FAQ’s

Got an email saying you disqualified?

If you received an email from us listing the reasons you disqualified, please take the time to make those edits and resubmit by February 12th, 2025 at midnight. You can use the submission form to resubmit. Make sure you have your email reference number.

What is the Escape the Vape Video Contest?

Escape the Vape is a PSA video contest where Minnesota 6th-12th graders can use their voices to raise awareness about the dangers of vaping and expose the shadowy commercial tobacco marketing tactics behind it. #mnjointheescape

Who is eligible to enter the contest?

High School Division: You must be a Minnesota student in grades 9-12.

Middle School Division: You must be a Minnesota student in grades 6-8.

Home-schooled Minnesota students of the ages corresponding to the above grade levels are eligible to participate.

Why should I enter?

You could win $500 for yourself and $250 for your school or organization, along with other great prizes.

Help your fellow students and community members by providing this important message.

Bonus: You may gain a bunch of Instagram followers!

How can I enter the contest?

Fill out these two forms to enter: 

• Entrants (and their parents or guardians) must agree to all terms and conditions of the Contest Permission Form.

• Video submissions must have a unique title that must match the title you enter on your Video Submission Form. Do not call your video “Escape the Vape Challenge.”

Entrants must complete every section of the forms. VIDEOS SUBMITTED WITH INCOMPLETE SUBMISSION FORMS WILL NOT BE JUDGED.

Check out the helpful Escape the Vape Video Challenge Checklist to make sure you have included all of the requirements for video submission.

What happens if my video has an error?

Every video goes through a qualifying process. We make sure all the rules are followed before they move to the judging stage of the contest. If your video has any sections that break the rules we will reach out to you through the email you provided to let you know. You have one more chance to make any changes and resubmit your video.

How long should the video be?

Videos must not be more than 32 seconds long.

What should I include in my video?

Videos must include:

• At least one vaping fact about the dangers of vaping

• One call to action

• Videos must be in MP4 format (not exceeding 100Mb)

What should my video be about?

Anything! As long as you include the necessary elements and follow the rules, the sky’s the limit!

Can I use music in my video?

Yes, but you must create the music yourself or pick one of the royalty-free songs in our music list.

What cannot be included in my video?

Video submissions must not include:

• Displaying, showing, or using vaping devices, accessories, or products, or any commercial tobacco product.

• Material that is (or promotes activities which are) sexually explicit, obscene, pornographic, violent, self-mutilating (e.g., relating to murder, the sales of weapons, cruelty, abuse, etc.), discriminatory (based on race, sex, religion, natural origin, physical disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or age), illegal, offensive, threatening, profane, or harassing.

• Copyrighted material, including but not limited to music, films, books, and television.

• Third-party trademarks, logos, insignia, location signage, photographs, artwork, or sculptures.

Disqualification from the contest may occur if:

• Videos containing an actual device, or simulating vaping with an actual device (depictions of activities that simulate vaping but are obviously not using actual devices will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis).

• Videos depicting smoking, chewing, or otherwise using commercial tobacco.

• Videos containing language or images of the human body that would be inappropriate for a general audience, including small children.

What if I want to make my PSA in a language other than English?

Video entries may be submitted in languages other than English. 

• Please provide the English translation in the space provided in the Video Submission Form if the video is in a language other than English.

Do I have to show my face in the video?

• No. You do not have to show yourself in the video.

• Many have used illustrations, claymation, and digital art in their videos.

• Be creative with it. Your creativity may help your video stand out from others!

• All students involved in making the video must complete the Contest Permission Form. Other people cannot be shown in the video (siblings, teachers, classmates, etc).

Can my parent/guardian help with making the video?

Videos must be created by the entrant students, not their parents/guardians, teachers, or other adults. You can create your video as part of a class or youth program, but video entries must be student work.

When should I submit my video?

You may upload your video between December 2nd, 2024 - January 31st, 2025

• Be sure to have your video submitted by midnight on January 31st, 2025

• Submissions after midnight on January 31st, 2025 will not qualify for the contest

• You may only submit one entry - as an individual or as part of one group submission

What if I am submitting a video with a group of friends or for a class project?

Use a creative video name. This is how we will identify your group throughout the judging process.

• Up to four students may be part of a group video submission.

• Each group member MUST complete the Contest Permission Form.

• Only one team member will complete the Video Submission Form.

• Your video must be submitted between December 2nd, 2024 - January 31st, 2025 (see the previous question for details).

Can I submit/be in more than one video?

We ask that you stick to one video per year. You can submit a video each year of the contest.

How do I know if my video submission was received?

Once you click “submit” you will receive confirmation that we received your submission.

How are video submissions judged?

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?

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

• Are vaping facts in the video accurate?

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

• Can you check all of the boxes on the checklist?

How are contest finalists chosen?

• Each submission will be reviewed by a team of youth and adult judges who will choose the top 25 videos in each division. 

• Youth judges will then select a group of 5 finalist videos in each division based on the criteria above. 

• The top 5 finalist videos will then be posted on the Escape the Vape website for public voting to decide the winners.

Can high schoolers and middle schoolers work together?

Yes, you can! You would be judged based on the oldest group member. So your video would fall in the High School division.

If I have problems uploading my video, who can I reach out to?

If you are having issues with your video submission, please fill out the form below or email us directly at mnescapethevape@gmail.com.

This document may help: Create or Convert to MP4 Video Format Guide.