Guidelines

Close the Tap in a nutshell

“Close the Tap: Films to Shut the Carbon Stream” is a free competition by Aequilibria S.r.l. – SB to raise awareness about climate change and promote action toward a low-carbon future. The atmosphere is like a bathtub where CO₂ keeps building up — and the water level is close to overflowing. To avoid this, we must “close the tap.”

Participants are invited to create a video that informs and inspires action, helping both professionals and citizens understand climate change, its causes, consequences, and urgency.

Video formats:

• Live-action video: up to 3 minutes (horizontal orientation)

• Animated video: up to 2 minutes (horizontal orientation)

By submitting, participants agree that Aequilibria may share their videos — always crediting the author — free of charge and for non-profit purposes, including social media, public events, workshops, and training sessions.

The prizes are proposed as follows:

  • Winning prize: 1.500 EUR
  • 2nd prize: 800 EUR
  • Special prize: 400 EUR

The contest aims to:

  • Motivate citizens, policymakers, businesses, and stakeholders to work together on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
  • Show that everyone—from civil society to companies to institutions—has a role in tackling climate change, by following laws and voluntary standards.
  • Promote a cultural shift toward awareness and action.

Video objectives:

  • Inform: Explain climate-related issues clearly and accurately
  • Engage: Show why this matters and why collective action is essential
  • Inspire: Encourage viewers to take concrete action for change

Our values

We believe in authentic, positive storytelling. We prefer videos that avoid fear-based messaging and instead use clear, engaging narratives to motivate action. Your video should make complex ideas understandable and show why taking action matters.

The target audience for these videos is broad and may include:

• Citizens with no prior expertise in climate change

• Organizations beginning their sustainability journey

• National, regional, or local authorities (ministries, agencies, municipalities)

• Environmental associations and professional networks

• Academics, scientists, and researchers

• Public authorities (e.g., transport, tourism, defense)

• Decision-makers, managers, socio-economic actors, climate professionals, and civil society

• Anyone interested in climate change

Tip: Indicate your chosen target audience in the application form so the jury considers it in the evaluation.

How to participate

The concept assigned for the 2026 edition is:

Transition away from fossil fuels: Building a clean energy future

The theme is open to creative interpretation, as long as your work is grounded in scientific fact. These are starting points, not limits. We encourage you to find your own angle.

Choose one or both formats:

  • Live-Action Video (up to 3 minutes, horizontal orientation)
  • Animated Video (up to 2 minutes, horizontal orientation)

All videos must be submitted in horizontal (landscape) format.

Live-Action Videos
Use any technique or style you prefer—documentary, narrative, experimental, or anything in between.

Animated Videos
All animation techniques are welcome: 2D, 3D, stop motion, mixed media, or traditional animation. We evaluate all styles equally, though more time-intensive techniques may be recognized for technical achievement.

Who Can Enter?

This contest is open to everyone—professionals, students, independent creators, teams, organizations. No prior experience required.

Can You Submit More Than One Video?

Yes. You can submit up to two videos: one live-action and/or one animated.

Previous Winners: You’re Welcome Back

Previous participants and winners are actively encouraged to submit new videos in future editions. We believe returning creators bring fresh perspectives, deeper engagement with evolving climate themes, and demonstrate genuine commitment to climate action.

Each submission is evaluated independently based on its own merits, creativity, and relevance to the annual theme. There’s no limit to how many times you can participate.

  • Audio may be in Italian or English. Subtitles are recommended, especially to make videos accessible for deaf viewers.
  • Other languages are also allowed but would need to be supported with subtitles in English.
  • Videos without speech (music only, no dialogue) are also accepted.

Submission deadline: March 2027 (Exact date to be confirmed and announced later on)

  1. Fill out the application form – This requires you to furnish the following information:
    • Title
    • Short description
    • Connection to theme
    • Creator bio (Name, background)
  2. Upload your video via WeTransfer.
  3. Send the WeTransfer link to: info@closethetap.it
  4. Subject line: Close the Tap Award – [Your Name]

By participating, you grant Close the Tap permission to share your video for non-profit purposes. This includes:

  • Posting on social media and the contest website
  • Screening at public and private events
  • Using in workshops and training sessions

Your name will always be credited as the creator. You’ll sign a formal agreement confirming this in the application form.

How We Evaluate Your Video

The jury is composed of the following experts:

Daniele Pernigotti – Expert on Climate Change

  • CEO of Aequilibria S.r.l. – SB
  • Chair of CEN/TC 467 “Climate change”
  • Italian delegate to ISO/TC 207/SC7 “Climate change”
  • Member of ISO/TC 207 Strategic Leadership Group (SLG)
  • Convenor of ISO/TC 207/SC7/WG8, responsible of the revision of ISO standard on Carbon Footprint of Product (ISO 14067)
  • Accreditation expert on climate change schemes, and collaboration with Accredia (Italy), ANAB (USA), ONAC (Colombia), and RvA (Netherlands)
  • Journalist on climate change and author of several books on climate change

Marco Toffanin – Expert in live action videos

  • Head of the multimedia unit at the Digital Learning and Multimedia Office, University of Padova
  • Specialist in multimedia production for education, research, and communication
  • Creator of hundreds of multimedia works and author of several scientific articles
  • Lecturer in multimedia communication at the University of Padova

Vincenzo Agosto – Expert in video directing and editing

  • Video director and editor with a background in computer engineering
  • Experienced in writing and directing short films, video clips, and documentaries
  • Trained at Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia (Rome)
  • Holds a Master’s degree in Screenwriting (Carlo Mazzacurati) from the University of Padova
  • President of Pluriart Association and Artistic Director of the Pluriart Film Festival (international short film festival)

Team of Aequilibria S.r.l. – SB – Group of expert environmental consultants with diverse backgrounds in carbon management

ROLE IN THE JURY

  • Marco Toffanin and Vincenzo Agosto: evaluation of live-action and animation categories
  • Daniele Pernigotti: evaluation of technical and scientific accuracy

Videos are evaluated on three key criteria:

  1. Theme, Accuracy & Impact: How clearly and explicitly your video addresses the theme, climate impact, and the growing global movement. Submissions must be factually correct, supported by sound science (verified by climate experts), and effectively inform, move, and inspire viewers to take action.
  2. Creativity & Originality: How unique and innovative your approach is. We love fresh perspectives, bold ideas, and compelling storytelling.
  3. Production Quality: The overall quality of your cinematography, editing, sound design, and technical execution.

We’ll have to exclude your submission if:

  • It doesn’t follow the format rules (duration, orientation, file type)
  • It doesn’t address the 2027 theme of Transition Away from Fossil Fuels
  • Required documentation is missing

The jury reviews all submissions and makes final decisions based on overall merit and artistic quality. Detailed feedback on why your video wasn’t selected won’t be provided, but we’re happy to offer general comments if you ask.

The winners will be announced during a dedicated film screening during the 2027 Padova Climate Action Week. Only the winning films will be shown. The screening will be followed by a short question and answer, where winners will be invited to briefly introduce themselves and explain their inspiration for the video. A total of 2,700 EUR will be offered in prizes.

  • Grand Prize Winner – 1,500 EUR
  • 2nd Prize – 800 EUR
  • Special Prize – 400 EUR