What is the Evolution Film Festival/Video Contest?

COVID-19 UPDATE: Unfortunately, due to the cancellation of the Evolution 2020 Conference in Cleveland and the challenges associated with trying to run our Film Festival/Video Contest online, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s event. For those of you that have already submitted a video, THANK YOU and we’re sorry that it won’t be part of an event this year, but please do consider submitting it next year! For those of you who have already started working on a video, please finish it and submit it next year! We look forward to holding this event in 2021. Until then, please stay safe and well.

The Evolution Film Festival/Video Contest is a way for creative, inspired scientists and science communicators to tell short (3-minute-or-less) stories about evolution through music, dance, art, drama, comedy, or sometimes all-of-the-above!

Anyone can submit a video to share their own research or the research of others, or simply describe an amazing, beautiful or compelling aspect of evolution.

What Happens Next?

All videos are screened by a panel of judges, and the finalists are shown during a special evening event at the annual Evolution Conference (the joint conference of the American Society of Naturalists, the Society for the Study of Evolution and the Society of Systematic Biologists).

The audience votes on their favorites and the winner and runner-up receive prizes. First place winners receive $1,000 and this amazing trophy! Runners-up receive $500. (Thanks to the Society for the Study of Evolution for their generous sponsorship, which makes the prize money possible!)

All finalists are uploaded to this website so they can be viewed and enjoyed by anyone who wants to learn more about evolution.

How Can I Participate?

For more information on how to submit your own video(s), click on the “How To Submit” link at the top of this page.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Unfortunately, due to the cancellation of the Evolution 2020 Conference in Cleveland and the challenges associated with trying to run our Film Festival/Video Contest online, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s event. For those of you that have already submitted a video, THANK YOU and we’re sorry that it won’t be part of an event this year, but please do consider submitting it next year! For those of you who have already started working on a video, please finish it and submit it next year! We look forward to holding this event in 2021. Until then, please stay safe and well.