Shootsta Impact Video Awards 2026: How to Enter

Entries for the Shootsta Impact Video Awards 2026 closed on 31 July 2026, and the winners were announced from 3 September. We have made more than 70,000 videos since 2014, and this is the program we use to reward the teams that turn video into a business advantage. The work we look for runs all year, well beyond a single showpiece film.

The awards were for teams that used video this year to solve a problem, move a number, change how people act or make people feel something. Below is how the 2026 program worked: who qualified, the 14 categories, how the panel scored entries, and the dates. You can see the 2026 winners on the awards site.

What are the Shootsta Impact Video Awards?

The Shootsta Impact Video Awards reward the most effective and inventive use of scalable video by companies around the world. They show how companies transform business touchpoints, from learning and internal communication to sales and storytelling, through creative video produced at scale.

The award goes to work that did something measurable, whatever its production budget was. Think of the onboarding series that cut ramp time, the 1:1 sales video that reopened a stalled deal, or 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 were open to any team that had used video this year to solve a real business problem. Teams could submit a single project, or nominate a person or team for the work they had done across the year. There was no fee to enter.

People could enter their own work or put forward a colleague. The panel cared about impact and intent more than polish for its own sake, so a strong entry did not need a big-budget shoot. If the work moved a number or changed how people act, it belonged 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. Each category has a matching guide that explains what a strong entry looked 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 company, 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 company 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 went through the same panel against the same five criteria, so a small team with a sharp idea competed 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?

In practice, the strongest entries led with the outcome. A sentence on what changed because the video existed did more for a score than another paragraph on the production.

What do winners receive?

Winners get a trophy, and the prize goes further than that. 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 also feature in a professionally produced Shootsta video interview about their story and their results. You can share it inside the company or on LinkedIn.

When do nominations open and close?

These were the three dates for 2026:

• Entries opened: 1 June 2026. Nominations closed on 31 July.
• Judging period: 3 to 27 August 2026. The panel reviewed every entry against the five criteria.
• Winners announced: from 3 September 2026. The full list is on the 2026 winners page.

How do you enter?

Entries went in through the nomination form on the Impact Video Awards 2026 hub, and nominations for 2026 are now closed. Entrants told the panel about the project or person they were putting forward: what the work was, what problem it solved and what changed because of it. The entries with the most context read best.

If you want to know what separated a strong entry from a thin one, read the guides. 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 had used video this year to solve a real business problem could enter. Entrants could submit their own project or nominate a colleague or team, as a single project or for a People and Team award. Nominations closed on 31 July 2026, and there was no fee to enter.

Is there a fee to enter?

No. Entry to the Shootsta Impact Video Awards 2026 was free, and nominations closed on 31 July 2026.

How are the awards judged?

A panel scored every entry against five criteria: creativity, business or social impact, innovation, best practice, and collaboration. The same lens was applied to each entry, so the strength of the idea and the result mattered 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. In 2026, a project that fit more than one category could be entered in each relevant one. The best multi-category entries changed what they stressed for each category, so the panel could see why it belonged there.

When are winners announced?

The 2026 winners were announced from 3 September 2026, after the judging period that ran from 3 to 27 August. They are listed on the 2026 winners page.

See who won in 2026

The awards exist to celebrate the teams turning video into a business advantage. The 2026 winners moved a number, changed how people act or made people feel something, and their stories are on the winners page.

See the 2026 Impact Video Awards winners.