Enter
Chicagoland Story Prize 2026

Watch a story.
Then tell yours.

Four short films from Rich in Faith. Watch one of the videos and then submit your own story about a moment faith, struggle, or community became real to YOU. Open to everyone in Chicago and the Chicagoland suburbs.

Entries open October 8 Close November 15 Top prize $2,500
Enter the prize See all four films
Miriam's Story
7:12
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Now playing
Miriam's Story

Your entry form opens while you watch.

Start With a Story

One is already playing. Pick another if it pulls you.

0 days left to enter
5 prizes awarded
7 Chicagoland counties eligible

The Prizes

The board picks twelve finalists. The public picks the winners. Every winning story is added to the Rich in Faith archive.

Grand Prize

Most votes. The story the public ranks first.

Cash award$2,500

Runner Up

Second most votes. The story the public ranks second.

Cash award$1,000

Regional Voice

Three awards. The highest placed finalist from the South and West sides, from the North and Northwest sides, and from the suburbs, not counting the two winners above.

Cash award, three given$500

How It Works

Step 01

Watch

Press play on any one of the four films. Watching is what opens the entry form.

Step 02

Tell It

Post a video and paste the link, or write it out. Both judged the same.

Step 03

Vote

Twelve finalists come back here for the public vote. Winners announced before Christmas.

Thursday, October 8
Entries open across Chicagoland
Sunday, November 15
Entries close at 11:59 pm Central
November 16 to 29
Two weeks for the board to read and watch every entry
November 30 to December 20
Three weeks for the public to vote on the twelve finalists
Monday, December 21
Winner announced, four days before Christmas

Share your story

Tell us the moment faith, struggle, or community became real to you. Say it the way you would say it out loud.

Keep watching to unlock your entry
Your entry form opens while you watch.
Back to the film
Open to Chicago and the Chicagoland suburbs.
Write None if you are not part of one.
Watch a second one first if you can.
So we can tag you. Write None if you have none.
Your story * Two ways in, judged the same. You only need one. Videos up to five minutes, writing 300 to 1,000 words.
Five minutes maximum. Post it publicly on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok or Facebook, then paste the link.
Between 300 and 1,000 words. A few sentences is plenty if you sent a video.
0 words
Prefer to connect directly by email? tommy@createpossible.com

The Rules

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The questionTell us about a moment where faith, struggle, or community became real to you. That is the whole brief. Anything else is just how we reach you.
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Chicago and the suburbsOpen to anyone living in Chicago or the surrounding Chicagoland suburbs.
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Watch firstWatch one of the four films. That is what opens the entry form.
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Five minutes maximumKeep a video entry to five minutes or under. Anything longer is set aside. Written entries run 300 to 1,000 words.
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One entry per personSend your strongest story rather than several.
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Your own wordsTrue, first hand, and told by you, on video or on the page. A video entry must be posted publicly so the judges can watch it.
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Any languageWrite or speak in English, Spanish, or Polish. We judge the story, not the grammar.
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Ages 13 and upEntrants under 18 need a guardian to sign the release before a prize is paid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I have to watch a film first?
The four films show the heart of this project. Watching first means every entry begins from a shared starting point, a shared purpose with the neighbors who first trusted us with their stories.
How is the winner chosen?
In two rounds. First the board, drawn from the partner ministries, reads and watches every entry and scores it on honesty, originality, and how well the story is told. They choose twelve finalists. Those twelve are then posted on this page from Monday, November 30, and the public has three weeks to vote. One vote per person. The most votes takes the Grand Prize and second place takes the Runner Up. The three Regional Voice awards then go to the highest placed finalist from the South and West sides, from the North and Northwest sides, and from the suburbs, not counting the two winners above. Likes and view counts on your own social media do not count toward anything.
What if I am not comfortable on camera?
While your video must feature your own true story, you don't need to appear in it. Visually, your video can show art, animation, photos, non-personal video images, or even just subtitles that go with your story.
Can I use AI?
Yes. While your story needs to be true as you remember it from your life, using AI to generate video or audio elements is just fine.
What if there are parts of my story I don't want to share?
That's completely fine. You can omit or change identifying information, such as names and places, and leave out any sensitive details you don't want to share.
Who owns my story after I submit it?
You do. By entering you give Rich in Faith permission to share it with your first name and neighborhood. You can ask us to take it down at any time, and we will.
Can I enter if I am not part of a partner ministry?
Yes. The prize is open to anyone living in Chicago or the Chicagoland suburbs. You do not need to attend a church or be connected to any of the five ministries.
Does my story have to be about something dramatic?
No. Some of the strongest entries are quiet ones: a bus ride, a phone call, a neighbor at the door. Tell the true thing, at whatever size it happened.
Chicago and the suburbs

Your Story Starts Here

Four films. One prize for the story that shows us faith the way you have actually lived it.

Enter the prize Watch the films