• Currently be enrolled at the University of Ottawa or Saint-Paul University in a master’s or PhD program at the time of the uOGRADflix Competition. Master’s and PhD students who have completed the requirements of their degree but have not yet graduated by the registration deadline are eligible to participate.
• Agree to allow your video to be made public. If you are selected as a finalist, your photo and biography will also be made public. 
• By submitting your video, you are agreeing that your submission is an original work created by you and that you have all necessary rights in, and to, the submission. 
• To be eligible to win a prize, you must attend the virtual showcase.
• Your video must not be longer than 60 seconds and must meet the video requirements and copyright stated below.
• Presentations may be in English or French.
• Video submissions and consent forms must be received by the deadline.
• Previous finalists who did not win a prize are eligible to compete again. The video they will submit must be considerably different.

The Office of the Vice-Provost, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies is happy to provide guidance; please contact us at [email protected].

Note: The University of Ottawa reserves the right to disqualify entries that violate copyright laws, the competition rules, or contain inappropriate material.

• Videos can take many forms, but must include movement (slide transitions, zooming, or a subject moving on video), and sound (voice over, sound, and/or music).
• Your video may be less than 60 seconds long but may not be longer than 60 seconds.
• Your video must focus on research you conducted for your current graduate program at the University of Ottawa or St-Paul University.
• You must submit a script for closed captioning purposes because the winning videos will be uploaded to YouTube and may be used in future for promotional purpose at the University of Ottawa or St-Paul University.
• When creating your video, keep copyright in mind. Since your video will be posted online, you will need to make sure that you are using third-party content properly. If you have questions about copyright and want to avoid complications, send an email to the Copyright Office.
• Abstracts, oral descriptions, slides, pictures, and videos may all constitute public disclosure and affect intellectual property rights and patentability. If this may be a concern, check with your supervisor, the Office of Research, or the uOttawa Copyright webpage for further information.
• You also agree that this submission does not infringe upon or violate any laws or any third-party rights, including, but not limited to, copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret, or other proprietary rights, and must not constitute material that would be considered libelling, defamatory, a privacy violation, tortious, or a contract breach.
• See PDF on creating copyright-conscious videos.

Prepare your video to wow the uOGRADflix competition judges!

A select jury will award prizes to the best videos according to the following criteria:

• 50% Communication
  • Ability to explain complex ideas to a non-specialist audience
  • Use of clear language and terminology, delivered at a good pace  
  • Appropriate use of images to complement message
  • Research contribution and results are clear and understandable
  • Logical sequence of information (i.e.: easy to follow)
  • Ability to engage audience through storytelling
• 30% Creativity and visual impact
  • Creative use of (limited) time
  • Original presentation of information
  • Well-prepared script and relevantly designed images
  • Visually appealing and engaging (movement and rhythm)
• 20% Technical quality 
  • High-quality sound and images
  • Effective use of images and sound
  • Use of citations and credits where require

Four prizes will be awarded during the uOGRADflix Live Showcase event:

• One first-place prize: $1,000
• One second-place prize: $750
• One third-place prize: $500 
• One People’s choice award: $500

Wondering what style of video, we’re looking for? You have lots of options! As examples, here are some videos posted on YouTube. Some videos are animations, others are video-recorded, and some include sketches or PowerPoint slides.