Italy Reads

Italy Reads Student Video Contest

Entering the Contest

High School students are encouraged to produce videos (3-minutes duration) that are inspired by the work of American literature selected as the focus of the current year's Italy Reads. Recurring themes and motifs found in literature provide a wealth of inspiration for the creativity of students. All participants involved in all aspects of a video that is submitted to this contest must be enrolled in the same high school.

Be creative! These videos can include original music videos, a dramatized scene from the text, a documentary considering the life and historical context of the author, or an impressionistic video in response to one of the themes are just a few ideas.

Preparing your video submission

Online resources
To further the educational value of this project, Italy Reads offers an online Video Production Tutorial (The Essential Guide to Video-Making) to registered participants upon request. Students are also invited to explore the resource and video tutorials available online. 

Peer-to-peer development of ideas
JCU students often meet with high school students to engage in discussions that help reach a greater understanding of the themes of the text and how to transfer that understanding into a video.

There can be no violation of copyright in the videos. Students are very strongly encouraged to consult documents such as The Video Pro's Guide to Video Copyright and Licencing, by Jon Tobin, or Bound By Law ©2006 Keith Aoki, James Boyle, Jennifer Jones for more information on how to respect intellectual property rights.

Contest Rules

Video entries must be up to 3 minutes in duration and uploaded and made available to the general public (i.e. entered as "unlisted" and NOT as "private") on YouTube, Vimeo or other social media platforms. Insert the link to your video in the mandatory Italy Reads Video Contest Submission Form. Please delegate ONE Student Representative for each video to send the submission. Students should not send duplicate submissions for the same video. There is no limit to the number of unique videos a class can submit. Each video must be submitted using the Submission Form. Deadline to submit a video: 31 January.

Participation in the Student Video Contest constitutes acceptance, also by parental authorities of participating minors, of the terms authorizing John Cabot University to use the video and photos taken at the events. Fill in the Disclaimer/Liberatoria.

The panel of judges (JCU professors and qualified alumni) will select the winning video based on the following criteria:

  • Artistic interpretation of theme
  • Acting ability of those appearing in video (if the video includes actors)
  • Creativity in direction of the video
  • Originality of interpretation
  • Costumes and make-up (if used in the video)
  • Lighting
  • Quality of video recording
  • Quality of audio

Two awards, for the amount of 500 Euros and 300 Euros, will be given to the classes whose videos have been determined to best satisfy the above-listed criteria. Honorable Mention will be given to other categories as deemed appropriate by the panel of judges.

Prize money must be spent on a project or activity chosen by the class as a group and approved by their Italy Reads participating teacher. The prize funds will be provided as reimbursement of receipts.

Awarded funds must be claimed by 15 June. How to claim your award.

1st Place (500 Euro) was awarded to Margaret Fuller's Life, by students of Prof. Andrea Ridolfi, Liceo Scientifico Statale “Giovanni Keplero,” Rome
2nd Place (300 Euro) was awarded to Conversation with Margaret Fuller, by students of Prof. Marina Schiaroli, IIS Classico Artistico – Liceo Classico “G.C. Tacito,” Terni
Honorable Mention for Educational Strength was awarded to Women’s Role Over Time, by students of Prof. Giuseppina Santoro, Istituto Magistrale Statale “Giordano Bruno,” Rome
Honorable Mention for Video Editing Skills was awarded to A Different Woman, by students of Prof. Anna Mastrolito’s students at Liceo “A. Volta,” Foggia
Honorable Mention for Research on Social Issues was awarded to The Role of Women Over Time, by students of Prof. Loredana Quinto, Istituto Magistrale Statale “Giordano Bruno,” Rome

Write to [email protected] for further information.

Learn more about Italy Reads.
Learn more about Programs for High Schools at JCU.
Learn more about studying Communications at JCU.
Learn more about studying English Language and Literature at JCU.