Comics competition
The hero in me - 6 panels, one story
Children become young directors: starting from films seen at Astra Film Junior, they tell an original story in a hand-drawn storyboard.
0–IV
eligible classes
1 pupil
for each work
A3
one page · 6 panels
27 Oct
entry deadline
An exercise in visual storytelling
Held annually since 2012, the comics competition uses visual storytelling as a form of film education. After watching Astra Film Junior films, pupils build an original story in images using the storyboard logic employed before a film is made.
- understanding film through visual storytelling;
- developing sequential thinking — beginning, development and ending;
- expressing emotion, action and atmosphere through images;
- encouraging creativity and imagination through drawing.
Entry is entirely online
Entries for the 2026 edition are entirely online. The teacher photographs or scans the work and uploads it to astrafilm.ro. Pupils and parents do not need accounts. We do not accept entries by e-mail, post or at the Astra Film office.
Who can take part
Pupils in preparatory class and years I, II, III and IV, entered individually by the coordinating teacher. Each work belongs to one pupil and group works are not accepted. A teacher may enter any number of pupils, using a separate form for every work.
Choose one of the 4 themes
„The hero in me. 6 panels, one story.”
Choose the theme inspired by the film package seen at Astra Film Junior 2026:
No limits
Darkness, by touch · Benet's goal
Turn an obstacle, lack, fear or difference into a superpower.
Imaginary worlds
Hug me, Sue · Ryuji tells you a story
Invent a world with one rule unlike the real one — nobody can lie, gravity works backwards or animals run the city. How does your life change?
Jobs without a manual
Stela's dream · Game over
Imagine a day in a job you invented and nobody has done before. Work out as you go how to do it well.
Big dreams
At Basma's table · Mixi & Kiki
Draw yourself as the main character of a great adventure, following your biggest dream from the first panel until it comes true.
Interpretation is open. The work must tell a complete story with a beginning, development and ending.
What the work must look like
The jury first checks these four simple conditions:
- One A3 page, portrait or landscape, divided into exactly 6 panels.
- Each panel shows a distinct stage and together they form a complete story with a beginning, development and ending.
- Use pencil, felt-tip, watercolour, tempera or collage. Fully digital tablet or computer drawings are not accepted.
- Short dialogue, titles and sound effects are allowed, but the image must remain central.
1 pagină · A3 · exact 6 cadrane
Entry, step by step
Only the coordinating teacher enters a work online. The process is designed for a phone and takes a few minutes when the photograph and pupil details are ready.
- 1
Open the teacher account
Only the coordinating teacher enters the work. Name, phone and e-mail come from the account.
- 2
Describe the work
Choose the theme, school and class, then add the pupil's full name.
- 3
Upload the image
Add the photograph or scanned PDF with the whole page visible.
- 4
Confirm and send
Confirm the rules, publication rights and guardian consent, then submit one form for each pupil.
Details we ask for
One form corresponds to one work.
- pupil's full name;
- class and school;
- teacher name and contact details, taken from the account;
- selected theme;
- work file;
- confirmation of the rules, publication rights and legal representative's consent.
A clear photograph makes judging easier
Photograph the drawing with a phone or scan it. No special equipment or paid processing is needed.
- Show the entire page and all 6 panels.
- Keep the phone parallel to the page and check focus.
- Use even light and avoid flash or shadows.
- Zoom in before sending; colours, outlines and text must be legible.
You do not need to rename the photograph. After upload, we automatically give it a name that includes the pupil and class.
The 3 judging criteria
Judging looks at the child's story and idea rather than perfect drawing technique.
Creativity
The originality of the idea and an inventive approach to the theme.
Originality
How clearly the story and characters differ from typical or predictable approaches.
Visual coherence
The flow and logic of the story and the sequence of its 6 panels.
The ArtiViStory Collective jury
Works are assessed exclusively by artists from ArtiViStory Collective, an interdisciplinary Cluj-Napoca group specialising in comics, sequential art and visual storytelling. Their experience with children and young people lets them assess both visual expression and storyboard narrative logic.
The jury's decision is final and it may withhold prizes if the required standard is not met.
The public vote is separate
Validated works appear in the public gallery. Anyone can vote without an account.
- One public prize is awarded for each class.
- It is awarded only if the top-voted work has not already won a jury prize.
- Votes do not influence the jury's first, second and third prizes.
Two kinds of prize
Jury prizes
- First, second and third prizes for preparatory class–year I.
- First, second and third prizes for years II–IV.
- One special jury prize.
Public prizes
- One for each class: preparatory, I, II, III and IV.
- Based on valid votes in the online gallery.
Prize details will be announced when entries open.
Competition calendar
- 01
Teacher workshop
24–25 September
- 02
Online entries
19–27 October
- 03
Upload deadline
27 October
- 04
Public vote in the online gallery
27 October–2 November
- 05
Judging
27 October–2 November
- 06
Results
4–6 November
- 07
Awards
9–13 November
Consent and publication
- The teacher confirms guardian consent for data processing and use of the work in judging, the gallery, voting, promotion, social media and exhibitions.
- Upload a clear, complete image in one of the accepted formats. We cannot judge incomplete files or files we cannot process.
- If we update the competition rules, we publish the changes on this page.
Need help entering?
Write to the Astra Film Junior team and tell us where you got stuck.
Contact the team