Why Take Part

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


  • Tell stories that matter to you, from your local community - and share them with the world! 

  • Build future-ready skills, while evidencing you engagement with sustainability and global citizenship

  • Create a great film in as little as a weekend


Register Your Interest

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

Register Your interest

Conference Theme: Accelerate Your Action!

Date: March 7, 2026


How can student films contribute to the Hong Kong SDG Conference?*

This year’s Docathon prompt is Bridging the Gap — and at this conference, that means Bridging the Gap to Action**.

Here are some ideas for how to interpret the prompt:

  • Explore a gap related to the SDGs — a delay, barrier, or disconnect between awareness, intention, and real-world action

  • Tell the story of someone building a bridge — accelerating action through practical steps, collaboration, innovation, or leadership

* Learn more about this event below 

**Only selected films will be shown at this particular conference. Scroll down to learn more about the various additional ways for students to share their films with an authentic audience. 


February 25, 2026



How It Works:

Prompted by a Docathon theme, students create a 3–6 minute documentary around a real issue in their local community.

They are supported through:

  • A beginner-friendly filmmaking course (no prior experience needed)
  • Mentorship from professional storytellers and filmmakers


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


Students share their films with a real audience at a Docathon event. Films can be showcased through:

  • Live in person screenings (selected films only*)

  • Online Student Film Exchanges, connecting students across countries.

    • Participating students earn the Global Perspectives Leader Credential from RMIT University

If your students are unable to attend this specific event, they can still share their films through other Docathon events worldwide. Learn more at madcourses.com.


Schools and students can organise a Docathon event of their own.

  • Schools can host a Docathon event and invite local schools

  • Standout students can earn leadership credentials (digital certificates) by leading workshops or screenings to inspire others


Time for Stories That Matter


This fee covers:

  • Access to the Docathon filmmaking course
  • Three live mentorship sessions with a professional filmmaker
  • Submission of one student documentary to a Docathon event
  • Participation in a Global Student Film Exchange
  • Opportunity to earn a Docathon leadership credential


Docathon is often delivered for specific grade levels and as part of curriculum-integrated projects, with many schools choosing whole-class or whole-school participation, where different pricing may apply.  To explore these options, visit madcourses.com or contact us to discuss what might work best for your school.




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).  

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

   

The SDG Summit - organised by the Canadian International School of Hong Kong - is a gathering of young changemakers committed to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals through dialogue, creativity, and action.


CDNIS is a school united by the joy of learning, excellence in achievement and development of character. We will inspire academic and personal growth in our students by encouraging inquiry, stimulating creativity and innovation, embracing cross-cultural and global perspectives, and fostering meaningful participation and service.



Our Partners

Docathon is delighted to partner with the following impact-driven organisations. Each has a remarkable story to tell, and we'll be delighted to connect you with them as you begin your Docathon journey.. 


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

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.