StudentCam 2027: Check the Rules Before You Film

Before you film, check whether your team can meet the StudentCam rules. The 2027 theme asks you to imagine a first speech as a newly elected member of Congress: identify an issue, explain its importance, examine different views and discuss possible solutions.

Check your team and market

U.S. students in grades 6–12 may enter from public, private or home schools, including DC and U.S. territories. Canadian students may enter under the international rule: equivalent U.S. grades 6–12 and age 18 or younger.

Work solo or with up to two teammates. Each student can enter only once per year; more than three creators disqualifies an entry from prizes. See the official rules for organizer‑family exclusions.

Canadian entry eligibility does not guarantee a cash payout. The rules require a W-9 and Social Security number for prizes above $600; ask the organizer about your paperwork before relying on an award.

Canada's high‑school judging region is not specified on the prizes page. An entry fee is not stated in the reviewed rules, FAQs or form; do not treat that as confirmed free entry.

Build the right cut

The documentary must run 5–6 minutes, excluding end credits. At 60 seconds per minute, 5 minutes is 300 seconds and 6 minutes is 360 seconds: use that range when reviewing your timeline. Credits must start after minute five and may continue beyond minute six.

Include relevant C‑SPAN footage and different perspectives, including disagreement with your own view. Cite non‑C‑SPAN video, images, graphics and research used in narration, in end credits or a separate works‑cited list. Follow the rules for lawful third‑party use; credit alone is not a substitute for permission where needed.

Keep the work student‑made

Teachers may guide and critique, but may not conceive or produce the film. An adviser is optional; family and friends can give feedback.

The teacher FAQ permits preliminary AI brainstorming and general research. Verify facts and use your own words or proper quotation and citation. Do not use AI to create or edit the documentary.

There is a narrow exception for clearly labeled AI‑generated images or video necessary to illustrate a specific point about AI. It is not general permission to generate footage; other generative use may disqualify an entry.

Submit a link judges can open

Upload the video and submit its link through the Entry Form by January 20, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST, UTC−8).

The student page links to the live 2027 Entry Form. No advance notice is required. Send one form per documentary, with citations in the film or a separate list; follow the current form's platform‑specific sharing instructions.

Under-18 entrants need a guardian release sent separately by email. The live form allows last‑day entrants to complete that release after the deadline; this does not extend the video or Entry Form deadline.

HAEA preparation advice: test the viewing link while signed out and outside your school account before submitting. Private videos cannot be judged. Check the release terms too: winning entries become shared property with C‑SPAN and carry broadcast and related publication permissions.

Your next step is a team rules check, a 300–360-second rough‑cut plan and a link‑access test. These are planning suggestions, not extra contest deliverables.