Current Competition

CJN Student Competition 2025-2026 is now open!

Deadline for submitting the projects: April 26, 2026  

You are invited to enter your students in the CJN Student Competition, which combines virtual learning, fun, and Jewish cultural exchange. Using guidelines provided by Centropa, you and your students can create projects that engage them while strengthening their Jewish identity.

SUBMISSIONS

Submissions will be divided into 2 groups for judging:

  • Grades 1-8
  • Grades 9-12

For each category there will be one winner and one runner up selected per age group.

Who can participate?

All students can participate who study in a Jewish school in Europe, US, or Israel. Primary, secondary and high school students are all welcome to submit a project!

Competition Period

The competition begins on October 27th, 2025 and ends on April 26th, 2026.

(Please note: Dates may be subject to change by the Centropa team in case of unavoidable circumstances.)

Want to see what other students have done?

Look at last years’ student competition winners and runner ups to have an idea about what a good short film looks like.

Questions?

Contact CJN coordinator, Eszter Rózsa at rozsa@centropa.org

Art projects

Do you have students full of creative ideas? Students who love to draw and express themselves through art? Even if not, do not worry – you might be surprised how creative students become with the right inspiration. This is the perfect opportunity to cooperate with your colleagues who teach art and create something meaningful together.

Art Project Categories

  1. Drawing, Painting, Montage Category –Students should create a visual artwork inspired by a Centropa film, podcast, or biography. This can be a drawing, painting, montage, or any other visual piece displayed on a flat surface. The focus should be on expressing how the Centropa story inspired them. Students are free to choose any technique or style.
  2. Graphic Novel Category – Students retell a Centropa story in their own words and illustrations. The story can be based on a Centropa film, podcast, or biography The goal is to creatively reinterpret the narrative while preserving the key elements and emotions of the original story. Students may choose any format, style, or approach to illustrate the story in a visually engaging way.

Art project rules

  1. Explore – Students should first explore a Centropa story. This can be Centropa film, podcast, or biography
  2. Create – Inspired by a Centropa story, students are asked to create one – or more – artworks. Whether it is a drawing, painting, montage or graphic novel, any visual art displayed on a flat surface is welcome. The only limit is their creativity!
  3. Write – Each submission must include a short text (150 words in English) explaining which Centropa film, podcast, or biography was chosen, why and how it inspired the artwork.
  4. Submit – Submit the project through the designated form: https://www.centropa.org/en/forms/cjn-student-competition

Additional Guidelines:

  1. Students may submit art works in any of the two categories.
  2. All submitted artwork must be inspired by a Centropa story (biography, film, or podcast).
  3. Students must list all resources used, including online sources, books, personal encounters, and any use of AI.

How to submit a project

You can submit your students’ project through this online form:
https://www.centropa.org/en/forms/cjn-student-competition

Please upload all materials directly to this platform.
If you have any questions, contact: rozsa@centropa.org
 Deadline: April 26, 2026

Assessment Criteria for Art Projects

  • Learning and Knowledge Gained – Students should demonstrate that they engaged in a meaningful learning process while creating their artwork. Submissions should include the research and resources used (e.g., online sources, books, personal encounters, or AI tools).
  • Creativity – The artwork should tell a compelling story and capture the viewer’s attention.
  • Technical Details – Consideration will be given to the use of materials, colors, tone, shapes, and the overall composition of the artwork.

 Prizes

The best art projects receive prizes:

  • 1st place: 100 EUR  gift card 
  • Runners-up: 50 EUR gift card

Video projects

Your students probably use smartphones, tablets, and new technologies all the time. Why not turn this to their advantage and invite them to create short films they will love making? In the framework of the competition, students can choose from the categories below. Along the way, they will not only learn how to research, collaborate, and edit a film—but they will also have fun.

Video Project Categories

  1. Virtual Jewish Cookbook Category: Gefilte fish. Tzimmes. Latkes. Charoset. Kugel. Borekas. Who doesn’t have a favourite Jewish recipe? In this project, students choose a traditional Jewish recipe important to them and their family, research its history, prepare the dish, and present everything in a short video. 
  2. Family History Category: Students can explore their roots by researching the history of a family member or by creating a Centropa-style video based on a story of a Holocaust survivor from the Centropa archive. 
  3. My Community Category: What story do your students want to tell about Jewish life in their hometown? Students can research and explore their Jewish identity by making a short video about the Jewish district of their town, a synagogue, their school, or their community.

Video project rules

  1. Explore – Students should begin by exploring their chosen category (Virtual Jewish Cookbook, Family History, or My Community). This may include researching family traditions, interviewing relatives, watching Centropa films, or reading biographies and other sources. If they choose the Virtual Jewish Cookbook, they should select a Jewish recipe to work with.
  2. Create – Students are asked to create a short video based on their research. They may choose one of the following categories:
    Virtual Jewish Cookbook:
    Choose a traditional Jewish recipe that is important to them or their family, research its history, prepare the dish, and present it in a short video.
    Family History:
    Explore family roots by researching the story of a family member, or create a Centropa-style video based on the story of a Holocaust survivor from the Centropa archive.
    My Community:
    Tell a story about Jewish life in their hometown. This could include the Jewish district, a synagogue, their school, or their community.
  3. Write – Each submission must include a short text (150 words in English) explaining which category was chosen, why, and how the story was developed.
  4. Submit – Submit the project through the designated form: https://www.centropa.org/en/forms/cjn-student-competition

Additional Guidelines

  1. Students may submit videos in any of the three categories.
  2. All videos must include English subtitles (even if the narration is already in English).
  3. The video length must not exceed 5 minutes. For the Family History category, the maximum length is 6 minutes. Videos exceeding these limits will not qualify.
  4. Students must create the videos themselves. Professional support may be used, but the final product must be their own work.
  5. All videos must contain accurate information based on valid sources.
  6. Students must list all resources used, including online sources, books, personal encounters, and any use of AI.

Assessment Criteria for the Video Project

  • Learning and Knowledge Gained – Students should engage in a meaningful learning process while creating their videos. Submissions should reflect thoughtful research and include references to the resources used, such as online sources, books, personal encounters, and any use of AI.
  • Creativity – The film should tell a compelling  story and capture the viewer’s attention. 
  • Technical Quality – Clarity, sound, and editing will be considered. While this can be challenging, the category guidelines provide tips and tricks for creating a high-quality film.

Prizes

The best art projects will receive prizes:

  • 1st place: 100 EUR  gift card 
  • Runners-up: 50 EUR gift card

 How to submit a project

You can submit your students’ project through this online form:
 https://www.centropa.org/en/forms/cjn-student-competition

Please upload all materials directly to this platform.
If you have any questions, contact: rozsa@centropa.org
 Deadline: April 26, 2026

Checklist
Guidelines

Photography projects

Do you have students who are always taking photos? Do you think a single image can inspire them to start working on a project? Give them thought-provoking stories and photos—and see the results.

 

Photography  Project Categories

  1. My Centropa Story Category – Students should retell a Centropa story (inspired by a Centropa film, podcast, or biography) through a creative photo series of 5–8 images. The project should capture key moments, emotions, and themes from the original story, showing what they found most meaningful or inspiring.
  2. My Family/My Hero Category – Students may create a photo series of 5–8 images that tells the life story of a family member or portrays someone they consider their Jewish hero, whether a community leader, family member, or rabbi. The project should focus on significant moments, daily life, special events, hobbies, work, or community activities that reveal who this person is and what they do.

Photography Project Rules

  1. Explore – Students should begin by exploring their chosen category (My Centropa Story or My Family/My Hero).
    My Centropa Story: Students should first explore a Centropa story. This can be a Centropa film, podcast, or biography  which will help them choose a person or story to inspire their photo series.
    My Family / My Hero: Students should first explore the life story of a family member or someone they consider their Jewish hero.
  2. Create – Students are asked to create a photo series of 5–8 images. They may choose one of the following categories:
    My Centropa Story:  Students retell a Centropa story through their photo series, capturing key moments, emotions, and themes that inspired them.
    My Family / My Hero: Students create a photo series that tells a life story, focusing on important moments, daily life, special events, hobbies, work, or community activities that show who this person is and what they do.
  3. Write – Along with the photo series, students should submit a short note (up to 150 words in English) explaining which category they chose, which Centropa story or family/hero inspired their project, and why and how the story was developed. 
  4. Submit – Submit the project through the designated form: https://www.centropa.org/en/forms/cjn-student-competition

Additional Guidelines:

  1. Students may submit photographs in either of the two categories.
  2. Submitted photographs must be inspired by either a Centropa story (biography, film, or podcast) or the life story of a family member or someone they consider their Jewish hero.
  3. Students must list all resources used, including online sources, books, personal encounters, and any use of AI.

Assessment Criteria for the Photography Project

  • Learning and Knowledge Gained – Students should engage in a meaningful learning process while creating their photos. Submissions should reflect thoughtful research and include references to the resources used, such as online sources, books, personal encounters, and any use of AI.
  • Creativity – The photos should tell a compelling  story and capture the viewer’s attention. 
  • Technical Quality – Consider the technical aspects of the photos, including composition, lighting, color, focus, and overall presentation. While this can be challenging, the category guidelines provide useful tips for creating high-quality photos.

Prizes

The best art projects will receive prizes:

  • 1st place: 100 EUR  gift card 
  • Runners-up: 50 EUR gift card

 How to submit a project

You can submit your students’ project through this online form:
 https://www.centropa.org/en/forms/cjn-student-competition

Please upload all materials directly to this platform.
If you have any questions, contact: rozsa@centropa.org
 Deadline: April 26, 2026

 

Guidelines