Current Competition

CJN Student Competition 2026-2027 is now open!

Deadline for submitting the projects: April 25, 2027  

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

SUBMISSIONS

Entries will be judged in two age groups:

  • Grades 1-8
  • Grades 9-12

For each category, one winner, one runner-up and one honorary mention will be selected per age group. 

Who can participate?

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

Competition Period

The competition period begins on October 26, 2026, and ends on April 25, 2027. (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?

Take a look at last year’s student competition winners and runners-up for inspiration for your students’ projects.

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 a 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 a biography. The goal is to creatively reinterpret the narrative while preserving the key elements 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 a 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 artworks in either of the two categories.
  2. All submitted artwork must be inspired by a Centropa story (biography, film, or podcast).
  3. Use of AI: AI tools may only be used in the Graphic Novel category. Any use of AI must be disclosed; failure to disclose the use of AI will result in disqualification of the project.

The use of AI is not permitted in the Drawing, Painting, and Montage category.

  1. Students must list all resources used to create their projects, including online sources, books, personal encounters. This requirement applies to all art project categories.

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 25, 2027

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 will 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: In this category 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: 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 traditional 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.
  4. Write – Each submission must include a short text (150 words in English) explaining which category was chosen, why, and how the story was developed.
  5. Submit – Submit the project through the designated form: https://www.centropa.org/en/forms/cjn-student-competition

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.
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Prizes

The best art projects will receive prizes:

  • 1st place: 200 EUR  gift card 
  • Runners-up: 100 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?source_entity_type=node&source_entity_id=157950

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 – 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.

    Photography Project Rules

    • Explore – Students should begin by exploring their chosen category, they should first explore a Centropa story. This can be a Centropa film, podcast, or biography  which will help them choose a person or story from the Centropa archive to inspire their photo series. 
    • Create – Students are asked to create a photo series of 5–8 images. Students should retell a Centropa story through their photo series, capturing key moments, emotions, and themes that inspired them.
    • Write – Along with the photo series, students should submit a short note (up to 150 words in English) explaining which Centropa story inspired their project, and why and how the story was developed. 

    Additional Guidelines

  1. Submitted photographs must be inspired by a Centropa story (biography, film, or podcast).
  2. Disclosure of Resources and AI Use: Students must list all resources used to create their photo series, including online sources, books, personal encounters, and any use of AI tools. Failure to disclose any use of AI will result in the disqualification of the project from the competition.

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 25, 2027

 

Guidelines
Entry Submission Form