GradFlix video competition

GradFlix registration opens April 29, 2026.

Deadline to register: August 13, 2026

Deadline to upload final video: August 24, 2026, 12 noon

Preliminary Adjudication: September 2 to 24

GradFlix Final: October 8, 2026

This year will mark the first in-person GradFlix Final. Videos that advance to the final stage will be screened live on campus – venue to be announced – and adjudicated by a panel of judges attending the screening.

Check out our many in-person and virtual* workshops happening in May and June. (Events are listed at the side (desktop or laptop) or bottom of this page (mobile).

* Not all virtual sessions will be recorded, so please plan to attend.

To be eligible to participate in GradFlix, students must meet the following criteria:

• Graduate students must be registered in a master’s (Thesis or MRP) or PhD program at the time of the competition.
  • Course-based master’s students actively engaged in research or research-creation projects may be eligible to participate. Course-based or non-thesis students must have their research involvement verified by a supervisor, project lead or equivalent.
• Master’s and PhD students who have defended, but have not yet convoked, are eligible to participate. (If you have convoked prior to the submission deadline, you are not eligible.)
• Videos must focus on research conducted for a thesis, MRP or dissertation in the student’s current McMaster University graduate program.
• Participants must allow their videos to be made public.

Communication – 50%

• Use of clear language and terminology.
• Logical sequence of information: Does the script/story make sense? Are the images appropriate? Do they complement the message?
• Clear explanation of why the research is important.

Creativity – 30%

• Information is presented creatively. For example, you could include a poem, original music, animations, or elements that have a higher technical difficulty (e.g., green screen).
• Visually or verbally appealing and engaging.

Technical Quality – 20%

• Quality of sound and images.
• Accessibility of final video. For example, all videos are required to be captioned according to best practices (i.e., Do not caption directly to video, but provide script in a usable format for upload to YouTube.)
• All images, audio, effects are cited at end of video. (not counted in the 60-second time limit.)

1. Videos must focus on research conducted for a thesis, MRP or dissertation in the student’s current McMaster University graduate program.
2. A Transcript of the script must be uploaded with your video submission.
3. Video content must be original and you must be the sole author of the content. 
   • You may not use AI to generate/write a script for your GradFlix. 
   • AI-generated static images may be used but must be identified as AI-generated.
   • AI-generated voice may not be used to read the full script.
     • If you identify as a person with a disability that would preclude you from voicing your own script, please contact us via the contact form.
     • You may use a voice modulator to create different character voices read by you.
4. Submissions should be the creative work of one individual. No group submissions.
5. Videos should be no more than 60 seconds (one minute) in length; videos longer than one minute will be disqualified.
6. Ensure that you do not violate any copyrights in your video. Copyright violation – or potential for violation – is cause for disqualification. It’s also illegal, so best to avoid.
7. Only one submission per competitor.
8. As always, the decision of the judges is final.
9. Cite your sources.
10. As a step in the submission of your GradFlix, you will be required to complete a declaration of any use of AI.

All sources, whether your original images/video/content or those by someone else, MUST be cited in a closing slide on the video. The closing citation slide is in addition to your 60-second GradFlix.

More about copyright

Copyright infringement happens if you use someone else’s creative work – music, illustration, graphics, photos, written work, etc. – without their permission.With copyright, it is best to err on the side of caution. If you aren’t sure about the copyright on a piece of music or an illustration, don’t use it.

The presentation of research in GradFlix will be publicly accessible. (i.e., in the public domain.)

The presentation of the research will not affect any pre-existing rights following the competition, except as stated below:

• Due to the nature of the competition, we will not ask judges, reviewers, staff or the audience to sign non-disclosure statements. If your research is being/has been conducted under contract with an outside sponsor, students should discuss the related contractual terms of confidentiality and intellectual property with their supervisor before participating in this competition.
• All videos submitted to this competition are open to the public at large, and may be posted to a public website.
• Any data or information discussed or presented in video submissions should be considered ‘public’. If your research includes confidential or culturally sensitive material we advise that you discuss your competition entry with your supervisor(s) before entering GradFlix.

Three prizes will be awarded:

• 1st: $1,000
• 2nd: $500
• 3rd: $250
• People’s Choice: $250

Top winners receive the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Communication Graduate Research.