Film
UIL STATE FILM FESTIVAL **dates are tentative
1A-3A & 4A February 25, 2026 • 5A & 6A February 26, 2026
2025-2026 UIL FILM HANDBOOK (Word doc)
Contest Rules, Deadlines and FAQ's
Portal INSTRUCTIONS • CONTEST ENTRY PORTAL (OPENS January 1, 2026)
Contest FORMS
- Intent to Participate FORM - Form closes Dec 1, 2025 Please note: this form is not required, but it is helpful to UIL for contest planning
- COMMUNITY STANDARDS and Compliance form
- Film MEDIA LOG to be kept on file on home campus
Contest RESOURCES
- Description of UIL ANIMATED Film CATEGORIES updated 9/3/2025
- Constitution and Contest RULES - Section 1036 - Film
- GETTING STARTED with the UIL Film Festival Presentation by Heidi Whitus
- Film TECHNOLOGY FOR ALL BUDGETS Presentation by Heidi Whitus
- How to Use the Google Doc SCREENPLAY FORMATTER Add-On
- Understanding the TABULATION SYSTEM for Film
- Film TECHNOLOGY FOR ALL BUDGETS Presentation by Heidi Whitus
The NOBELITY SOCIAL IMPACT Award
The Nobelity Project is excited to announce the Nobelity Social Impact Award, celebrating student films promoting social change. Given during the UIL Young Filmmaker's Festival, this award honors short films which inform and inspire audiences about issues that the teams care about.
Resources for the BEGINNING FILMMAKER
Studiobinder.com for pre-production document templates, & terrific videos about film basics such as types of shots
Save the Cat is a method for developing solid story structure in screenplays; the website includes lots of examples of existing films with breakdowns of their story structure. savethecat.com
Learn about film is packed with information and advice to help you make short films or videos learnaboutfilm.com
How to Obtain Permission ( U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress document)
PUBLIC DOMAIN Resources
MET MUSEUM Public Domain IMAGES
Harry Ransom Center (HRC) DIGITAL COLLECTIONS (includes public domain content)
NASA IMAGE Gallery // NASA VIDEO Gallery // NASA IMAGE USE Guidelines
Past RESULTS
2025 Finalists & Results • 2025 State PROGRAM
2024 Finalists & Results
2023 Finalists & Results
2022 Finalists & Results
2021 Finalists & Results
2020 Finalists & Results
2019 Finalists & Results
2018 Finalists & Results
2017 Finalists & Results
2016 Finalists & Results
2015 Finalists & Results
2014 Finalists & Results