Video Contest

2026-2027 Theme

The theme for 2026-2027 is: “A Healthy Me Is Drug Free” Download Contest Forms

Submit to Your State DAP Chairperson, Not National

Lodges must submit their video entries to their State DAP Chairperson, not to the National Contest address below. The State Chairperson runs the District and State-level judging and is the only one who submits the State’s winning video(s) to National.
Videos sent directly to the National contest without going through a State Chairperson will not be considered for judging and are not eligible.

Eligibility and Rules

• Age Categories:

  • Pre-High School
  • High School

• Participants: May consist of individual entrants or groups.

• Video Duration: Submissions must be between 2 and 5 minutes.

• Submission Format: Videos should be submitted on a Flash Drive or similar portable media in a widely compatible format.

Judging Criteria

Entries will be evaluated on:

• Relevance to the contest theme.
• Presentation neatness.
• Creativity and originality.
• Age-appropriateness and suitable language.
• The positivity of the message conveyed.
• Overall video quality (clarity, sound, editing).

Mandatory Entry Details

All submissions must include on the entry form:

• Full name of the student(s) or group.
• School name, location, and grade level.
• Sponsoring Elks Lodge name.
• A signed Hold Harmless Agreement.
• A signed release form for minors, where applicable.
• USB Flash Drive or similar portable media containing the video.

State Chairpersons: Submit Your State Winner(s) To:

Edward Comarzan
325 Armistead Rd
Rockwell, NC 28138

Submission Deadline

Local Lodges should submit entries to their State DAP Chairperson well ahead of the State’s internal deadline, so the Chairperson has time to run District and State judging. Reach out to your local Elks Lodge or Elks State Association for the State’s specific due date. The State Chairperson’s deadline to submit the State’s winning video(s) to the National Contest is April 1.

Winners

Each Elks Lodge selects its top videos using the judging criteria above. Lodges notify their own winners and are responsible for giving their own awards. The winning videos are then forwarded to District and State-Level Competition, run by the State DAP Chairperson — entries are never sent directly to National.

The State Drug Awareness Committee chooses the State First Place Winner. The State DAP Chairperson is the only person who submits their state’s winning entry into the National Contest, where it may be featured on the Elks Kids Zone Website and/or in ENF and DAP publications.

All winning entries become the sole property of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and may not be returned — you may want to keep a copy of your video.

Not Eligible: Direct Submissions

Videos submitted directly to National by a Lodge, school, or individual—without going through the State DAP Chairperson—will not be judged and are not eligible for national recognition.

Training Guide Note

As a State, District, or Lodge Chair, your role in guiding participants through this process is invaluable. From ensuring clarity on contest rules to facilitating submission procedures, your support shapes the success of our aspiring filmmakers. Encourage creativity, foster positive messaging, and provide the resources necessary for participants to express their commitment to drug awareness through their videos.

For a comprehensive guide and additional resources, please visit: Elks Drug Awareness Program Contests.

Together, we can amplify the voices of our youth and spread a powerful message of drug-free living.