmmakers to focus your storytelling power on emotions, consequences, and the journey toward seeking help or positive change.

(4) Swearing/fake blood is allowed but remember that the decision to use these tools MUST enhance the effectiveness of the PSA message. Any overly excessive or unnecessary use of these things will cause your film to be excluded from the festival. Speak to your Adult Supervisor if you are unsure what to include.

Weapons Usage Policy:

The 2026 Halloween PSA Challenge upholds a mandatory weapons policy to ensure the safety of students, their cast, crew, peers, and adult supervisors. Violations may result in disqualification.

Definition of weapon: firearms, knives, or any object, used or intended to cause physical injury.

Part 1. Prohibited Items, with limited exceptions (see Part 2)

• Do not use any real weapons in your film.

• Do not bring any weapons (real or fake) on school grounds, including replicas, look-alike weapons, or objects designed to resemble weapons.

Part 2. Limited Exceptions: Kitchen Knives and Prop Knives

Part 2A: Kitchen Knives - An exception is made for real knives under the following conditions:

• The knife is a standard kitchen utensil intended solely for food preparation. (Meaning a standard knife found in a kitchen. Pocket knives, hunting knives and the like are not allowed)

• The scene is non-combat in nature

• The knife is not used, displayed, or implied as a weapon

• The knife is actively supervised by their “Adult Supervisor” and handled safely at all times

• The knife is stored safely and securely when not in use

Part 2B: Prop Knives - An exception is made for prop knives under the following conditions:

• The prop knife is actively supervised by their “Adult Supervisor” and handled safely at all times

• The prop knife is stored safely and securely when not in use

• The prop knife must only be out when filming and when actively supervised by their Adult Supervisor

• The prop knife must not be used off-camera, for play, or for any unsafe, threatening, or inappropriate manner on set, or outside it’s intended use while filming

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Films submitted to the festival must be primarily created by human filmmakers. Artificial intelligence tools may be used only for limited editing or post-production purposes, such as color correction, sound cleanup, or minor visual adjustments. AI may not be used to generate core creative elements of the film, including the script, performances, visuals, or direction. This policy helps preserve artistic integrity and ensures that all submissions reflect original human creativity.

More about the Dutch angle requirement

For a Dutch angle, the camera is slanted to one side. With the horizon lines tilted in this way, you can create a sense of disorientation, uneasiness, or give a viewer some insight into a character's disturbed or uneasy state of mind. It can bring tension or suspense to the scene. It is used in many scenes, across all genres. Use your Dutch angle creatively!

Examples of Dutch angles used in cinema:

Important Note from the Judges:

We want to remind everyone that this is first and foremost a PSA challenge, not a narrative short film challenge. Meaning - the goal of this challenge is to create a video that informs and hopefully changes behavior or thinking of the viewer for the better. Ask yourself throughout the filmmaking process - Is this a PSA? Does it have a problem, solution, and call to action?  If you have an awesome horror film idea that doesn't fit into the format of a PSA, we encourage you to make it for our main film festival in the spring, the New Hampshire High School Short Film Festival!

Check out last year's winners!

Please see our YouTube page for all of 2025' PSAs.