Grow your communication skills and share your research.
GRADflix is a video competition for graduate students in which participants create a video, moving slideshow, or animation of no longer than 60 seconds (one minute) that describes their research to a non-specialized audience. GRADflix is generously supported by graduate students through the Graduate Studies Endowment Fund.
What is GRADflix?
Created at the University of Waterloo, GRADflix is a video competition for graduate students in which participants create a video, moving slideshow, or animation of no longer than 60 seconds (one minute) that describes their research to a non-specialized audience.
Videos can be live action, mixed media, traditional animation, stop motion animation, or something else altogether!
Registration information
Please confirm you are eligible and available to compete before registering.
- Registration opens: October 26, 2026
- Registration closes: January 25, 2027
To register to compete, submit your registration in Ticketfi.
Video requirements
Format & length
- Must be 60 seconds or less.
- May be horizontal (best for YouTube) or vertical (best for Instagram).
- Must show movement (e.g., slide transitions, zoom, or a subject moving on video).
- Must include sound (e.g., voiceover, sound effects, or music).
Content
- Must focus on research from your current graduate program at the University of Waterloo (e.g., your thesis).
- Must include embedded English subtitles in Arial, Roboto Medium, or a similar font, size 28 or larger. See the creating your GRADflix video web page for easy how-to steps.
- Ensure your video submission is suitable for public dissemination and does not breach confidentiality, contractual, or cultural protocols.
Copyright & intellectual property
- Ensure you are using third-party content properly. For support, see resources from the University of Waterloo’s Copyright and Licensing Librarian, Lauren Byl.
- Be aware that abstracts, oral descriptions, slides, pictures, and videos can constitute public disclosure and may affect intellectual property rights or patentability. If this may be a concern, consult your supervisor, the Office of Research, or the Intellectual Property website.
- Your video must not infringe on or violate any laws or third-party rights (e.g., copyright, trademark, privacy, or contract rights) and must not contain defamatory or unlawful material.
Generative AI use
- AI-assisted videos (e.g., light assistance in video editing, brainstorming, outlining, and other minor components) are permitted.
- AI-generated videos (i.e., a video created by AI with minimal human involvement) are not permitted.
- Participants will be required to declare if and how AI was used when completing the participant information form.
- Review the GenAI guidance for graduate students and supervisors web page as a resource.
Judging criteria
Each video will be assessed on the three judging criteria listed below.
Communication (50%)
Your ability to communicate your research effectively and efficiently to a general audience through language and visuals. A strong video will demonstrate:
- Ability to explain complex ideas to a non-specialist audience
- Well-designed script with clear language and terminology
- Good pacing and sequencing of information (i.e., easy to follow)
- Audio and visuals that add information, clarify ideas, or complement the message
- Clear explanation of contribution(s) to research/scholarship
Creativity (30%)
Your ability to present your research in a unique and thoughtful way. A strong video will demonstrate:
- Creative use of (limited) time
- Novel and interesting presentation of information
- Engaging format that captures audience interest
Technical quality (20%)
Your ability to produce a video with high-quality visuals and audio. A strong video will demonstrate:
- High-quality sound and images
- Integration of appealing audio/visual elements
Note: The GRADflix competition will be judged in English. For videos that include a language other than English (e.g., for students conducting their studies and research in French), judges will base their assessment on the English captioning provided with the video.
By submitting your video, you agree that all sounds, images, information, etc. are cited or credited in the video, as required.
Key dates
- Information session: November 18, 2026 (Event registration required)
- GRADflix training session: January 18, 2027 (Event registration required)
- Registration deadline: January 25, 2027
- Video submission deadline: March 8, 2027
- Graduate Student Research Symposium: April 8, 2027
Submission requirements and instructions
- Save your file as an MP4.
- Submit your video via the online submission form.
- Please note that the online submission form only allows video file uploads 1GB or smaller. If your video file is more than 1GB, please fill out the online submission form and then send your video to gradexperience@uwaterloo.ca through Sendit.
- On this form you will be asked:
- Preferred name as it should appear on the web page if you are a finalist
- Pronouns
- Supervisor name(s)
- Short biography of about 60–100 words; may include past degrees, research area or interests, current program, research lab(s), interests or hobbies outside research
- High-quality portrait or headshot
- Contact information to be listed with your video
- Availability to attend the in-person Graduate Student Research Symposium on April 8, 2027, or your willingness to coordinate with Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) to arrange a delegate if you’re selected as a finalist
Resources
If you have any questions about the GRADflix competition, please e-mail gradexperience@uwaterloo.ca.