HOW TO ENTER

STEP 1: CREATE YOUR VIDEO AND FOLLOW THE RULES

Use your imagination and develop your masterpiece. You may use any platform to create your video, but it must include one key fact and a call to action. Whether it’s funny or serious, your video should focus on educating your peers about the harmful effects of vaping.

Make sure you’re following all the contest rules!

Submissions that do not meet all the required qualifications or follow the contest rules may be disqualified.

STEP 2: MAKE IT OFFICIAL

All participants must complete the required permission and submission forms. If you’re participating as a group, only one group member should submit your video.

Once you submit you will receive confirmation that we received your video.

Contest Permission Form (available 12/1/2025) - must be completed by your parent or guardian from your home network or another public network such as a library.

Video Submission Form (available 12/1/2025)

Entries will be accepted starting December 1, 2025. Entries must be submitted by January 31, 2025 in order to qualify.

For more information, including a submission checklist to help make sure you submit a qualifying entry, see the Contest Guide (PDF).

STEP 3: GET REVIEWED, GET VOTES, WIN!

Videos will be judged on the following criteria:

  • Does the video meet all of the official Escape the Vape Contest Rules?

  • Is the video creative and original?

  • Is the video technically sound?

  • Are vaping facts in the video accurate?

  • Does the video include content that conveys at least one key message about the dangers of vaping and one call to action?

  • Is the video content presented in a creative way?

  • Is the video message persuasive and motivating to young people?

Submissions will be reviewed by a team of youth and adult judges. Judges will choose the top 25 videos in each division. A panel of youth judges will then narrow the pool of videos down to the 5 finalist videos in each division. Finalist videos will be posted to the Escape the Vape Video Challenge website for the public to vote and determine the winning videos.

If you’re a finalist, encourage your friends, family, and classmates to vote.

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE

BE SMART! SAFETY SHOULD BE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.

Do not put yourself or anyone else at risk of harm while making your video. Do not show or use vaping devices, accessories, or products, or any commercial tobacco products in your video. Videos that contain an actual device, or simulate vaping with an actual device may be disqualified, as will videos that depict smoking, chewing, or otherwise using commercial tobacco.

TIPS FROM PAST WINNERS

INSPIRATION

  • Watch previous winners’ videos

  • Write an original song

  • Use sound effects

  • Create a short story or make a parody 

  • Draw inspiration from a personal vaping experience 

  • Create an animated short

  • Compose a poem

  • Use a catchy or creative hook

  • Be yourself - individuality is what sets you apart

OTHER TIPS

Preparing to film

Filming

  • Create a script ahead of time 

  • Try to avoid slideshows and instead film your group talking

  • Film in sections so you can have different backgrounds

  • Create cool visuals in between scenes with an app

  • Use props and staged backgrounds

  • Use a storyboard to plan your video. Video tutorial: How to storyboard like a pro!

  • Experiment with angles and perspectives 

  • Add graphics or text overlays

HELPFUL APPS & Websites

  • Videoleap - Videoleap is a user-friendly video editing app that offers powerful tools like keyframe animation, chroma key, and AI effects, making it ideal for both beginners and content creators. To use it, simply import your video clips, drag them onto the timeline, and use the intuitive editing tools to trim, add effects, transitions, music, and export your finished video.

  • Tik Tok - TikTok is a popular social media platform for creating and sharing short-form videos, often enhanced with music, effects, and filters. To edit videos on TikTok, you can record directly in the app or upload clips, then use built-in tools to trim footage, add text, music, filters, and transitions before posting.

  • Life Lapse - Life Lapse is a stop motion app designed to help users create engaging time-lapse and stop-motion videos with ease. To use it, you capture a series of photos frame by frame, then use the built-in tools to adjust speed, add music, and edit transitions before exporting your final video.

  • iMovie - iMovie is a free video editing software for Apple devices that offers a simple interface with powerful editing features like trimming, transitions, and sound effects. To use it, import your video clips into the timeline, then drag, cut, and enhance them with text, music, and filters before exporting your finished movie.

  • Splice - Splice is a mobile video editing app that offers professional-level tools in a simple, user-friendly interface. To edit videos with Splice, import your clips, then trim, add music, effects, transitions, and text, and export your project directly to your device or social media.

  • Canva - Canva is a versatile design platform that also allows users to create and edit videos using drag-and-drop tools, templates, and a wide range of visual elements. To edit a video in Canva, choose a video template or start from scratch, upload your clips, then add text, transitions, music, and animations before downloading or sharing your final video.

  • Capcut - CapCut is a free, all-in-one video editing app popular for its intuitive interface and advanced features like filters, effects, and AI tools. To edit a video in CapCut, import your clips, then trim, add music, text, transitions, and effects, and export your finished video for sharing on platforms like TikTok or Instagram.

Uploading your video

  • Download your video as an MP4 file. Check out the Contest Guide (PDF) for more information on video file formats.