Digital
Storytelling

Your digital story should include the following items:

1. An original script or story (a separate script file for submission will be required)
2. Multimedia elements such as images and sounds. Video clips are optional.
3. A narration, preferably a voice-over by the author.

Length and Technical Format

• Recommended duration: 3–5 minutes.
• Permitted duration: 2–6 minutes, including opening and closing credits.
• Preferred video format for uploaded files: MP4 using H.264 video and AAC audio.
• Preferred submission methods:
  • UH OneDrive link with view access or a Public or Unlisted
  • YouTube link with view access or a Public or Unlisted
  • Direct MP4 upload is available as an alternative and must not exceed 300 MB.
• Participants must retain their original project files. Uploaded video copies may be removed after judging and the award process under the published retention schedule.
• Minimum resolution: 1280 × 720 (720p). A resolution of 1920 × 1080 (1080p) in a 16:9 aspect ratio is recommended. Videos must be clear enough for judges to read on-screen text and evaluate visual details.
• The spoken audio must be understandable, and subtitles or captions are strongly encouraged for accessibility.
• The title shown in the video and the title entered in the submission form must match.
• Uploaded files should follow this naming pattern: Project Title — Lead Student Name.

A working UH OneDrive link with view access or a Public or Unlisted YouTube link is preferred. A OneDrive link must allow judges to view the file without requesting permission, must not require a password, and must remain active through the award process. Participants should test shared links in a private or incognito browser before submission. Direct MP4 upload is available as an alternative and must not exceed 300 MB. Participants must retain their original project files. Uploaded copies may be removed after judging and the award process under the published retention schedule. Entries that cannot be opened, viewed, or heard may be ruled ineligible if the technical problem is not corrected by the stated deadline.

Participants should test shared links in a private or incognito browser before submission. Direct MP4 upload is available as an alternative and must not exceed 300 MB. Participants must retain their original project files. Uploaded copies may be removed after judging and the award process under the published retention schedule. Entries that cannot be opened, viewed, or heard may be ruled ineligible if the technical problem is not corrected by the stated deadline.

See the resources page at http://www.distco.org/resources for more information. Here are a few software options to consider:

• WeVideo (a cloud-based video editor integrated with Google Drive) for beginner to advanced users creating Digital Stories.
• Clipchamp (built into Windows 10/11) for beginner to intermediate users.
• iMovie (free on Mac, iPad, and iPhone) for beginner to intermediate users.
• DaVinci Resolve (free version available) for advanced users.

• The story and script must be original unless the participant has lawful permission to adapt source material and clearly discloses the adaptation.
• Participants are strongly encouraged to create their own images, video, narration, music, and sound.
• Third-party media may be used only when it is in the public domain, covered by an appropriate license, used with written permission, or otherwise lawfully used.
• Simply finding an item online does not grant permission to reuse it. A citation alone does not replace a required license or permission.
• All non-original elements must be credited in the video and documented in the copyright and media-sources record.
• Participants must comply with the license terms for each item, including attribution, noncommercial-use, share-alike, modification, and distribution conditions.
• Commercial music, movie or television clips, social-media clips, logos, characters, and other protected content must not be used without appropriate authorization or a clearly supportable legal basis.
• Participants should retain copies of permissions, licenses, receipts, source links, and original project files. Organizers may request them during eligibility review.
• By submitting, participants certify that their entry does not knowingly infringe another person's copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or other rights.

Example of how Copyright Information should be cited:

Generative AI may be used only as a disclosed creative or production aid and may not replace the participant's authorship, judgment, or substantial creative contribution.

• Participants must identify each generative-AI tool used and briefly explain how it contributed to the script, images, audio, video, editing, translation, captions, or other parts of the project.
• AI-generated or AI-modified material must be included in the media-sources record.
• Participants remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, legality, accessibility, and ethical use of all submitted content, including AI-generated content.
• Participants must not submit private, confidential, copyrighted, or personally identifiable material to an AI service without authorization.
• Undisclosed or misleading AI use may result in a score reduction or disqualification.
• Judges will evaluate the students' storytelling, creative decisions, and demonstrated authorship—not the mere use of an AI tool.

You may use AI responsibly when developing digital stories. You must disclose AI use transparently. Here are the acceptable uses of AI:

• Brainstorming
• Proofreading the script: Don’t use AI to generate a script for you. You can use AI to proofread and grammar-check your original written story; organizers may pass your script through an AI checker)
• Image generation: This is allowed as long as you clearly indicate in the copyright section how you created the image. This practice is not encouraged; whenever possible, use an original photo or image that you took or created. Any AI-created image that’s not properly cited will lower your chances of scoring high on our evaluation rubric.
• Video or animation generation: The same rules as image generation apply
• Audio: Sound clips can be generated by AI; they should be properly disclosed
• Audio enhancement and speech clarification: Your originally recorded audio narration can be improved by AI to remove background noise or make it sound more studio-quality. Disclose the use of AI sound enhancements.
• Music: AI-generated background music may be used; however, it must be properly cited.

Example of AI use should be disclosed with your submission:

By submitting an entry, participants grant the University of Houston and the UH Centennial Games permission to display, publish, reproduce, and share their digital stories, participant names, project titles, and related materials on official websites, social media, promotional materials, public screenings, and other educational platforms.

Participants retain ownership of their original work. This permission is nonexclusive and royalty-free. Selected entries may be edited only for formatting, accessibility, length, or promotional presentation without changing the story’s meaning.

Participants confirm that they have obtained all necessary permissions for individuals and copyrighted materials appearing in their projects. Submission does not guarantee publication. Participants who do not wish to grant publication permission should notify the organizers before submitting their entry.

• Participants grant the organizers permission to access and reproduce submitted materials as needed to administer, judge, archive, and present the competition.
• Any broader license to publicly display, stream, promote, or retain an entry should be stated clearly in a separate submission agreement. The creator should retain ownership of the original work unless a separate written agreement says otherwise.
• Participants are responsible for obtaining permission from identifiable people appearing or speaking in the project, as required.
• Projects involving minors require appropriate parent/guardian permission and heightened privacy protections.
• Entries containing sensitive research data, protected educational or health information, confidential information, or content restricted by a research or employment agreement must not be submitted without documented authorization.
• Registration and submission information will be handled according to the published privacy notice and applicable University requirements.

An entry may be disqualified or removed for:

• Ineligible or unverifiable student status
• Missing, inaccurate, or incomplete participant information
• Late, incomplete, inaccessible, or nonworking submissions
• Plagiarism or misrepresentation of authorship
• Copyright, privacy, licensing, legal, or policy violations
• Undisclosed AI use or unauthorized outside assistance
• Misconduct involving judges
• Failure to provide requested verification

Organizers may allow corrections when appropriate. Serious integrity, safety, or rights violations may result in immediate removal.

The organizers may verify eligibility, request documentation, resolve questions not expressly covered by these rules, and make reasonable adjustments when circumstances require. Any material change to deadlines, judging, eligibility, or awards will be posted through the official Centennial Games website or sent to registered participants. Organizer decisions concerning eligibility and competition administration are final, subject to applicable University policies.