The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival is an annual video contest in which young filmmakers create short movies that tell the entire story of a Newbery winning (or Newbery Honor) book – all in about a minute and a half!
The Mission
- Entice students to read and discuss Newbery books (especially older, forgotten titles)
- Encourage the close reading necessary to write a script that creatively sums up a book in 90 seconds
- Give students opportunities to use new technologies, such as video equipment and editing software, in a creative way that promotes literacy
The Prizes:
- Middle School/High School (6th-12th): Best Film Award
1st Place = $1500, 2nd Place = $1000, 3rd Place = $750 - Elementary School (K-5th): Best Film Award
1st Place = $1500, 2nd Place = $1000, 3rd Place = $750 - Prize money will be awarded to a school library, a literacy initiative, or a non-profit organization of the winner’s choice.
The Rules:
- We encourage students to take the lead in driving the film projects, with adults providing support and guidance as needed.
- Aim to create films with a runtime of approximately 90 seconds.
- Your film should be based on a Newbery award-winning or Newbery Honor book.
- Avoid creating book trailers or video book reports. Instead, focus on producing full dramatizations featuring primarily child actors, effectively capturing the entire essence of the book within 90 seconds.
- Please refrain from using Powtoon or any other animation software for your submissions.
- Let your imagination run wild! Feel free to experiment with different genres and storytelling techniques.
- Don’t forget to submit your video entry by March 20, 2026. Good luck!
Get started on your 90-Second Newbery video today!
How to Start:
- Round up a group of friends and choose a Newbery award-winning or Newbery Honor book to read. Looking for something more extensive? Check out this list of Newbery Award Winners dating back to 1922!
- Read the book.
- Check out our Tips & Tricks page.
- Write a script for a 90-second long retelling of the book.
- Film your movie. (Be creative! Have fun!)
- Upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo and then fill out this form to ENTER THE CONTEST by our March 20, 2026 deadline!
- We will contact you before our 2026 90-Second Newbery Film Festival at the Tobin Center HEB Performance Hall to let you know if we will be showing your film, but everyone is welcome to come to the film festival and celebrate!
*For handy tips from the creator of the 90-Second Newbery contest, check out 90secondnewbery.com.
Submit Your Video!
You’ve put in the work, filmed your unique take on a Newbery Award or Honor-winning book—now it’s time to show it off! Here’s how to enter our exciting contest:
STEP ONE: Upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo.
STEP TWO: Complete this form to tell us who you are and share the link to your video. (Don’t forget to include the URL!)
Got questions? We’re here to help—reach out anytime!
We can’t wait to see your creativity in action!
Check Out Last Years Recap!
Check Out Some Photos!
Middle/High School – Grand Prize Winner
A hilarious adaptation of The Westing Game by Bill Brittain.
Adapted by the Advanced Learning Academy (ALA)
Elementary School – Grand Prize Winner
Adaptation of Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Adapted by Rocco from Colony Meadows Elementary School.
