Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago High School Video Contest Rules

1. Contestant Eligibility
1. You must be between 14 and 18 years of age and live or go to school in the city of Chicago as of the date you submit your entry.
2. If you are an employee of the Federal Reserve System or the immediate family member of an employee of the Federal Reserve System, you are prohibited from entering.
2. Submission Rules
1. There is no entry fee.
2. Entries must be submitted through www.chicagofed.org/videocontest starting on March 1, 2021.
3. To be eligible for the contest, your video and submission form must be received by 11:59 pm CT on April 12, 2021 at www.chicagofed.org/videocontest
4. Only one submission per individual is allowed. If you work in a group, you must identify a lead producer. If your video is chosen for one of the top three prizes, only the lead producer will be awarded the cash prize.
5. Please note that all finalists, or their parents/legal guardians, will be asked to sign an additional Waiver and Release Form before they are declared a winner and receive prizes. Other individuals appearing in the winning videos must also sign the Waiver and Release Form before the finalist is declared a winner.
3. Video Guidelines
1. All videos must be digital.
2. The video should be 1-3 minutes long (excluding the title screen, as explained in guideline d below). Videos that are shorter than one minute or longer than three minutes will be disqualified automatically.
3. The video must address one or more of the following questions:
1. How has the pandemic affected you and your community?
2. What are the other challenges and opportunities facing your community?
3. Who or what in your community has inspired you during the pandemic and why?
4. All entries should begin with a five-second full-screen “title screen” that includes:
1. Lead producer’s full name and
2. Title of video.
5. All entries must be submitted in English. If entries are not in English, they must include English subtitles.
6. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago will not return your video. Finalists and winners should keep a copy in the original format.
7. Each video must reflect your own original thinking. No professional assistance is allowed. Adults may assist with production, but are limited to verbal guidance only.
8. Your entry cannot:
1. contain any nudity, lewd material, or content the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago deems inappropriate for public viewing;
2. defame, invade privacy, abuse, threaten, harass, or use obscene or offensive language toward a third party or the Federal Reserve;
3. infringe on any intellectual property or other right of any person or entity;
4. falsify or delete author attributions, legal notices, or other proprietary designations;
5. use copyright‐protected material (music, images, etc.) unless given express written permission from the copyright holder;
6. depict or mention any other trademarks or brands except the Federal Reserve;
7. violate any law or advocate illegal activity; or
8.  advertise or otherwise solicit funds or sales of goods or services.
4. Judging and Selection
1. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago will validate all entries and will determine, at its sole discretion, whether each video meets the entry criteria detailed herein for acceptance as an entry into the contest.
2. Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago employees will judge the videos. Click here for the evaluation.
5. Notification
1. Winners will be notified via email at the address provided on the submission form and must respond within 10 business days. In order to be awarded prizes, winners must submit signed copies of the Parent Permission Form and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Waiver and Release Form and copies of the Waiver and Release Form signed by all other individuals appearing in the video.
2. Failure to sign and submit the required forms within 10 business days will result in a winner’s disqualification and the award of the prize to an alternate winner.
6. Prizes
1. Cash prizes will be awarded:
1. First place: $750
2. Second place: $500
3. Third place: $300
2. All three winners will also have the opportunity to
1. attend a virtual awards ceremony with friends and family, and
2. explore potential careers and employment paths in conversations with a broad group of Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago staff.
7. Other Rules
1. You agree to be bound by the decisions of the judges, the official rules, and to comply with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations
2. You understand and acknowledge that you are not entitled to any compensation or other consideration for your video or any use made of your video once submitted for the contest
3. By entering the contest and in consideration of being permitted to participate, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, its officers, employees, representatives, agents, and competition judges, from any claims, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and related disbursements) arising from or related to participation in the contest, including but not limited to any claims, damages, and expenses arising from or related to the actual or alleged infringement or violation of any patent, copyright, trademark, or other proprietary right
4. You grant the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago the right to use, reproduce, reprint, distribute, perform, display, or exhibit the video submission on its website, at conferences, or in any other venues without further compensation or notification to you
5. You grant the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago the right to use your name, photograph, statements, quotes, testimonials, and video submission for any purpose without notification or further compensation

If you have any questions, please email Chicago Video Contest.