Final Entry Deadline Date
Rather than announcing a potential extension in the future, we will be accepting entries through December 16th at Noon PT (3:00 PM ET). This will give an extra weekend to submit, while still letting our chairs and judges get started before the holidays
New for 2025
BEA constantly tweaks and improves our competitions. This year we have added the following student categories in the Audio and News competitions.
Student Non-Narrative Audio
This category is designed for live audio content, particularly interview podcasts, live music or remote broadcasts, topical/discussion programs (i.e. news talk, sports talk, entertainment talk), genre-specific music programs (i.e. a “folk hour” or “local music hour”), and news or sports readers.
Student Television News Reporter
This category should showcase TV News reporting. All entries MUST include three news packages and be from student/university media outlets, not from professional stations, even if the student is working or interning at that professional station. Time limit: 10 minutes. Entries will be judged by television hiring managers and recruiters.
Student Narrative Audio
This category is designed for recorded podcasts, specialty shows and segments of programs. Content is judged based on sound quality, design, and polished VO/narration and interviews (i.e. limited vocal cues or fillers).
Student Television News Special Event
This category is intended for television special event coverage including but not limited to election coverage or severe weather coverage. This entry can include live or taped segments. The content can be continuous or a compilation of excerpts aired within a 24-hour period. Please include a short paragraph that provides context for your entry. Time limit: 30 minutes.
2024 School Rankings Based on Student Creative Achievements
The 2024 rankings of schools are based on the creative achievement of their students. The rankings, which began in 2022, are founded on the results from the BEA Festival of Media Arts. The BEA Festival is the preeminent international media competition focused on student and faculty creative endeavors. In the last five years alone, over 7,000 student creative works were submitted from BEA’s more than 300 member institutions around the globe. Entries go through a blind-juried review in the following competitions: Audio, Documentary, Film & Video, Interactive Multimedia & Emerging Technologies, News, Scriptwriting, and Sports.
View RankingsOUR COMPETITIONS
AUDIO
Audio competitions of the Festival of Media Arts provide an opportunity to showcase audio production skills for radio and/or websites.
ENTER FACULTY ENTER STUDENTSDOCUMENTARY
The documentary competition showcases both long-form and short-form documentaries.
FILM & VIDEO
The film and video competition provides an opportunity to showcase video production work in a wide range of categories.
ENTER FACULTY ENTER STUDENTSINTERACTIVE MEDIA & EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
The interactive multimedia and emerging technologies competition recognizes excellence in content creation and visual storytelling that demonstrates creativity and innovation.
ENTER FACULTY ENTER STUDENTSNEWS
The news competition awards faculty and students for outstanding work as news anchors, reporters and weathercasters.
SCRIPTWRITING
The scriptwriting competition showcases narrative fictional work of multiple lengths and genres.
ENTER FACULTY ENTER STUDENTSSPORTS
Radio and television anchors, reporters and producers showcase their creativity in this highly competitive competition.
ENTER FACULTY ENTER STUDENTSTWO-YEAR COLLEGES
BEA’s Festival of Media Arts accepts entries from students attending community or two-year colleges.
BEA2025
All of our faculty and student Festival winners will be celebrated in-person at BEA2025. BEA’s annual convention traditionally produces over 250 sessions on media pedagogy, collaborative networking events, hands-on technology workshops, research and creative scholarship and the Festival of Media Arts. It is co-located with NAB Show, each April in Las Vegas.
The BEA Best of Festival Awards takes place on Monday. Best of Festival winners will be awarded that evening.
A celebration for all the student winners will be held during the day on Sunday.
Faculty Festival sessions will be held on Sunday and Monday. All the faculty Best of Competition and Awards of Excellence will be recognized and given awards, and the sessions will feature Best of Competition showcase panels.
All winners will be recognized in the online and printed program.
