Category Overview

The Cinematic Category of the Collegiate Games Challenge showcases excellence in visual storytelling, game marketing, and promotional creativity. This track invites students to produce compelling video game trailers — whether through live-action, CGI, gameplay capture, or a hybrid approach — that demonstrate both creative flair and strategic communication.

Eligibility

• Open to students enrolled in invited universities listed under the Collegiate Games Challenge program.
• Each university may submit up to two trailers in this category.
  • Internal school selection is required.
• Submissions may be from individuals or teams. Collaboration beyond individual programs is allowed and the submitting lead student will indicate which school the submission is from.
• The submitting lead student needs to be a U.S. resident for tax purposes and enrolled in their participating school during the 2024-25 school year.
• Submissions require a supporting school professor, established as the faculty point-of-contact (FPOC). Entries will be validated by the supporting school professor. See collegiategameschallenge.com/faculty for confirmed FPOC.
• All trailers must have been produced during the 2024–2025 academic year.

Focus Titles for Video Game Trailers

• Trailers may promote any real publicly-available or announced game, including:
  • Released titles
  • Works in progress
  • Student-developed or indie projects
• All content must comply with copyright laws.
• Entrants may use existing public media from the game as well as original production assets.

Submission Requirements

• Video Format:
  • Runtime: Minimum 30 seconds, maximum 3.5 minutes
  • Resolution: Minimum 720p (1080p preferred)
  • File Type: .mp4
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9 or 9:16
  • File Size: Maximum 500MB
• File Naming Convention: CGC_SchoolName_TeamName_Trailer2025
• Submissions will be provided through an unlisted YouTube link.
• Submission Portal (to open on June 1, 2025): collegiategameschallenge.com/submit

Entry Fees

• No entry fees are required for participation.

Rights & Promotion

• Students retain full ownership of their submitted trailers.
• By entering the competition, students grant the organizers non-exclusive rights to publicly screen, promote, and share submitted trailers via:
  • Livestreamed awards ceremony
  • Collegiate Games Challenge website
  • GGP social media channels
  • Industry showcase reels and marketing materials

Awards & Recognition

Prizes and categories include:

• Grand Prize – Best Trailer Award
  • Gold: $12,500
  • Silver: $7,500
  • Bronze: $2,500
• Honorable Mentions may be awarded in categories such as:
  • Best VFX / CGI / Motion Graphics Integration
  • Best Use of Gameplay Footage
  • Best Use of Live Action
  • Best Editing
  • Best Narrative / Storytelling

Only Grand Prize winners receive cash awards. Honorable Mentions are recognition-based.

Winners will be announced during the Summer 2025 livestreamed awards ceremony.

Mentorship

Participants will be invited to attend exclusive Zoom sessions with industry professionals.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI tools may be used in the creation of video game trailers (e.g., visual effects, asset generation), but human creativity and oversight must drive the work. AI can support the work, but it should not replace human storytelling or editorial decisions.

• AI-generated assets must be created ethically and integrated under human supervision.
• Entrants are encouraged to disclose AI usage.
• Submissions showing a lack of human authorship or ethical care may be disqualified.

Key Dates

• Rules Announced: May 1, 2025
• Submissions Open: June 1, 2025
• Submission Deadline: June 15, 2025 (11:59 PM PST)
• Finalists Announced: July 2025
• Winners Announced (Livestream): August 2025