The most powerful stories often start with a simple question: what if?
What if two rival groups were forced to work together when a greater danger appeared? What if color itself carried meaning that could change the course of a story? What if your students could learn how to tell those stories while also building skills that will serve them for life?
This fall, Destination Imagination’s Team Film Challenge returns with a brand-new adventure: Against All Odds. Launching September 12, 2025, this challenge invites students to create and present an original short film that blends creativity, collaboration, and cinematic storytelling.
Why the Team Film Challenge?
The Team Film Challenge is more than an introduction to filmmaking. Over the course of eight weeks, students discover how to work together, solve problems in real time, and share their voices through story.
With each project, students learn to:
- Collaborate effectively as part of a team.
- Think critically about how stories are told.
- Experiment with film techniques and creative expression.
- Gain confidence by seeing an idea grow from concept to finished product.
No prior experience is necessary—just imagination and a willingness to try. Teams can film on any device, whether it’s a phone, tablet, or camera.
This Year’s Challenge: Against All Odds
At the heart of this year’s challenge is a timeless question: Can differences be set aside in the face of something bigger?
To meet the challenge, teams will:
- Create an epic fantasy story for film.
- Include at least two opposing factions locked in conflict.
- Introduce a “big bad” threat that forces the factions to unite.
- Use color symbolism to bring deeper meaning to the story.
- Incorporate at least one sweeping shot and one close-up shot.
- Showcase one unique element of the team’s choosing—whether that’s music, special effects, performance, or another area of strength.
The result? A short film that doesn’t just tell a story but reveals how young people see the world—and how they can reimagine it.
Learning That Lasts Beyond the Film
The true value of the Team Film Challenge isn’t just the film students create—it’s the process they go through to get there. At the heart of every DI program is the Creative Process, a flexible framework that helps students turn ideas into action.
As they work through the Challenge, teams practice each step of this process:
- Recognizing challenges and asking questions.
- Imagining solutions through brainstorming and exploration.
- Initiating and collaborating as they divide tasks and work toward a shared vision.
- Assessing and reflecting on what’s working—and what’s not.
- Evaluating and celebrating their progress as they bring the story to life.
Along the way, students discover that creativity isn’t just about making something new but learning how to persevere, adapt, and work together. These are the skills that help young people thrive in school and will carry them forward into the challenges of life beyond the classroom.
Get Started
Registration is now open for the 2025 Team Film Challenge. Whether you’re a teacher looking for an engaging classroom project or a parent searching for a meaningful activity, this is an opportunity to help students create something extraordinary.
👉 Learn more and register here.
This fall, give your students the chance to take on an epic adventure and discover what they can achieve Against All Odds.
