Reel Stars Terms and Conditions

OFFICIAL RULES AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE “REEL FAITH” CONTEST

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS COMPETITION. OPEN ONLY TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD OR THE AGE OF MAJORITY IN THEIR JURISDICTION OF RESIDENCE, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR OTHERWISE RESTRICTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

CONTEST TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

By participating in this competition (the “Competition”), each individual who submits an entry (an “Entrant,” and collectively, the “Entrants”) acknowledges and agrees to be fully and unconditionally bound by these official terms and conditions (the “Terms and Conditions”). A Grand Prize (the “Grand Prize”), if any, will be awarded in accordance with these Terms and Conditions, and the Winner will be selected based on the criteria set forth herein. Any breach of these Terms and Conditions may, at the sole discretion of the Sponsor, result in disqualification. All decisions made by the Sponsor concerning this Competition are final and binding in all matters.

If there is any inconsistency between these Terms and Conditions and any additional contest-specific rules published on the Raise the Reel platform, the contest-specific rules shall take precedence.

CONSUMER DISCLOSURE: Entry into this Competition does not constitute a win. No Entrant has yet been selected as a Winner.

1. SPONSOR

The Reel Faith Contest ("Contest") is sponsored by Raise the Reel, LLC. ("Sponsor").

2. ELIGIBILITY

All entrants ("Entrants") must be at least 18 years of age or the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence (whichever is greater) as of the date of entry. The Contest is void where prohibited or otherwise restricted by law. Employees, officers, directors, agents, and representatives of Raise the Reel, Inc., and their immediate family members or individuals residing in the same household, are not eligible to participate.

3. HOW TO ENTER

To enter the Competition, visit https://raisethereel.com/contest (the “Contest Page”) and complete the official entry form by the posted deadline. Entrants must provide all required information and upload any requested materials, which may include photographs, videos, written submissions, or other content (collectively, the “Submitted Materials”) as instructed by the Sponsor. Entrants may also be required to submit additional supporting content at a later stage (“Additional Materials”).

Entries must be submitted during the official entry period to be considered timely. Late entries will be accepted for up to one (1) week following the posted entry deadline but will be subject to a $10 non-refundable administrative fee to cover the cost of manual review. The Sponsor reserves the sole and absolute discretion to accept or deny late entries for any reason.

Each Entrant may submit only one (1) entry unless otherwise stated. Duplicate entries may be disqualified. The date of entry will not affect an Entrant’s odds of advancing. The Sponsor reserves the right to accept or reject entries at any time and may modify, extend, or shorten the entry period without prior notice.

Submission Requirements and Restrictions

All Submitted Materials must:

  • Be 100% original, created solely by the Entrant.
  • Have been created within the past six (6) months and after the Entrant reached the age of majority in their jurisdiction.
  • Not have been previously published, publicly featured, or submitted in similar contests.
  • Not include logos, music, trademarks, images, or other third-party intellectual property without express, documented permission from the rights holder. Sponsor may request proof of such rights at any time.
  • Not include personal contact information (e.g., full name, email, phone number) within the media content.
  • Not be excessively edited or artificially enhanced through AI, filters, or similar software in a way that misrepresents the Entrant’s talent or originality.
  • Not contain nudity, obscene, vulgar, defamatory, or unlawful content, or promote hate speech, illegal activity, or behavior contrary to Christian principles—including but not limited to profanity, explicit sexual content, excessive violence, or material misaligned with the mission of the Reel Faith initiative.

Only the Entrant may appear in the Submitted Materials. Submissions featuring others, or entries submitted on behalf of someone else (including by agents, managers, or agencies), will be disqualified. Entrants must personally complete and submit the entry form. Technical assistance (e.g., help uploading) is permitted, but the content and application must reflect the Entrant’s own participation.

All entries are subject to review. Publication of Submitted Materials on the Contest Page or Platform does not guarantee selection, advancement, or eligibility. Sponsor reserves the right to request that Entrants resubmit materials, correct formatting, or provide Additional Materials at any time.

Rights and Permissions

By submitting an entry, Entrants affirm and warrant that they meet the eligibility requirements and own or control all rights necessary to grant the permissions described herein.

Entry into the Competition constitutes express permission for the Sponsor and its affiliates, licensees, and promotional partners (collectively, the “Promotion Entities”) to use, publish, reproduce, modify, and distribute the Submitted Materials and Additional Materials in any format or media, now known or later developed, worldwide and in perpetuity, for promotional, editorial, commercial, or any other lawful purpose, without additional notice or compensation. This license includes, without limitation, the right to use musical compositions in film or media projects funded, developed, or distributed by the Reel Faith initiative or its affiliates.

Entrants further grant the Sponsor and Promotion Entities an irrevocable assignment of all rights, title, and interest in the Submitted Materials and Additional Materials, including all copyrights. Entrants represent and warrant that they have the legal authority to assign these rights, and agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Sponsor and Promotion Entities from any third-party claims arising from the use or submission of these materials.

4. ENTRY PERIOD

The Contest will open for submissions during the following entry windows:

Regular Entry Period:
 Begins August 1, 2025 at 12:00 AM EST and ends September 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST.

Late Entry Period:
 Begins October 1, 2025 at 12:00 AM EST and ends October 11, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST.  Late entries will be accepted during this window and are subject to a non-refundable $10 administrative fee to cover the cost of manual review and approval. Acceptance of late entries is at the sole and absolute discretion of the Sponsor.

No entries will be accepted after October 11, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST under any circumstances. The Sponsor reserves the right to extend or shorten the entry period at its sole discretion and without prior notice.

5. PRELIMINARY REVIEW AND PUBLIC DISPLAY

After an entry is submitted, the Submitted Materials may, at the sole and absolute discretion of the Sponsor, be published or displayed publicly on the Contest Page or any other digital platform or media channel (“Platform”) affiliated with the Sponsor. Publication of Submitted Materials does not guarantee selection, advancement, or eligibility.

The Sponsor may request that Entrants submit additional images or materials (“Additional Materials”) for review or public display, provided such materials do not include nudity or any content deemed obscene, vulgar, defamatory, or otherwise inappropriate (as determined solely by the Sponsor), and do not infringe on any third-party rights, including copyright, right of publicity, or right of privacy. Upon submission, such Additional Materials will be deemed part of the Entrant’s Submitted Materials and will be subject to all terms, licenses, and representations outlined in these Terms and Conditions.

6. SELECTION OF ENTRANTS

The Sponsor will, in its sole and absolute discretion, select entrants to advance in the Competition (“Selected Entrants”) based on a preliminary evaluation of the Submitted Materials. Judging criteria may include, but are not limited to, the Entrant’s overall talent, creativity, quality of materials submitted, and potential fit for the mission and goals of the Competition. Selected Entrants may be required to provide additional information or documentation, including verification of eligibility or proof of ownership or copyright clearance for any Submitted Materials.

The Sponsor reserves the right to contact any Entrant for any reason. The appearance of an Entrant’s materials on the Contest Page or affiliated platforms does not guarantee eligibility or advancement. If an Entrant is determined to be ineligible, or if any concerns arise regarding their compliance with these Terms and Conditions, the Sponsor may disqualify the Entrant and remove their materials without notice and without any obligation to replace them with another contestant.

If a claim arises that an Entrant does not own or control sufficient rights to the Submitted Materials, those materials may be temporarily or permanently removed from the Competition until satisfactory proof of ownership is provided.

The Competition will proceed in multiple rounds, with voting and/or judging occurring in each phase as further described in the Voting and Elimination Structure sections below. The number of rounds and advancement criteria may be adjusted by the Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion as needed to determine the final Winner(s).

Winning the Competition is not based on random chance. The likelihood of advancing through each round will depend on a combination of factors including total number of entries, quality of submissions, number of valid votes received, and how well each Entrant meets the judging criteria relative to others in their category. In the event of a tie, the Sponsor will break the tie by evaluating the tied entries based on overall merit, as determined in its sole and absolute discretion.

7. PUBLIC VOTING AND PAID VOTES

Public voting will open on October 12, 2025, at 12:00 AM EST and proceed in designated rounds as outlined below. Each eligible individual (“Voter”) may cast one (1) free vote per round. Additional votes may be purchased through the Contest Platform.

While proceeds from paid votes will help support the future formation of a nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring biblically accurate, excellently made, and faith-filled stories to the screen, paid votes are not considered donations and are not tax-deductible.

The Sponsor may, at its sole discretion, offer bonus free votes through verified social media actions, time-limited promotions, or other activities.

NOTE: IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR ANY ENTRANT TO PAY AN ENTRY FEE, CAST A VOTE, OR TENDER A PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IN ORDER TO ENTER OR WIN THIS COMPETITION.

By voting, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information by the Sponsor, the Promotion Entities, or their designated partners, as permitted by applicable law and their respective privacy policies. This may include, but is not limited to, your name, address, phone number, email address, IP address, and the amount paid per vote.

As a thank-you for supporting an Entrant, Voters will receive one (1) sweepstakes entry for every $1 spent on votes during the public voting period. Participation in the sweepstakes is subject to a separate set of Official Sweepstakes Rules, which will be made available before voting begins.

Refunds for Paid Votes:

All vote purchases are final and non-refundable. Because paid votes directly impact contest outcomes and are processed immediately, they cannot be canceled, changed, or refunded under any circumstances. By purchasing votes, Voters agree to these terms.

Entrants are strictly prohibited from voting for themselves, whether through free or paid vote mechanisms, including the use of their own payment methods. Any such activity may result in disqualification.

VOTING CONDUCT AND PROHIBITED ACTIVITY

The use of bots, scripts, automated systems, or any form of fraudulent voting is strictly prohibited. If any such activity is detected, the Sponsor reserves the right to take any and all necessary actions, including but not limited to:

  • Disqualifying the Entrant;
  • Deducting illegitimate votes;
  • Banning associated IP addresses from the platform; and/or
  • Initiating civil or criminal proceedings to the fullest extent permitted by law.

The Sponsor further reserves the right to disqualify any individual or Entrant who tampers with the voting process, violates these Terms, or interferes with the integrity of the Competition. Such individuals may be permanently prohibited from participating in any future Raise the Reel contests or events.

8. CONTEST STRUCTURE AND ELIMINATION ROUNDS

Contestants will advance through the following public voting rounds per category (Actor/Actress and Musician/Singer/Band):

Round 1 – Top 75% Advance
 Voting Opens: October 12, 2025 – 12:00 AM EST
Voting Closes: October 18, 2025 – 11:59 PM EST

Round 2 – Top 50% Advance
 Voting Opens: October 19, 2025 – 12:00 AM EST
Voting Closes: October 25, 2025 – 11:59 PM EST

Round 3 – Top 25% Advance
 Voting Opens: October 26, 2025 – 12:00 AM EST
Voting Closes: November 1, 2025 – 11:59 PM EST

Round 4 – Top 10% Advance
 Voting Opens: November 2, 2025 – 12:00 AM EST
Voting Closes: November 8, 2025 – 11:59 PM EST

Quarterfinals – Top 5% Advance
 Votes reset
 Voting Opens: November 9, 2025 – 12:00 AM EST
Voting Closes: November 15, 2025 – 11:59 PM EST

Semifinals – Top 2.5% Advance
 Votes reset
 Voting Opens: November 16, 2025 – 12:00 AM EST
Voting Closes: November 22, 2025 – 11:59 PM EST

Finals – Top 5 Contestants per Category Advance to Judging Round

Raise the Reel reserves the right to adjust this structure in the event of fewer than 300 qualified entries in any category.

9. JUDGING AND FINALISTS

In the final round, the top 5 actors and top 5 musicians will advance to the judging phase. A panel of industry professionals (judges) selected by Sponsor will review and evaluate each finalist’s Submitted Materials based on talent, creativity, and alignment with the contest’s mission.

Judging Period:
 Start: November 23, 2025 – 12:00 AM EST
 End: November 29, 2025 – 11:59 PM EST

Winners Announced: December 1, 2025

Final decisions are at the sole discretion of the judges and Sponsor. 

10. PRIZES

One (1) Grand Prize Winner will be selected in each category (Actor and Musician):

Each Grand Prize includes:

  • $5,000 USD cash honorarium
  • Raise the Reel Star Seal 
  • National media coverage

Category-specific prizes:

Actor Winner: Two (2) VIP tickets to the 2026 MovieGuide Awards, including red carpet access (estimated value: $10,000 total), meeting with top Hollywood talent manager Mitch Clem, job shadowing with Shari Rigby. 

Musician Winner: Featured placement of original music in end credits of a faith-based film + meeting with Rob Christie at Republic Records + Exclusive Republic Records Studio Tour (if based in or visiting LA; subject to scheduling and access restrictions)

Music submissions must be original and submitted with a non-expiring, royalty-free license granted to Raise the Reel for unlimited promotional and commercial use, including film placement associated with the prize. Entrants agree to these terms upon submission.

No substitution, transfer, or assignment of prizes is permitted. Any applicable taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner.

11. WINNER NOTIFICATION, VERIFICATION, PUBLICITY RELEASE, AND PRIZE CONDITIONS

Selected Entrants and Grand Prize Winners will be notified by email, phone, or other reasonable means. Entrants consent to a background check, at the sole discretion of the Sponsor, for the purpose of verifying eligibility, evaluating compliance with these Terms and Conditions, or confirming the integrity of the Contest.

To claim a prize, potential Winners will be required to execute and return Prize Claim Documents, which may include but are not limited to: an affidavit of eligibility, liability/publicity release, assignment of rights, and proof of rights ownership, as permitted or required by law. Failure to return all required documents within fourteen (14) days of notification may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate Winner at the Sponsor’s sole discretion.

By accepting a prize, Winners grant the Sponsor, its agents, successors, assigns, and promotional partners the irrevocable right to use their name, likeness, voice, statements, biographical information, Submitted Materials, Additional Materials, prize details, and city/state of residence for advertising, publicity, and promotional purposes in any media now known or later developed, worldwide and in perpetuity, without further notice, permission, or compensation—except where prohibited by law.

No winner may represent, imply, or suggest an ongoing association, partnership, or endorsement by Raise the Reel or its affiliates beyond the scope of the Contest. Unauthorized use of Raise the Reel’s name, brand, or logo is strictly prohibited.

Cash honorariums, if awarded, will be distributed within twelve (12) months of the Contest’s conclusion, or as otherwise determined by the Sponsor. Taxes will not be withheld on behalf of the winner; all tax reporting and payments are the sole responsibility of the recipient. The Sponsor and Promotion Entities assume no liability for any applicable taxes, fees, or related charges incurred as a result of prize acceptance or use.

Winners are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and lawful manner throughout any Contest-related activity. The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify and/or remove any Winner from any activity or prize opportunity if their behavior is deemed inappropriate, disruptive, unlawful, or damaging to any person, property, or the reputation of the Sponsor or its partners.

12. DISCLAIMER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY

The Sponsor, Promotion Entities, and all prize providers are not responsible for any:

  • Incorrect, incomplete, or inaccurate entry information;
  • Technical failures of any kind, including hardware or software malfunctions, network issues, server outages, or human error;
  • Unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries or personal data;
  • Lost, delayed, corrupted, misdirected, or garbled submissions due to system errors or internet congestion;
  • Injury or damage to Entrants’ or third parties’ computers or devices related to or resulting from participation in the Competition;
  • Inability to access the Contest website or any of its pages.

Proof of submitting an entry does not constitute proof of receipt. All entry deadlines are approximate and may be extended or shortened at Sponsor’s sole discretion. All entries and materials submitted—including but not limited to Submitted Materials and Additional Materials—become the sole property of the Sponsor and will not be returned or acknowledged. False, deceptive, or incomplete entries or accounts will result in disqualification.

All decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding in all matters relating to the Contest.

By participating, Entrants, Selected Entrants, and Winners agree to release, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Sponsor, Promotion Entities, prize providers, and their respective officers, directors, employees, contractors, and agents from and against any and all claims or liability arising out of:

  • Participation in the Contest,
  • Use or publication of Submitted or Additional Materials,
  • Publicity relating to the Contest,
  • Acceptance, use, or misuse of any prize, including personal injury, death, property damage, or monetary loss.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Sponsor, Promotion Entities, and prize providers will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, exemplary, punitive, or special damages of any kind, even if advised of the possibility of such damages in advance.

All claims and disputes must be resolved individually, without resort to class action, and any recovery will be limited to actual out-of-pocket expenses, excluding attorneys’ fees and court costs.

13. CONDUCT

Entrants must comply with all instructions, and Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any Entrant engaging in inappropriate, offensive, fraudulent, or unfair conduct, or any behavior that tarnishes the integrity of the Contest.

14. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

This Contest shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Virginia, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. All disputes shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Roanoke, Virginia.

15. WINNERS LIST AND CONTACT

For a copy of the winners list or to contact Sponsor with questions, please email hello@raisethereel.com.

This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media platform.