Overview

The Brainiacs Movie & Animation Olympiad is a global competition that brings together the brightest young minds from Grades 5 through 12. It provides an unparalleled platform to showcase innovation, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Brainiacs Movie & Animation Olympiad includes:

• The Preliminary Round (Project Submission)
• The Global Round

 

Registration

Seize your opportunity to shine on the global stage! Register online through our official website or via authorized representatives in your country. Join the ranks of tomorrow’s innovators today.

 

General Information

Each Movie & Animation project may be prepared and submitted by up to three students. Projects whether animated, live-action, or documentary short films should be informative, expressive, or affirmative, addressing topics including but not limited to:

• Social Issues
• Fantasy & Fiction
• History & Culture
• Health & Wellbeing
• Science & Technology
• Environmental Awareness

 

PRELIMINARY ROUND – PROJECT SUBMISSION

The Preliminary Round serves as the first stage of the competition, allowing participants to submit their projects and qualify for the Global Round.

 

Timeline:

• Project Submission Deadline: January 20, 2026
• Finalists Announcement: January 25, 2026

 

Preliminary Round Submission Requirements

• Movies/animations should be 3-6 minutes in length, animated, live-action or documentary in style
• Projects must be uploaded on YouTube with the following title: “BRAINIACS Olympiad: Title of the project”. Submit YouTube link during the application process
• All work featured in projects MUST be your own (original), including images used in documentaries. Movies/animations that consist solely of a collage of internet images are not allowed. You may incorporate up to 20% of imagery from the web, provided that each image is properly credited at the end of the movie.
• Movies/animations must be ONLY in English.
• Optional supporting materials (e.g., posters, scripts, fliers, or behind-the-scenes footage) may also be submitted.
• By submitting your application, you grant Brainiacs Olympiad the right to freely use your creative work for any purpose.

 

Judging Criteria

Projects will be assessed based on the following criteria (Total: 100 points):

• Innovation and Creativity: 20 points
• Production Design: 15 points
• Story Flow: 15 points
• Technical Expertise: 20 points
• Relevance: 15 points
• Emotional Impact: 15 points

 

Qualification Criteria

Participants scoring at least 40 in the Preliminary Round qualify for the Global Round. All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation.

 

GLOBAL ROUND

The Global Round is the final stage of the competition, where participants present their projects to judges and compete for top honors.

 

Timeline:

• Standard Registration Deadline: February 1, 2026
• Late Registration Deadline: March 1, 2026

 

Global round Requirements

1. Participants are required to create a movie or animation informative, expressive, or affirmative in nature in animated, live-action, or documentary format. The film should engage the viewer, evoke an emotional response, and raise awareness about a global or local issue

2. Movies/animations should be 3-6 minutes in length.

3. All work must be original (your own). Up to 20% of imagery may be sourced from the internet, provided that all images are credited at the end of the film.

4. Projects will be displayed on a large screen provided by the Brainiacs team.

5. Participants must bring their movie/animation on a USB flash drive. It is recommended to provide the file in multiple formats (e.g., MP4, FLV, or WMV).

6. Participants may revise or improve their projects between the Preliminary and Global Rounds.

7. Each team is allowed up to 5 minutes for a verbal presentation about their short film.

 

Judging Criteria

Projects will be evaluated based on the following criteria (Total: 100 points):

• Innovation and Creativity: 20 points
• Production Design: 15 points
• Story Flow: 15 points
• Technical Expertise: 15 points
• Relevance: 15 points
• Teamwork: 10 points
• Emotional Impact: 10 points

 

General Presentation Guidelines

1. Each presentation must not exceed 15 minutes, including the Q&A session.

2. The competition will be conducted entirely in English. All presentations and materials must be delivered solely in English.

3. All team members must be actively involved and knowledgeable about the project. The judges will evaluate collaboration and shared effort during assessment.

 

Global Round Recognition

In the Global Round, medals are awarded based on the percentage distribution relative to the total number of participants:

• Top 10% (0-10%) – Gold Medals
• Next 20% (11-30%) – Silver Medals
• Next 30% (31-60%) – Bronze Medals
• Following 15% (61-75%) – Honorable Mentions

All participants receive a Certificate of Participation.

This distribution may vary according to the judges’ proposal (depending on the quality of the projects, the total number of entries…)