The Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival is inviting Island high school students to participate in the first ever MVFF High School Critics Challenge. Students currently enrolled at the high school and interested in film are asked to submit essays that address, in no more than 250 words, “The importance of film in today’s culture.” The deadline for submissions is March 11. From the essays submitted, four finalists will be selected to receive all-access passes to all of the festival’s 14 featured films. The finalists will select one film at the festival and write a 750-word review, which will be published in the Vineyard Gazette and the winner will receive a $400 cash prize. The runner-up will receive a $100 cash prize. Please send submissions via e-mail to brad@tmvff.org no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday March 11. For details, call 508-645-9599.