Speak Truth to Power Video Contest

The STTP Video Contest is designed to engage students in human rights by creating a 3-5 minute video that utilizes creative storytelling to engage the viewer in a human rights issue. Videos should creatively answer most of the questions below. The chosen defender/topic, as well as, the selected storytelling format should guide your decision on what to include in the film.

• What is the human rights issue?

• How does the human rights issue relate to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

• How did the defender attempt to improve the situation?

• What is the connection between your chosen defender and the work of Robert F. Kennedy? (you can use quotes, archival footage or include a connection in the film’s narration)

• How is the human rights issue connected to your community?

• What can the defender’s work teach us?

• How can someone help with this issue and be a defender?

• What have you done to uplift your community as a result of making your video?

RFK will be awarding one College Winner at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2024. College entries should be 3-5 minutes in length and focus on a specific contemporary human rights issue. Films should be creative and inspire the viewer to take action. The inclusion of a specific human rights defender is optional for the College category.

All submissions should follow Copyright & Fair Use rules. Click this link for a tutorial on how to find free music and images.

When approaching the contest, please consider the following steps.

1. Select a Human Rights Defender from the STTP Defenders page or identify a Defender who has worked to promote, protect or advance human rights locally, nationally, or internationally.

2. Check out previous contest winners and review these resources to learn more about lighting, sound, and camera work.

Let everyone know how art can create a more just and peaceful world by spreading the word about the contest through Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

MOTION MEDIA:

Up to 10 percent of the total or three minutes, whichever is less.

TEXT MATERIAL:

Up to 10 percent of the total or 1,000 words, whichever is less. An entire poem of less than 250 words may be used, but no more than three poems by one poet or five poems by different authors in an anthology. For poems exceeding 250 words, 250 words should be used but no more than three excerpts from one poet or five excerpts from different poets in the same work.

MATERIAL LYRICS, AND MUSIC VIDEO:

Up to 10 percent of the work but no more than 30 seconds of the music or lyrics from an individual musical work.

ILLUSTRATIONS OR PHOTOGRAPHS:

No more than five images from one artist or photographer. No more than 10 percent or 15 images, whichever is less, from a collection.

NUMERICAL DATA SETS:

Up to 10 percent or 2,500 fields or cell entries, whichever is less, from a copyrighted database or data table.

MUSIC, LYRICS, AND MUSIC VIDEO:

Up to 10 percent of the work but no more than 30 seconds of the music or lyrics from an individual musical work.

NUMERICAL DATA SETS:

Up to 10 percent or 2,500 fields or cell entries, whichever is less, from a copyrighted database or data table.

Adapted from Copyright and Fair Use in the Classroom, on the Internet, and the World Wide Web. ©1996-2202.

Ask your school if the have access to the following premium services

• Final Cut Pro

• Adobe Premiere Pro