Penn Abroad Video Contest
The Penn Abroad Video Contest
…runs annually and is open to all Penn students who participated in a Penn Abroad program the previous year. Videos are judged by a panel coordinated by the Penn Abroad team.
Share your experiences abroad and represent your life and academic experiences while studying and/or interning abroad. As you respond, you may consider a variety of subjects, including student life, local culture, the classroom, history, professional experience, and/or community. Be creative and show us a reflection of how these experiences have been meaningful to you as you embrace your global community and have new learning experiences.
Theme for 2025 Penn Abroad Video Contest
Finding Meaning in your Global Experience
Submissions due August 14, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST
1.
Video submissions must be between 45-60 seconds. No more, no less.
2.
Audio/visuals can use a variety of multimedia but should not be strictly a slideshow of images and must have been created for this contest.
3.
Music used in your video must not violate an artist’s copyright. You can find free music in a variety of places by searching online, including https://www.freemusicarchive.org. Some may require giving credit to the artist in the video, which can be done by adding short titles.
4.
Videos can be of any genre, format, and aesthetic.
5.
Subject matter should be original, relevant to the category, and suitable for distribution. They may not contain references to alcohol, drugs, etc.
6.
Footage must not include minors or individuals who have not given their consent to be filmed. Additionally, please refrain from including footage of interactions with wild animals
7.
Only one entry per person is allowed each year.
8.
Only current Penn students who participated on a Penn Abroad program (Study Abroad, Global Research & Internship Program, Penn Global Seminars, Penn Global Research Institutes) from Fall 2024-Summer 2025 will be considered.
9.
Video submissions will be shared on Penn Abroad’s social media channels and may have Penn Abroad titles/logos added to the beginning.
10.
Entries will be accepted on a rolling basis and you are welcome to submit your video at any time prior to the deadline.
11.
The deadline for submissions are now open. The submission form can be found under the tab ‘Application’ on the left.
Videos will be judged based on the categories below by a panel coordinated by the Penn Abroad team.
Focus: Does the video engage with the theme: “Find Meaning in your Global Experience”?
- Production: Are the technical qualities of the video intentional, including cinematography, visual and auditory elements?
- Balance: Are a range if academic and cultural experiences are abroad?
- Creativity/Originality: Does the filmmaker approach the prompt in a way that reflects their unique identity?
The best submissions will:
- Reflect on your experience and artfully respond to the theme and what being abroad means to you.
- Have a concept, tell a story, or use the format to have a clear beginning, middle, and end.
- Inspire, encourage, and help your fellow students understand your unique experience abroad.
Winners will be announced on September 5, 2025. You are encouraged to be creative and experiment with style, genre, and imagery.
1st Place Prize
2nd Place Prize
3rd Place Prize
*All prizes are subject to tax withholding & it is the responsibility of the prize recipient to report the taxable prize received to the IRS on their personal income tax returns.
Questions? Contact goabroad@upenn.edu
2024 Video Contest Winners
In the 2024 Video Contest, Penn students responded to the theme Finding Meaning in your Global Experience as they considered a variety of subjects, including student life, local culture, the classroom, history, professional experience, and community. The competition was open to students who participated in a Penn Abroad program (Semester Abroad, Global Research & Internship Program, Penn Global Seminars, Penn Global Research Institutes) from fall 2023 to summer 2024.
1st Place
Finding Meaning in the Gambia
By Andrea Perez Pizarro
Global Research & Internship Program: Power Up Gambia
2nd Place
Meaningful Summer Abroad
by Nathan Lee
Global Research & Internship Program: Keru
3rd Place
Embarking on a Seoul Searching Journey
by James Tran
GRIP: Media in Seoul
2023 Video Contest Winners
In 2023, Penn students answered the question “Where Will Penn Take You?” as they considered a variety of subjects, including student life, local culture, the classroom, history, professional experience, and/or community. Watch their reflections on how these experiences have been meaningful to them as they embraced their community abroad and have new learning experiences.
2nd Place
Experiencing Mongolia
Penn Global Seminar: Communicating Change in Mongolia
3rd Place
The Best Decision I’ve Ever Made
by Valeria Wang
Study Abroad: Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain