Prompt drops
Required elements level the playing field and kick off the race.
PRESENTED BY
Jackson Academy of Digital Media
Student filmmakers. Industry workshops. One big screen.
A statewide filmmaking challenge built for high-school storytellers. Get the creative prompt, make a three-minute film under deadline, then come together for workshops, screenings and awards.
Every team starts with the same surprise creative elements. What happens next is completely yours: concept, script, cast, camera, sound, edit — all inside five days.
Required elements level the playing field and kick off the race.
Write it, shoot it, solve problems and get the final export done.
A complete three-minute short film built under a real production deadline.
Revisit Chris Gillard’s audio workshop, Dan Zarrow’s Breaking News workshop, and the complete 2026 awards ceremony.
The 2026 challenge asked student filmmakers to build a story around the prompt “You Promised”, a main character named Riley, and a key shown in both a close-up and a medium shot.
Selected winners from the 2026 High School Film Challenge. Film titles link directly to the submitted work.
Howell High School
Directed by Ryan Dempsey & Chase Kalinofski
WATCH FILM →Howell High School · Gavin Loughlin & Riley Nolan
Watch film →Union City High School · Argenis Castillo
Watch film →Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School · Patrick Leone & Logan Bermingham
Watch film →Monroe Township High School · Dennis Lewis & TJ Reichel
Watch film →Union City High School · Sarah Garcia
Watch film →Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy · Lucas Rodrigues
Watch film →Memorial Middle School
Directed by Tim Lu
Watch film →Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
Directed & sound designed by Max Mayer
Watch film →Kingsway Regional High School
Written by Jarett Mattson
Watch film →Union City High School
Directed by Argenis Castillo
Watch film →Union City High School
Directed by Sarah Garcia
Watch film →Howell High School
Cinematography by Ryan Dempsey
Watch film →Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
Visual effects by Max Mayer
Watch film →Kingsway Regional High School
Film by Jarett Mattson
Watch film →Union City High School
Directed by Sarah Garcia
Watch film →Monroe Township High School
Dennis Lewis & TJ Reichel
Watch film →Rumson-Fair Haven
Edited by Adam Mehl
Watch film →Student filmmakers. Industry workshops. One big screen.