contest rules
All videos go through a qualifying process. We make sure that the Escape the Vape Video Challenge rules are followed before your video moves on to the judging process. Keep an eye on your email after you submit your video. If your video didn’t qualify, you’ll get a second chance to review your video and make edits. The sooner you submit your video, the more time you will have to make edits to qualify.
eligibility
Basic requirement: You must be a student in Minnesota in grades 6–12.
Homeschool: Students who are homeschool and are eligible in the division that corresponds with their age.
Team size: You can submit a video as an individual or as part of one group or team. However, you may only be a part of one entry total. Groups may include a maximum of four students.
Required forms: All participants (individual or team member) must complete and submit the required permission forms.
contest divisions
Your video will be judged alongside submissions in your division. Your division is based on your grade level.
High school division: Grades 9–12.
Middle school division: Grades 6–8.
video requirements
Length: Be no longer than 30 seconds in total
Facts: Include one fact about the dangers of vaping. See Key Facts on page 5 of the Contest Guide.
Action: Include one call to action (a clear message telling viewers what to do next).
Originality: The video must be 100% original, created solely by the student or student group. No help from parents or teachers is allowed!
language
You can submit videos in languages other than English, but you must include an English translation when you submit your video.
disqualifers
Videos must not include:
Vaping devices or products
Actual vaping devices, accessories, or products, or any commercial tobacco products.
Depicting smoking, chewing, or otherwise using commercial tobacco.
Simulating vaping with an actual device.
Copyright material or brands
Copyrighted music, movies, books, etc.
Logos, brands, or store signs.
Mention or performance of copyrighted media (music, films, TV shows, etc.).
Inappropriate content
Anything inappropriate, disrespectful, dangerous, or illegal.
Sexually explicit, obscene, or violent material (e.g.,relating to murder, cruelty, abuse).
Discriminatory material (based on race, sex, religion, disability, etc.).
Language or images of the human body that would be inappropriate for a general audience (including small children).
Infringement on others’ rights.
Anything that violates another person's rights, including privacy, publicity, or intellectual property rights.
Be smart! Safety should be the highest priority.
Do not put yourself or anyone else at risk of harm while making your video. Escape the Vape reserves the right to disqualify any video at its sole discretion.
Videos must only use music that is originally written, performed and produced by you, the entrant, or music that is royalty-free and in the public domain. Use our Escape the vape Music List.
If a student submits a video with music they have originally written and produced , the student provides Escape the Vape with a royalty-free, worldwide license to any music or other intellectual property (or “IP”) that is part of their submission.
Here’s all that information simplified. For the kids in the back!
YOUR VIDEO CAN NOT INCLUDE:
Copyrighted music, movies, books, etc.
Logos, brands or store signs
Yourself or anyone else using or displaying a vaping device
Inappropriate, disrespectful, dangerous, or illegal content
YOUR VIDEO MUST:
Be less than 30 seconds long
Include one fact about the dangers of vaping (see vaping facts)
Include one call to action
Be original, created solely by the student or student group, with no parent or teacher help
Make sure you can Check all of the boxes on the Checklist prior to submission
Don’t want to create your own music?
Our Escape the Vape music list provides royalty-free music for you to use. This music is available for us to publicize and broadcast on a license-free, no compensation basis.
VIDEO SUBMISSION RULES
Only one team member will complete the Video Submission Form. Every section must be completed. VIDEOS SUBMITTED WITH INCOMPLETE INFORMATION WILL NOT BE JUDGED.
Videos must be uploaded to the Video Submission Form in an MP4 format. (must not exceed 100mb).
Video submissions must have a unique title. Do not call your video “Escape the Vape Challenge.”
You may only submit one video entry - as an individual or as part of one group submission.
ENTRANT SUBMISSION RULES
Every group member (including the entrant who submits the Video Submission Form must complete the Contest Permission Form.
Entrants (and their parent or guardian) must agree to all terms and conditions of the Contest Permission Form.
REMEMBER: ONLY ONE TEAM MEMBER SUBMITS YOUR VIDEO.
ALL TEAM MEMBERS (INCLUDING THE ONE WHO SUBMITTED THE VIDEO) MUST COMPLETE THE CONTEST PERMISSION FORM.
Eligible entrants must submit their entry in accordance with these official rules. No other method of submission will be accepted.
You can find the video submission form here.
additional information
Video entries may be submitted in languages other than English. For non-English videos, an English translation should be included in the Video Submission Form.
Once submitted, you will receive confirmation that we received your submission.
If we can’t open your MP4 video submission, we will let you know by email and give you the opportunity to resubmit the video. This type of technical issue will not disqualify your entry.
If you have any trouble uploading your entry before the January 31st, 2025 midnight deadline, email mnescapethevape@gmail.com.
The Escape the Vape Video Challenge and the Minnesota Department of Health, including its agents and contractors, are not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, or incomplete entries. Escape the Vape reserves the right to cancel the contest or modify these rules without notice. Decisions of Escape the Vape are final.
Please refer to the Escape the Vape Checklist prior to submission to make sure you can answer yes to all of the questions.
“FALSE FACTS”
Does vaping cause cancer? The short answer is that it’s too soon to tell. Much more research is needed to fully understand the link between e-cigarette use, often called vaping, and cancer. Regardless, vaping is not safe for youth as e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm the developing adolescent brain. Because the brain is still developing until about age 25, youth and young adult exposure to nicotine can lead to addiction and disrupt attention and learning. Evidence also suggests that, compared to youth who have never used them, youth who have tried e-cigarettes are much more likely to start smoking cigarettes in the future. These are the reasons for the Escape the Vape Video Challenge and the importance for youth to teach each other about the dangers and misconceptions of vaping. It’s also important that video submissions are factual and accurate. Videos will be disqualified if they contain any untrue statements, “false facts,” or facts that cannot be verified. Below are some examples of “false facts”:
False facts or misconceptions:
“Vaping causes cancer”
“Vaping helps people quit smoking”
“It’s just harmless water vapor”
“Vapes contain all-natural ingredients”
“Tobacco companies would never target their products toward kids”
For actual facts that can be used in your video, please refer to the vaping fact sheet.