Aaron Hughes, Caledonia, ON, Canada
Camcorder: Canon GL2
Editing Software: Apple Final Cut Pro
Prize: Hitachi DZHS300A DVD Camcorder

A well-shot piece with good camera angles and tight editing. Aaron uses sound effects and music quite well, changing the sounds as the mood of the video changes.

Don Curo, La Habra, CA
Camcorder: Canon GL2
Editing Software: Sony Vegas 6
Prize: SmartSound Sonicfire Pro 4.5

Our favorite Educational entry this year because it was so well done, so concise with B-roll to match the voice track, that we really felt we could comfortably install this device ourselves.

Tyson Wheeler Persall, Alpharetta, GA
Camera: Canon 20D
Editing Software: Adobe Premiere Pro 2
Prize: proDAD software bundle
Smoothly produced commercial that moves well and has all the correct elements to get the message across in 30 seconds.

Brian Johnson, Redmond, OR
Camcorder: Canon XL2, GL2
Editing Software: Apple Final Cut Pro 2
Prize: Sony Media Software bundle
An unassuming and fearless trick-or-treater proves that the old woman behind the door is nothing to worry about… or is she?

There are a lot of video contests popping up all over the place, but we are proud to say that Videomaker was one of the first to offer this fun and challenging event. For 20 years, we’ve been inviting readers to expand their horizons, awaken their skills and work all nighters to get a 5-minute-or-less video to us by a (seemingly to some) impossible deadline. For 20 years, you’ve delivered.

As the gear gets easier to use and the skill level of our video producers becomes incredibly astute, it gets harder and harder to judge the videos every year. But after the judging began, we settled in with homemade Thai food and good company and finalized the following videos as our favorites of the 20th Annual Videomaker Short Video contest. We hope you enjoy them as much as we did.