Media Awards 2026

4th edition Mora Lenz · University of Moratuwa

Sri Lanka's all-island media competition for school students and university undergraduates.

Compete in Announcing, Photography and Videography, learn from industry professionals at our workshops, and take the stage at the Grand Finale at the University of Moratuwa on 2 January 2027.

Enter the competition WhatsApp channel

About the competition

A national stage for young media talent

Mora Lenz Media Awards is an annual all-island media competition run by Mora Lenz, the Mass Media Club of the University of Moratuwa. It gives school students and university undergraduates a place to show their creativity, get feedback from industry professionals, and be recognised on a national stage.

The 2025 edition, the third, brought together more than 1,500 contestants from across Sri Lanka. The fourth edition, in 2026, returns with three categories, industry-led workshops and a Grand Finale at the University of Moratuwa.

4th

Edition

Media Awards returns for its fourth year.

1,500+

Contestants in 2025

From schools and universities across the island.

2,000+

Expected in 2026

Our biggest edition yet.

31K+

Social followers

Across Mora Lenz's social media platforms.

How it works

Pick your category
Announcing, Photography or Videography. You enter in your division: School or University.
Read the booklet
Each category has its own booklet with the theme, rules and technical requirements.
Submit online
Send your entry through the official Google Form before 23 November 2026.
Compete & learn
Shortlisted entries move on, and finalists compete at the Grand Finale on 2 January 2027.

Workshops

Workshops on Grand Finale day

On 2 January 2027, professionals from the media industry will run workshops for every category at the University of Moratuwa. Every contestant is invited, whatever their result.

Competition categories

Three arenas. One stage.

Choose a category to see how it works, what to submit and how it is judged.

Let your voice captivate the nation, in Sinhala, English or Tamil.

Announcing tests news reading and live presenting over three rounds. Two online rounds narrow the field before the finalists perform live at the University of Moratuwa.

Three rounds

Round 01Online · Oct 13 – Nov 23

Video submission

Submit two videos as MP4 through the Google Form: one News Reading (local, international and sports news) and one Event Presenting.

Round 02Online · Dec 01 – Dec 28

Top 40

The top 40 announcers receive a more challenging brief for their next submission.

Grand FinalOn-site · Jan 02

Live at the University of Moratuwa

Finalists perform live in front of the judges, and the winners are announced at the awards ceremony that evening.

Winners

The top 3 in each language and each division win.

3 languages×2 divisions×Top 3=18 winners

Turn a single moment into a story people remember.

Submit up to two photographs taken on a camera or a mobile phone. Photography has two awards: one chosen by the judges and one chosen by the public.

Two ways to win

Best Photograph

Chosen by the judging panel for visual quality, creativity and impact.

Most Popular

Decided by public voting on the official Mora Lenz Facebook page from Dec 05 to Dec 28. The highest valid vote count wins.

Submission rules

Up to 2 photographs per contestant, taken on a camera or a mobile phone.
Accepted formats are JPEG, JPG or PNG, up to 100 MB per file.
Minor edits only, such as exposure, contrast, colour and cropping. Composites and generative AI are not allowed.
Keep your original RAW or JPEG file. The organisers may ask for it to check your entry.
Your photographs must respond to this year's theme, which is in the Photography booklet.

2026 Theme

“Together but Alone: Are We Connecting or Just Coexisting?”

Every entry must respond to the theme. Show it rather than explain it. There is no required viewpoint.

Two tracks

Detail	Track A · Short Film	Track B · Editing
Entry	Crew of 3–6, cast included	Individual
Length	1–5 min, titles & credits included	1–2 min, titles included
Footage	Original live action shot for this competition. No documentaries, animation, or stock footage	Only the official raw footage pack, released by the organisers
Awards	Best Short Film: School & University	Best Editor: School & University

Extra award · Best Movie Poster

Track A teams can also submit a poster for their film. The size must be exactly 27 × 40 in (68.6 × 101.6 cm). AI can only be used as a supporting tool. Upload the poster together with your film.

Judging criteria

Technical execution30%

Relevance to theme25%

Creativity & originality25%

Storytelling & impact20%

Technical specifications

MP4 · H.264
Min. 1920 × 1080
16:9
24 / 25 / 30 fps (constant)
Stereo audio, peaks ≤ −3 dB

Length limits are strict. Entries outside the time limit are eliminated without review.

How to submit

Stage 1All entrants

Online form

Share your video as a Google Drive link set to “Anyone with the link can view”. Add your crew details, proof of enrolment for every member, and a list of music and AI-tool licences. Name the file Videography_Track_Division_Name.

Stage 2Shortlist only

Source files

Within 5 days of being contacted, upload your project file and all source footage. Keep your rushes until the results are announced.

Important rules

AI-generated video is not allowed in either track. AI voice-over is allowed in Track A only if you declare it on the form.
Each person can appear in only one entry. If you appear in more than one, all of those entries are disqualified.
School and university students cannot be in the same crew.
Any language is accepted. Entries not in English need accurate English subtitles.
You must have the rights to all music, sound effects and fonts you use. Use royalty-free or licensed audio only.

Key dates

The road to the Grand Finale

All dates are in Sri Lanka time. The current stage is highlighted automatically.

13Oct 2026
Registrations & submissions open
All three categories open through the official Google Forms.
23Nov 2026
Submission deadline
Final day to submit in every category. Late entries will not be accepted.
01Dec 2026
Announcing Top 40 · Round 02 begins
The top 40 announcers are revealed and Round 02 begins.
05Dec 2026
Photography public voting opens
Vote for the Most Popular photograph on the Mora Lenz Facebook page.
28Dec 2026
Voting closes · Finalists announced
Photography voting and Announcing Round 02 close, and the finalists are announced.
02Jan 2027
Grand Finale & Awards Ceremony
Live Announcing finals, on-site workshops and the awards ceremony at the University of Moratuwa.

Grand Finale

2 January 2027
University of Moratuwa

A full day on campus where finalists compete live, every contestant learns from professionals, and the winners are crowned.

Live Announcing final roundFinalists perform in front of the judging panel.
On-site workshop seriesWorkshops for every category, open to all contestants.
Awards ceremonyWinners in every category are announced on the day.

Recognition

What's up for grabs

18

Announcing winners

Top 3 in Sinhala, English and Tamil, for both School and University.

2

Photography titles

Best Photograph, chosen by the judges, and Most Popular, chosen by public vote.

4+1

Videography awards

Best Short Film and Best Editor in each division, plus Best Movie Poster.

All

Contestants learn

Every contestant can attend the on-site workshops on Finale day, whatever their result.

Before you enter

General rules & regulations

These rules apply to every category. Each booklet also has rules specific to that category.

01Who can enter?

Students across Sri Lanka in two divisions. School is Grade 6 to Advanced Level. University is undergraduates or postgraduates at recognised institutions. You may be asked for a valid student ID, a school letter or another proof of enrolment.

02Entering more than one category

You can enter several categories, with one entry per category. In Videography, each person can appear in only one entry.

03Originality & AI

All work must be your own and made for this competition. Do not publish it elsewhere until the results are announced. Generative AI is not allowed in Photography or for Videography visuals. AI voice-over in Videography Track A must be declared on the form.

04Copyright & music

You must have the rights to all music, sound effects, graphics, fonts and recognisable people in your work. Use royalty-free or properly licensed material, and list your sources when asked. Rights that cannot be verified lead to disqualification.

05Content standards

Entries must be suitable for a general audience. Offensive, discriminatory, excessively violent, sexually explicit or drug-related content will be disqualified.

06Deadlines

All submissions close on 23 November 2026. Late entries are not accepted under any circumstances. Keep your Drive links working until the results are announced.

07Judging & public voting

Entries are judged by panels of professionals, and the judges' decisions are final. The Photography Most Popular title is decided by valid public votes on the official Mora Lenz Facebook page.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can't find your answer? Message us on Facebook or email uommediaunit@gmail.com.

QHow do I register?

Choose your category in the Categories section, read its booklet, then fill in the official Google Form. You register and submit your entry in the same form.

QCan I take part from anywhere in Sri Lanka?

Yes. Media Awards is an all-island competition. The early rounds are held online. Only finalists need to come to the University of Moratuwa for the Grand Finale.

QCan I use a mobile phone for Photography?

Yes. Photos taken on a camera or a mobile phone are both accepted. You can submit up to two photographs.

QWhich language can I use for Announcing?

You can compete in Sinhala, English or Tamil. Winners are chosen separately for each language and each division.

QCan my Videography team mix school and university students?

No. Everyone in a crew must be from the same division, and each person can appear in only one entry.

QIf I'm not a finalist, can I still attend the workshops?

Yes. The on-site workshops on Grand Finale day are open to every contestant, whatever their result.

QWhere will results and updates be posted?

On the Media Awards WhatsApp channel and the official Mora Lenz Facebook page.

Forms & booklets

Everything you need, in one place

Read your category's booklet first, then register and submit through its Google Form.

Announcing

Sinhala · English · Tamil

Registration form Booklet

Photography

Best Photograph · Most Popular

Registration form Booklet

Videography

Short Film · Editing · Poster

Registration form Booklet

Don't miss an update

Results, footage packs and announcements are posted on the WhatsApp channel first.

Follow the channel

Questions?

Get in touch

If a rule is unclear, ask us before you start recording or shooting.

Emailuommediaunit@gmail.com

WhatsAppMedia Awards channel

FacebookMora Lenz

Instagram@moralenzuom

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Media Awards 2026 is organised by Mora Lenz, the Mass Media Club of the University of Moratuwa. · LinkedIn

Media Awards 2026