may 21 - may 24 2026

The Ultimate Film Challenge
$200.00 $250.00

The Ultimate Short Film Challenge is an adrenaline-fueled competition where teams of filmmakers race against the clock to create a short film from scratch in just four days. Whether you're a first-time filmmaker or an experienced creator, this challenge is your chance to showcase your storytelling skills and compete for awards, prizes and cash money.

how it works

  • Register your team and officially secure your spot in the challenge.

  • Tell friends, cast, crew, and fellow filmmakers — every new team raises the stakes.

  • $50 from each team’s registration goes into a shared cash prize pool.
    More teams = bigger prizes.

  • Start assembling your gear, crew, and ideas — but save the writing for the Kick-Off.

  • The official Kick-Off Event will take place Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 8:00 PM, both in person and via livestream.

    At least one member from each team must attend the Kick-Off, either in person or online.

    During the event, we will:

    • Review the official challenge rules

    • Conduct the genre draws

    • Reveal the required creative elements for all teams

    All teams will receive:

    • One main genre (required for every film)

    • One prop

    • One line of dialogue

    Each team will then draw their own sub-genre, which must also be incorporated into their film.

  • Once the Kick-Off concludes, the challenge begins. Teams will have until Sunday at midnight to write, shoot, edit, and submit their completed short film incorporating all assigned elements.

  • All films must be submitted by SUNDAY MAY 24 at MIDNIGHT on time to be eligible for judging and awards.

  • Top Ten films will premiere on the big screen, at the RUSH Youth Film Festival JULY 23-26 2026, followed by an awards ceremony.

    All submitted films are eligible for awards, prizes, and serious bragging rights.

From every team’s registration, $50 goes directly into a shared cash prize pool — meaning the more teams that sign up, the bigger the prize pool gets.

Cash Prizes That
Grow With the Community

Expect bigger, stranger, and more challenging creative restrictions designed to spark originality and force bold choices.

New Year.
New Pressures.

Open, Inclusive,
& international

Open worldwide, with one important rule: At least one person on your creative team or main cast must be a youth under 40.

GENERal rules

1. Organizer

The RUSH: Ultimate Film Challenge (the “Challenge”) is organized by JARICO Films for Youth, located in Welland, Ontario, Canada (the “Organizer”).

2. Eligibility

  • Open to individuals and teams from anywhere in the world.

  • Participants can be any age, but at lease one member of the CREATIVE TEAM or LEAD PERFORMERS must be Under 40 years of age.

  • Employees, contractors, and immediate family members of the Organizer and judging panel are not eligible to win cash prizes

  • Void where prohibited by law

3. Entry Fee

  • Teams must register by paying a $250 CAD entry fee

  • The entry fee covers participation in the Challenge, administration, programming, screenings, and event operations

  • A portion of entry fees ($50 per team) will be allocated to the cash prize pool

  • Entry fees are non-refundable

4. Challenge Structure

  • The Challenge runs from THURSDAY MAY 21st to SUNDAY MAY 24th

  • Teams must create and submit a short film within the official Challenge timeframe

  • Films must meet all technical and creative requirements outlined by the Organizer

  • Late submissions will not be accepted

5. Judging

  • This is a skill-based competition

  • Films will be judged by a panel of qualified judges

  • Judging will be based on the following criteria:

    • Storytelling

    • Direction

    • Technical execution

    • Creativity and originality

    • Adherence to Challenge requirements

  • Decisions of the judges are final and binding

6. Prizes

  • Three (3) cash prizes will be awarded to the top three (3) highest-scoring films, as determined by the judging panel.

    • The total cash prize pool will be distributed as follows:

      • First Place – 75%,

      • Second Place – 15%,

      • Third Place – 10%.

  • The cash prize value will depend on the number of registered teams

  • The approximate prize value will be announced prior to judging

  • No substitution or transfer of prizes is permitted

7. Skill-Testing Question

  • To be declared a winner and receive the cash prize, the selected team must correctly answer a skill-testing mathematical question without assistance

  • Failure to correctly answer the question will result in disqualification and selection of the next eligible team

8. Ownership & Usage Rights

  • Teams retain full ownership of their films

  • By entering, teams grant the Organizer a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to screen, promote, and display submitted films for promotional and educational purposes related to the Challenge and affiliated events

9. Disqualification

The Organizer reserves the right to disqualify any team that:

  • Violates these rules

  • Submits plagiarized or unauthorized material

  • Engages in unsportsmanlike, abusive, or unethical conduct

  • Attempts to manipulate the judging or Challenge process

10. Limitation of Liability

  • By entering, participants agree to release and hold harmless the Organizer, sponsors, partners, judges, and venues from any liability arising from participation in the Challenge or acceptance of any prize

11. Amendments

  • The Organizer reserves the right to amend these rules if necessary for legal, technical, or operational reasons

  • Any changes will be communicated to registered teams

12. Governing Law

  • This Challenge is governed by the laws of Canada and the Province of Ontario

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The challenge kicks off at 9AM est. on THURSDAY MAY 21, 2026 and all films must be submitted by 1159PM on SUNDAY MAY, 24 2026.

  • FILMING: ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

    KICKOFF EVENT: the official Kickoff Event will take place ONLINE and at a TBD location in Niagara Falls Canada.

    SCREENINGS: The Top Ten Films will screen at: The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines Ontario, Canada during the RUSH Youth Film Festival July 23-26, 2026

  • Only one representative from each team is required to attend the KICKOFF EVENT either in person or online, to receive the challenge details and required elements.

    The Kickoff will be live-streamed for teams that cannot attend in-person.

  • Specific details of the challenge are yet to be revealed, however, teams can expect to receive a GENRE, a CHARACTER-TYPE, a PROP, and a LINE OF DIALOGUE that must be incorporated into their film.

    We will also have additional requirements for the challenge that we will be revealing as we near the festival kick-off date.

  • No, you can enter as an individual or as part of a team. However, filmmaking is a collaborative effort, so we encourage forming a team to cover different roles like directing, writing, acting, and editing.

  • No, but we recommend teams of 2-10 members for manageability.

  • Not at all! The Ultimate Short Film Challenge welcomes filmmakers of all skill levels. Whether this is your first film or your tenth, the goal is to challenge yourself and have fun.

  • No. All creative work—writing, shooting, and editing—must be done within the 4 DAY timeframe. However, you may use stock music, provided you have the proper licensing.

  • No. Each team may submit one film only per challenge.

  • Yes! While having your own camera and editing software is helpful, many smartphones shoot high-quality video, and there are free or low-cost editing programs available. If you need equipment, we recommend checking local film co-ops, schools, or rental houses like Cool Koala Rentals in Niagara.

  • Yes. While we encourage creative freedom, films must avoid excessive violence, explicit sexual content, and hate speech. Films that violate these guidelines may be disqualified.

  • Teams are always looking to fill cast and crew positions. Please email us directly if you are interested in being connected with a team.

  • You will not need to submit a full list of cast and crew until the end of the competition, along with the rest of your required documentation. You may register without having a finalized list of cast and crew.

PRODUCTION & TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Films must be 10 minutes or less, including credits.

  • Films must be submitted in MP4/MOV, 1080p, PRORES, via [upload TBD]

  • No! You can use any camera or equipment you have access to—from professional cinema cameras to smartphones. The challenge is about creativity, not gear, so use what works best for your team!

  • Yes! However, all effects must be created within the 4 DAY period. No pre-made or pre-rendered VFX allowed.

  • Films do not have to be in English, however, subtitles are required for all non-English films.

Tips for a Successful Challenge

  • While you won’t know your required elements until the challenge starts, you can still prepare by assembling your team, securing locations, and testing equipment beforehand. Flexibility is key—expect the unexpected and adapt as needed.

  • A well-executed, simple story is more effective than an overcomplicated one. Focus on strong characters, engaging dialogue, and clear storytelling rather than excessive locations, effects, or plot twists.

  • Poor audio can ruin an otherwise great film. Use an external microphone if possible, record in quiet locations, and always check your audio levels while filming. If dialogue isn’t clear, consider ADR (re-recording dialogue in post).

  • Even if you don’t have professional lights, use what’s available—natural light, lamps, or even phone flashlights. Well-lit scenes are more visually appealing and easier to edit.

  • Even with a small team, assign clear roles to avoid confusion. At a minimum, designate a director, camera operator, sound person, editor, and actors. If your team is small, people may need to wear multiple hats, but having defined responsibilities helps things run smoothly.

  • Don’t wait until the last minute to start editing. If possible, have an editor organizing footage while the rest of the team continues filming. This will save time and reduce last-minute stress.

  • Instead of forcing the required prop, line of dialogue, or genre into your film at the last minute, find a way to integrate them naturally into the story. Creative use of these elements often impresses judges.

  • Give yourself plenty of time to export your final film and check for any technical issues. Upload speeds or file conversions can take longer than expected, so aim to submit well before the deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted!

  • Filmmaking is a collaborative, creative process, and this challenge is designed to push your limits while being a rewarding experience. Stay positive, support your teammates, and enjoy the ride!

Best Story - The Magician

Best Directing - The Magician

Most Original Idea - The Banned Party

Best Use of Prop - The Legend of Magic Mark

Best Use of Genre - 7 Spade

Best Use of Dialogue - Kill By Request

Best Us of Character - 7 Spade

Best Picture - The Magician

Best Lead Performance - Sarah Arsenault

Best Supporting Performance - Michelle Marges

Best Cinematography - Misdirection

Best Sound Design - The Magician

Best Editing - 7 Spade

Watch last year’s awards show

2025 AWARD WINNERS

Best Picture - The Magician

Best Lead Performance - Sarah Arsenault

Best Supporting Performance - Michelle Marges

Best Cinematography - Misdirection

Best Sound Design - The Magician

Best Editing - 7 Spade

Best Story - The Magician

Best Directing - The Magician

Most Original Idea - The Banned Party

Best Use of Prop - The Legend of Magic Mark

Best Use of Genre - 7 Spade

Best Use of Dialogue - Kill By Request

Best Us of Character - 7 Spade

WHAT WE DO!

  • RUSH YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL

    RUSH is a multi-day takeover of the Niagara Region — packed with short film screenings, panels, live feedback sessions, special events, and moments that only happen when filmmakers and audiences share the same room.

    MORE

  • RUSH AFTER DARK FILM FESTIVAL

    RUSH After Dark is a, celebration of horror, grindhouse, and genre films that live on the edge of mainstream cinema.

    submit

  • RUSH SHORT FILM CHALLENGES

    Our Short Film Challenges are adrenaline-fueled competitions where teams of filmmakers race against the clock to create a short film from scratch under incredible time constraints.

    watch

  • SHORT FILM BOOTCAMP

    With mentors by their side, participants will learn the art of storytelling, film production, and post-production, resulting in a cinematic masterpiece that's showcased at a glittering red carpet gala attended by family, friends, and the public.

    more

  • pitch night

    Pitch your projects to industry professionals for a chance to win a Development Assistance Package Each Pitch Night winner will advance to the year-end competition, where one filmmaker will have their film produced by Jarico Films for Youth.

    COMING SOON

  • Scene Study

    Designed to give students a comprehensive introduction to the world of acting. This class covers the basics such as script analysis, character development, working with a director etc.

    COMING SOON