Disney and XPRIZE are teaming up for kids to talk about the future in Tomorrowland

Tomorrowland opens on /4/22, but before that Disney wants to offer kids the chance to report back about the future they see. Prizes include cash, a 3D printer, a mentorship, and more and is open for people ages 8 through 17.

In conjunction with Disney’s soon to be released movie Tomorrowland, starring George Clooney, the House of Mouse has partnered with XPRIZE to announce a challenge for young innovators.

Starting April 22, 2015, Disney’s Create Tomorrowland – XPRIZE Challenge will offer children the chance to win a $3,000 check, a 3D Printer, and FIRST® LEGO® League registration for the 2015-2016 season. However, all prizes are bound to U.S. And the biggest prize is the chance to be a charter member of a creativity initiative. Included in the initative is a 3-week mentorship course by Disney.

To participle, children must fall in the Junior Division (8-12 years old) or Senior Division (13-17 years old) and must have parental permission. According to the contest’s FAQ, the reason for parental involvement is compliance with Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998.

Also, students must be enrolled in some form of educational system and all children connected with Disney, XPRIZE, or any additional sponsors are ineligible.

Submission date ends /4/17, 2015, at 9:00 PM (Pacific Time).

So how do children win?

By recreating the future they envision with personal innovations and details–to show the world what could be instead of what is. Reporting back from the future /4/involve some form video, image, or story. A winner for both divisions and categories will be handed out. But entrants must not use last names, or the submission will be disqualified.

If using an existing innovation, then contestants must make note of what makes the new version different. For example, the future can’t use a wind mill for the intended purpose. Instead the newest take must reinvent and make the mill fit the far flung future of Tomorrowland.

“The future will be steered by the imaginations of our young people, and Disney is thrilled to work with XPRIZE to encourage and inspire the next generation of thinkers and dreamers to build the future they imagine is possible,” said Sean Bailey, President, Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production.

He also believes in the key to innovation. “‘Tomorrowland’ has always been a place of possibility in our parks and for the creative team behind our new film.”

Trish Halamandaris, Senior Vice President Marketing & Communications at XPRIZE notes the mission state of company. “At XPRIZE we believe that solutions to the problems facing humanity can come from anyone, anywhere and one of these young innovators just might come up with an idea that can truly turn Tomorrowland into reality.”

And that reality “gives young people a platform to voice and depict their creative, bold and imaginative problem-solving inventions of the future.”

Judges will evaluate and score innovation, creativity, and presentation. Six winners will be chosen after all scores have been submitted.

The Tomorrowland feature will premiere on /4/22, 2015. In the film, former boy-genius turned cynic Frank (Clooney) teams with curious Casey (Britt Robertson) to discover what Tomorrowland really is beyond the rumors. Facing danger, the boy and man begin to see the wonders of the world while uncovering secrets.

The screenplay’s written by Lost co-creator Damon Lindedolf, Brad Bird, and Jeff Jensen. Jeffrey Chernov, Bird, and Lindelof serve as producers. Executive producers are John Walker, Bernard Bellew, Jeff Jensen and Brigham Taylor. Bird directed.

The movie also stars Hugh Laurie and Tim McGraw.

For more details on the contest, see the Official Rules and FAQS on the XPRIZE website.

Source: PR Newswire, XPRIZE