The Reel Optimism Video Contest is an annual video contest for Optimist Clubs and Junior Optimist Clubs to represent their experience of being an Optimist in a creative and powerful way. Each year features a different topic. Participate for a chance to win a Club Grant!

The sixth annual Reel Optimism video contest will allow adult Optimist Clubs and Junior Optimist Clubs to submit videos with the chance to win a $1,500 Club Grant. Using the creativity of Club Members, partners, and community resources. Clubs are asked to create a short video that illustrates the topic: "100 Years of Optimism"

Contest Categories:

• "100 Years of Optimism - Adult" - a video(3:00 minutes or less) that visually illustrates the topic of the Optimist Centennial. Submissions by adult Clubs only.
• "100 Years of Optimism - Youth" - a video(3:00 minutes or less) that visually illustrates the topic of the Optimist Centennial. Submissions by Junior Optimist Clubs only.

Club grants will be awarded in each of the categories with funding courtesy of Optimist International, the Optimist International Foundation and the Canadian Children's Optimist Foundation!

Please upload your videos to a video/file hosting website (ex. YouTube), and email us the link at communications@optimist.org

Contest Dates:

• February 16 - May 1, 2019
  Members and Clubs submit videos following the submission guidelines.
  
  
• May 11, 2019
  Finalists in each category will be announced and voting will be opened to the public.
  
  
• May 31, 2019
  Public voting ends.
  
  
• June 1, 2019
  The videos receiving the most votes in each category will be announced. All Reel Optimism video submissions will be shown at the 2019 Optimist International Convention in Louisville. Winning Clubs and individuals will be invited on stage to receive their awards.

Entries will be judged and nominated as finalists based on:

• Club, Organization, or group name included in video
• Explanation and utilization of theme
• Use of visuals and effects
• Creativity

Thinking of using music in your video?
Any music in your video must have proper copyright clearance. This means that you either must get permission for use from the copyright holder, or use music that is royalty-free. Please note that some songs might be free to download, but not free to use in a video project. Others might be free to use in a video project, but not free to download. To make it easier, here is a list of websites that offer libraries of music that is usually free to use in non-commercial projects, although you should confirm terms of service before use. Most of these websites allow users to search by theme, genre, etc., so that you can find the best soundtrack for your entry.

Purple Planet (Free to use as long as you credit the website)
BenSound (Free to use as long as you credit the website)
YouTube Audio Library (A royalty-free library from Youtube, although some artists require credit)
Josh Woodward (Musical artist with more than 200 tracks available for free download and free of royalties with credit to the artist)

Congratulations to the 2018 Reel Optimism Video Contest winners! Both Clubs received a $1,500 Club Grant. Thank you to all Clubs for participating and voting in the 2018 Reel Optimism Video Contest.

“Living the Creed” Adult Category - Breakfast Optimist Club of Kalamazoo

“Living the Creed” Youth Category - Junior Optimist Club of Farmington Steam Academy

Stay tuned for updates and information for the 2019 Reel Optimism Video Contest!

To view past Reel Optimism videos, visit our YouTube channel.