Shootsta Impact Video Awards 2026: How to Enter

Entries are open for the Shootsta Impact Video Awards 2026. After 11 years and more than 70,000 video projects, this is the program we use to recognise the teams turning video into a real business advantage, not a once-a-year showpiece.

If your team used video this year to solve a problem, move a number, change a behaviour, or make people feel something, this is the part where you put the work forward. Below is everything you need to enter: who qualifies, the 14 categories, how the panel scores entries, and the dates to pin.

What are the Shootsta Impact Video Awards?

The Shootsta Impact Video Awards recognise the most impactful and innovative use of scalable video by leading companies around the world. They spotlight how organisations transform business touchpoints, from learning and internal communication to sales and storytelling, through creative video produced at scale.

This is not an award for the biggest production budget. It is for the work that did something measurable: the onboarding series that cut ramp time, the 1:1 sales video that reopened a stalled deal, the animation that finally made a policy stick. Past winners include Qantas, Stryker, ASML, Clinique, Ecolab, IFM Investors, and Cash Converters.

Who can enter the 2026 awards?

Nominations are open to any team that has used video this year to solve a real business problem. You can submit a single project, or nominate a person or team for the work they have done across the year. There is no fee to enter.

You can enter your own work or put forward a colleague. The panel cares about impact and intent, not polish for its own sake, so do not self-edit a strong entry out because it was not a six-figure shoot. If the work moved a number or changed how people behave, it belongs in the running.

What are the award categories?

There are 14 categories in two groups: eight Project Excellence awards for the work itself, and six People and Team awards for the humans behind it. Enter the category that fits the work, and read the matching guide if you want to know what a strong entry looks like.

Project Excellence Awards

• Best Brand Story - the most compelling video that captures a company's mission or identity, from CEO vision films to rebrand launches.
• Best Product Demo - product features shown with clarity and creativity, from feature launches to how-it-works walkthroughs.
• Best Social Video - the most engaging content on social channels, organic or paid, from short-form trailers to event recaps.
• Best Learning Video - onboarding, compliance, or instructional content that drives repeatable value.
• Best Customer Story - authentic case studies that bring customer success to life, ideally with metrics.
• Best Internal Comms - video that drives clarity and engagement inside the organisation, from leadership updates to change management.
• Best Sales Video - work that shows product value and drives a clear call to action, from 1:1 prospecting to "why us" openers.
• Best Animation - animation that delivers a creative, on-brand result, from 2D and 3D explainers to data storytelling.

People and Team Awards

• Content Hero of the Year - the most prolific and consistent creator across the year, judged on volume, range, and consistency.
• Most Impactful Use of Shootsta - bold, unexpected, or clever applications of the Shootsta platform, Kit, or services.
• Video Champion - Business Impact - someone who has embedded video across their organisation to drive measurable change.
• Team of the Year - Video at Scale - a team that has nailed repeatable, high-quality video workflows across multiple touchpoints.
• Innovation Trailblazer - an individual pushing boundaries with new formats, techniques, or use cases.
• Shootsta Ecosystem Star - judge-voted recognition for collaboration, creativity, and community spirit.

How are entries judged?

Every entry goes through the same panel against the same five criteria, so a small team with a sharp idea competes on even ground with a big-budget production.

• Creativity. How original, engaging, or unexpected is the result? Does it stand out in its format, story, or execution?
• Business or social impact. What measurable value did it deliver: ROI, audience engagement, internal outcomes, or broader social good?
• Innovation. Did the team use Shootsta in a new or strategic way to solve a problem or create something fresh?
• Best practice. Does the project show a smart, scalable, repeatable approach that others can learn from?
• Collaboration. How well did the internal team and Shootsta work together to bring it to life?

The practical takeaway: lead your entry with the outcome. A sentence on what changed because the video existed does more for your score than another paragraph on the production.

What do winners receive?

A trophy is the start, not the whole prize. Finalists and winners get recognition across the Shootsta network, including newsletters, social channels, and a media announcement. Key team members and any third-party partners receive commemorative plaques.

Where logistics allow, winners are presented with their award in person alongside a key sponsor. Winning teams are also spotlighted in a professionally produced Shootsta video interview: your story, your team, your impact, ready for internal sharing or LinkedIn.

When do nominations open and close?

There are three dates worth pinning for 2026:

• Entries open: June 1, 2026. Submit nominations through to July 31.
• Judging period: August 3 to 27, 2026. The panel reviews every entry against the five criteria.
• Winners announced: September 3, 2026. Awards are presented or shipped by the end of September.

How do you enter?

Head to the Impact Video Awards 2026 hub and submit your entry through the nomination form. Tell the panel about the project or person you want to put forward, and give them the detail: what the work was, what problem it solved, and what changed because of it. The more context the panel has, the better your entry reads.

Not sure which category fits, or what separates a strong entry from a thin one? Each Project Excellence category has a short guide, like what makes a great sales video or what makes a great animated video, and the People and Team side is covered in guides such as how to be a video champion. For a look at last year's program, read the 2025 Impact Video Awards recap.

Frequently asked questions

Who can enter the Shootsta Impact Video Awards 2026?

Any team that has used video this year to solve a real business problem. You can submit your own project or nominate a colleague or team, and you can enter as a single project or a People and Team award. There is no fee to enter.

Is there a fee to enter?

No. Entry to the Shootsta Impact Video Awards 2026 is free.

How are the awards judged?

A panel scores every entry against five criteria: creativity, business or social impact, innovation, best practice, and collaboration. The same lens is applied to each entry, so the strength of the idea and the result matters more than the size of the budget.

How many categories are there?

There are 14 categories: eight Project Excellence awards for the work itself, and six People and Team awards for the individuals and teams behind it.

Can I enter the same project into more than one category?

Yes. If a project genuinely fits more than one category, you can enter it in each relevant one. Tailor what you emphasise to the category so the panel sees why it belongs there.

When are winners announced?

Winners are announced on September 3, 2026, following the judging period that runs from August 3 to 27. Awards are presented or shipped by the end of September.

Put your work forward

The awards exist to celebrate the teams turning video into a business advantage. If your work this year moved a number, changed a behaviour, or made people feel something, do not let it go unrecognised.

Nominate your team for the 2026 Impact Video Awards. Entries close July 31, 2026.