Why Take Part

Grow skills. Share your voice. Make a real impact.


  • Tell stories that matter to you, from your local community. 

  • Create a great film in as little as a weekend

  • Build future-ready skills in content creation, creativity and empathy. 

  • Share your story with a global audience of filmmakers.

Register Your Interest

Get in touch to explore how your students can take part in Docathon.

Register Your interest

What to expect


Take the Docathon course 

A self-paced, beginner-friendly learning experience that can be taken inside or outside the classroom.

The Docathon ‘Sprint’ course can be completed in a few hours, while the extended version can be integrated into a 6–10 week curriculum.




  • Find a story in your community that relates to the Docathon theme: 'Bridging the Gap'.
  • Edit your video to 3-6 minutes. 
  • Get mentorship from professional filmmakers as you go

* Most students use mobile phones


Every team has a platform to share their film — whether through the Showcase Pathway or the Leadership Pathway.


Whichever pathway you choose, you’ll receive official recognition for your creativity and leadership — credentials awarded with prestigious partners that you can share for future opportunities.



Share your film with a live conference audience

What it is

  • Submit your film for consideration to be showcased at the AISA GISS Docathon,
     12–14 February 2026, hosted by the American International School of Lusaka.


1st February 2026 


How you deliver it

  • If your film is selected, you will be invited to introduce your film during the conference plenary, or submit a video introduction if you are unable to attend in person.
  • Each film is followed by a guided conversation exploring the issue it raises.

What to expect

  • Typically, 3–4 films are selected, curated by the Docathon and conference organising teams.
  • If your film is not shortlisted, you will still have valuable opportunities to share your story and create impact through the pathways below.

What you earn

  • The Global Film Showcase Credential

Learn more about the AISA GISS conference below. 



Join a global conversation through your film

What it is

  • Share your film in a student-led online conversation with peers worldwide, exploring together how the issue is understood and experienced in different contexts.

How you deliver it

  • Take part in a Global Student Film Exchange, presented virtually and open to students worldwide.

Upcoming dates

  • Germany — 6 March
  • Hong Kong — 7 March
  • Melbourne — 4 June

What you earn

  • Global Perspectives Leader Credential
    (In partnership with RMIT)


The leadership pathway is student-led — you plan it, lead it, and drive the impact. We guide; you take the lead.


Use your story to spark meaningful reflection and change

What it is

  • Use your story to create impact by running a 20–30 minute workshop that deepens understanding and inspires action on the issue your film explores.

How you deliver it

  • Host a screening of your film for 20+ people and guide a reflection or discussion.
    Choose to deliver in person at your school or online.

What you earn

  • Issue Impact Leader Credential


Inspire others to find and share their own story

What it is

  • Support others in discovering their voice and expressing it through storytelling.

How you deliver it

  • Host a Docathon event at your school, or deliver a storytelling workshop for at least 20 participants.
  • Choose to deliver in person at your school or online.

What you earn

  • Storytelling Leader Credential



What is a credential?

  • A credential is an official record of the skills, leadership and real-world impact demonstrated through your Docathon experience.

How is it stored?

  • It is issued as a digital certificate that you can download, print, or share in portfolios, CVs and applications.

Why credentials matter

  • Recognises your leadership and contribution
  • Verifies the real-world skills you applied
  • Shows you didn’t just explore an issue — you took action and inspired others

The Docathon Course

Please see the full Docathon course below. A 'Sprint' Version is also available, making it possible to finish the course in a few hours, and make a film in just a few days.

    1. Welcome to Docathon!

    2. Everything You Need to Know

    3. Student Action Notebook

    4. Live Mentorship

    1. Introduction

    2. Why Tell a Purposeful Story?

    3. Many Ways to Serve a Purpose

    4. Looking at Purpose in a Docathon Film

    5. What Purpose?

    1. A filmmaking secret

    2. 3 questions you need to ask yourself

    3. Asking Meaningful Questions

    4. Types of Meaningful Questions or Prompts

    5. Student Action Notebook activity

    1. Introducing your Storyboarding mentor

    2. Storyboarding - What and Why?

    3. Storyboarding Techniques

    4. Storyboarding Tips & Tricks

    5. Practice Storyboarding

    6. From Storyboard to Shot List

    7. Download a Shot List Template

    1. It's time to film! What you need to know

    2. Types of Shots

    3. B-Roll

    4. Audio

    5. DOs and DON'Ts: Filming Quiz

    6. Getting permission to film

    7. Let's film!

    1. It's time to edit your film!

    2. Narrative

    3. A quick summary of next steps

    4. Video Editors

    5. Sound and Music

    6. Graphics

    7. DOs and DON'Ts: Editing Quiz

About the organizers


Visit the Docathon website if you would like to know more about other Docathons worldwide. Docathon is initiative of MAD Courses (learn more about MAD Courses below).  

   

At AISA, we believe that strong schools shape a stronger future. That belief has guided us for more than 55 years as we’ve supported international schools across Africa through leadership, professional learning, and a deep sense of community.


The AISA GISS 2026 is hosted by AIS Lusaka. 


MAD Courses - the organisation behind Docathon - empowers young people to become storytellers and changemakers through creative, purpose-driven filmmaking.





The Theme

This year, we’re gathering in Zambia, the heart of Africa. Guided by the theme "Your Story, Your Voice" and inspired by the concept of Triple Well-Being, an empowering idea about balancing care for yourself, others, and the planet, we’ll explore how each of these elements can help us create real change.



Time for Stories That Matter

350 USD per filmmaking team (up to 5 students). Includes all training materials, three live mentorship sessions with a professional filmmaker, access to local and global Docathons and a credential.

Register Your interest

FAQ

  • Who can join Docathon?

    Docathon is open to students in grades 6–12. No prior filmmaking experience is required - 99% of participants have never made a film before. Our training materials and mentorship will guide you all the way.

  • Can we submit a film to a Docathon showcase event without signing up to the course?

    No. All teams must complete the learning journey because our training materials ensure: Fairness — everyone uses the same skills and guidelines. Quality & Alignment — films clearly connect to the theme and criteria. Safety & Ethics — students learn essential guidance before filming. We also offer a Sprint Course for students who are short on time, giving them all the essential fundamentals.

  • Will every submitted film be screened?

    The Docathon showcase events (held during plenary sessions) have limited screening slots, so not every film can be shown. However, every student filmmaker will still have the chance to share their work with a real audience — through our student film exchange, by contributing to a workshop at one of our events, or by hosting a showcase/workshop in your own school with our support.

  • What equipment do I need?

    A mobile phone is enough to film your documentary. You can also use cameras, microphones, and editing software like CapCut, iMovie, or Adobe Premiere Pro if available.

  • Your pricing is 350 USD per group of 5. Can I participate as an individual??

    The fee is 350 USD per group of up to 5 students. This keeps the cost affordable for schools, while enabling us to provide a personalised coach per team. If you wish to take part as an individual, and cannot find any colleagues to join you, get in touch and we'll see how we can assist you.

  • How much time do I need to make a film?

    The 'spint' version of the Docathon course takes under an hour to complete. Creating the film will take more time — students have been known to complete a film in a weekend, although we recommend at least 3-4 weeks for the best results. Teachers who choose to integrate Docathon into their curriculum or run it as an ECA can also roll it out over 6–10 weeks, allowing more space for research, reflection, and deeper storytelling.

  • What kind of support can teachers provide students?

    Highly motivated students can complete a film independently, but we recommend having at least one supervising teacher (no filmmaking experience needed). This teacher simply helps coordinate check-ins with the mentor, keeps students on track, and ensures communication runs smoothly.

  • How much creative freedom do we have in making our films?

    The only guideline is that your film should clearly connect to the Docathon theme. Beyond that, you’re free to be as imaginative and expressive as you like.