The 2025-26 HoCo Student Film Festival is on May 1, 2026 from 7:00-8:30 pm at the Miller Library
Submission deadline: April 7, 2026. More info to come soon!!!
To view winning films, scroll down and click on Category winners.
The theme of the HC DrugFree Category is:
In The Know: Fake Pills, Real Danger
Counterfeit prescription pills are increasingly being laced with illegal fentanyl and other dangerous substances, and people often don’t know what’s inside. HC DrugFree is aligning this year’s category with national public awareness efforts and resources, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s One Pill Can Kill campaign.
Key facts to guide your PSA:
Illegally made fentanyl is frequently added into counterfeit pills that are marketed to look like prescription medications (Adderall, Xanax, oxycodone, etc.).
Counterfeit pills are widely available online and through social media and can contain lethal doses because there is no oversight or quality control.
Public health monitoring has documented rising exposures and overdoses tied to counterfeit pills, affecting teens and young adults as well as older people.
Focus your PSA on raising awareness and protecting the community by highlighting:
✔ Counterfeit pill dangers
✔ How easily pills can be laced with fentanyl
✔ How real and everyday this risk is for families
✔ What adults and youth should know to prevent tragedies
Message Goal: Empower viewers with knowledge that can save lives.
For more information, please visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill and the HC DrugFree website.
HC DrugFree PSA category submissions requirements:
- • Please be sure that HC DrugFree is spelled correctly and doesn’t include additional spaces. HC DrugFree really is our legal name. Please do not get creative with our name and be sure spell check does not incorrectly edit a space between Drug and Free.
- • A cover screen with HC DrugFree’s logo along with a catchy description about your specific PSA topic.
- • Submissions must include a closing screen with HC DrugFree’s logo and contact information (www.hcdrugfree.org and Admin@hcdrugfree.org).
- • The names of the student video team members should appear on the next to the last screen and include school(s). If done as a class project or with the guidance of school staff, feel free to include staff names.
- • Videos can be as short as 30 seconds or as long as 2 minutes. Do not exceed 2 minutes. The time does not include the final cover screen with HC DrugFree’s logo and contact information. Be sure to allow that final HC DrugFree contact screen to remain visible for at least 10 seconds, but no more than 30 seconds.
- • Because this is a public service announcement, if HC DrugFree’s logo and contact information is missing or not correct, the video will be disqualified from the contest, but after the contest, HC DrugFree may request edits and use the video.
Download the HC DrugFree Film Category Guidelines
Scroll through the slides below to learn how to make your PSA shine!
For more information please visit the HoCo Film Festival website
Email HC DrugFree’s Executive Director, Ms. Joan Webb Scornaienchi at Admin@hcdrugfree.org to request HC DrugFree’s logo. HC DrugFree’s staff is available to answer your questions, so when in doubt, contact us!
We look forward to playing your films.
Good luck!
