The deadline to submit your short film is January 10, 2025
The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts invites you to submit a short film to our Rising Star Short Film Scholarship Program!
Rising Star is NYCDA’s way of recognizing outstanding high school students’ creations and performances, with a scholarship to our 2-year Degree program or 4-week Summer Intensive.
Fill out our Rising Star Short Film Scholarship Application using the button below. If your short film is selected, an NYCDA Admissions Representative will contact you.
You will have a chance to be awarded scholarships to our Degree Programs in the amount of either $20,000 or $15,000, or scholarships to our Summer Intensive programs in the amount of $1,000.
Each person in the film applying for a scholarship must complete the application process for themselves to be considered.
What and How To Prepare
For the Short Film Scholarship entry, the student must create an original short film. We are looking for pieces that have a clear arc (beginning, middle, and end).
The student(s) should submit their film as follows:
- The film you submit should be no more than twenty (20) minutes long. The film should include credits.
- The film should be uploaded to YouTube with privacy settings set to “Public” or “Unlisted” for adjudication. Note: if the film is set to “Private,” we will be unable to view your work.
- When uploading to YouTube, please be sure that the title of the film and the name of the director are clearly stated in the name/description.
- Then, complete your Short Film Scholarship Application paperwork and include a link to your film.
What We're Looking For
We are looking for students to provide works that highlight their creative abilities and expertise in storytelling and filmmaking as well as excellent acting.
Be sure to present:
- Your ability to visually develop a story
- Good camera, lighting and sound use
- Good editing
- Emotional and physical believability in the acting
- Opening and closing credits that orient the viewer to the story, and including proper music attribution
Film Submission Requirements
The film must meet the following requirements:
- The music used in short films must be properly credited, whether it is original, in the public domain, or copyrighted. Music credits must appear amongst other credits at the end of the film.
- The film should be uploaded to YouTube with privacy settings set to “Public” or “Unlisted” for adjudication. Please Note: if the film is set to “Private,” we will be unable to view your work.
- The film should contain no content that would exceed a PG13 rating by the Motion Picture Association of America.
- The film should not include any nudity or depict acts that are illegal for anyone under 18 years of age.
- The student does not have to give a presentation — the work should stand alone.