ALPENA — The Alpena Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is accepting video submissions for its annual Fresh Takes Video Contest.

Local residents and visitors to the area are encouraged to submit a short video to the CVB’s annual video contest which seeks to offer amateur videographers and filmmakers a platform to share their passion.

To freshen up the program, this year the CVB is adding a new category for social media video (including YouTube shorts, TikTok video, Instagram Reel, etc.) Participants may enter a social media entry (at least 6 seconds in length, minimum), in addition to a regular entry.

“The tourism bureau designed this contest to offer creators of Alpena videos a stage upon which to tell their visually compelling story from start to finish about Alpena, our Sanctuary of the Great Lakes,” said Alpena Area Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Mary Beth Stutzman. “Video is an important communication tool in that it allows creators to visually reach out to the viewer and inspire them. Just as each one of us is unique and different, each video creation offers a unique take on the creator’s personal interpretation of the Alpena area as the Sanctuary of the Great Lakes — whether it be exciting, intriguing, educational, or emotional. We are excited to include a community partner such as The Sunset Project this year whose mission supports creative endeavors in the area.”

Each year the Alpena Area CVB welcomes entries that demonstrate the video creator’s perspective of their Alpena region adventures. In the past, video entries have included family vacations, drone footage, GoPro first-person POV, educational narration, storytelling, outdoor adventure, and more. Videos can inform, inspire, entertain, or anything in between. Each entry is required to focus on one or more of the following areas presenting Alpena as the Sanctuary of the Great Lakes, meaning Alpena is a place where history and heritage collide with relaxed outdoor adventure — a place to escape the stress of everyday life, where one can leave their cares behind to relax, restore and rejuvenate while exploring:

¯ Arts, Culture, or Heritage specific to Alpena;

¯ Outdoor recreation and outdoor lifestyles including silent sport activities;

¯ Environment including relaxing natural landscapes, local natural features, etc.;

For complete contest rules and guidelines, check out VisitAlpena.com/FreshTakes.

Awards will be presented as follows:

¯ First Place: $500

¯ Second Place: $350

¯ Third Place: $150

¯ People’s Choice: $150

¯ Social Media $150

For 2023, top awardees will receive additional prize offerings from The Sunset Project. To accompany the traditional cash prizes, the Alpena Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has received a donation of complimentary prize items from The Sunset Project, including GoPro Hero 10 video cameras for the top three places.

The Sunset Project exists to establish a community focused on fostering creative advancement in Northeast Michigan while also being a driving force for mental health awareness.

Entries may be submitted to Mary Beth Stutzman at the Alpena Area Convention and Visitors Bureau via personal YouTube channel link or file sharing via email to marybeth@visitalpena.com; or drop off the file on a flash drive to the CVB office at 420 N. 2nd Ave., Alpena, MI 49707. The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Friday, March 10. Winners to be announced during the Fresh Takes Awards Ceremony to be held March 30.

For more information, or to submit videos, contact Stutzman at marybeth@visitalpena.com.