Short film competition: Epiphanies! - Green Stories Project

This page is currently in draft and some details may change.

We invite you to bring to life one of the winning short stories (under 500 words) from our flash fiction competition by adapting it into a short film or animation. Your creation should capture the spirit of epiphany — a transformative moment which causes one or more characters to change for the greener.

Deadline Dec 2025/Jan 2026 (tbc).

How It Works

The original authors welcome your adaptations! You may stay faithful to the text or creatively reinterpret it.
Please credit the original story and author in your film, e.g.: “Adapted from (or inspired by) the short story ‘[Title]’ by [Author].”
Entry is free* with anthology purchase

Submission Steps

Purchase the anthology (available October 2025):
- eBook: £3.99 (approx. $/€4.99) or paperback: £9.99 (approx. $/€11.99)
Choose a story about an epiphany from the anthology to adapt.
Create your film or animation and select your entry category:
- Short category: Up to 90 seconds, portrait orientation (ideal for mobile/social media).
- Extended category: 2 to 5 minutes, landscape orientation.
Submit your film starting November 2025 using the submission platform (link provided then). Upload in MP4 format and provide a Vimeo or YouTube link.
Entrants must be 16+ years old. Group entries are welcome.
Use only original or licensed content. No copyrighted music or images unless you have explicit permission.

For Schools, Colleges and Universities

We provide a free learning pack with discussion questions and competition details to support classroom participation. Please contact us to request the pack. We can offer the anthology at no charge when used as part of module assessment in exchange for feedback.

Judging and Prizes

A total prize fund of £1000 (approx $/€1200) will be shared between winners and runners-up (final details to be announced).

Winning films may be showcased at screenings and partner festivals, with audience voting for shareability and impact.

Films will be evaluated on:

Creativity and quality of adaptation
Ability to inspire greener behaviours
Shareability and emotional impact

The film does not have to be explicitly about the climate or environment as long as the behaviour it inspires has positive environmental implications. For example, see the sample story below.

Terms and Conditions

To enter the Short Film Competition, you must first purchase the anthology of flash fiction from Habitat Press (available Sept/Oct 25) and select a story to adapt as a film.
The submission link will be made available one month before the deadline. Films must be submitted in MP4 format, and you must provide a link to a publicly accessible URL (such as Vimeo or YouTube) where your film can be viewed.
Entrants must be 16+ to enter. The competition is open to any nationality provided the dialogue is in English, or has English subtitles.
Group entries are allowed.
Please ensure that you do not use copyrighted music or images in your film unless you have obtained explicit written permission.
You retain full copyright but grant us permission to screen, share, and promote your film via social media, royalty-free. Entries from winners and finalists may also be screened for the general public.

Sample Story

Slow Travel

We’re interrupted by a knock at the door. Tom gets up to see.
He returns holding out a book.
‘I’ve always fancied Switzerland,’ says Tom. ‘We could fly into Zurich and then go walking in the mountains. It will be lovely in spring.’
‘Or we could go by train?’ I suggest.
We pore over timetables and shake our heads.
‘No,’ he says eventually. ‘It takes twice as long.’
I take it and read out the title, ‘Epic train journeys?’
The cover shows a train winding its way through a valley between mountain ranges.
‘It’s from the neighbour,’ he explains. ‘It’s a thank you for looking after her rabbit.’We turn the pages, delighted. We imagine watching the world go by out of the window, lulled by the rhythmic clickety clack of the rails. The romance of the train.
‘There’s so many epic journeys,’ Tom sighs. ‘I want to do them all.’
‘How about this one?’
I point to a journey across France and Switzerland.
He shakes his head.
‘It’s only five hours,’ he says. ‘Too short.’

This is an example short story from the flash fiction anthology that can be adapted into a short film. It reframes slow travel, so it is seen as positive rather than negative and encourages us to use rail transport rather than flying.

FAQs

Q. How do I submit?

A. Submit using MP4 format. We will also ask for a link to the film (Vimeo or YouTube). A submission link will be provided a month before the deadline.

Q. Does my film have to explicitly mention climate change or the environment?

A. No. But it must be able to inspire greener behaviour. For example, in the sample story, climate isn’t mentioned at all, but it showcases the delights of train travel which has a lower carbon footprint.

Q. Can I submit more than one film?

A. Yes but you must buy one book for each entry direct from Habitat Press. The second book does not have to be the anthology but can be any book.

Q. If it is a group submission, how do we allocate prizes?

A. You will be asked to specify how you would want prize money and credits allocated during the submission process.

Q. Do I need to password protect my files, Vimeo links etc.

A. No, but you can if you wish.

Q. What about copyright and licensing?

A. When you submit you will be asked to agree to the following: By submitting your film, you confirm that you own all necessary rights to the content, including visuals, music, and any other materials used. You grant the Green Stories Project a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to screen, share, and promote your film across digital platforms, festivals, and educational events worldwide. You retain full copyright and may distribute your film independently at any time. Please ensure you have permission for any third-party content included in your submission.

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If you can sponsor prizes, screen winning entries or want to participate as part of a film/media/animation course you run, please get in touch.