You’re holding your phone, laughing so hard you can barely breathe because your toddler just tried to eat a plastic lemon or your dog successfully leaped into a closed screen door. That’s the moment. That’s the "AFV" moment. But then reality hits. You start wondering about how to submit a video to America's Funniest Videos without the file getting lost in some digital void. Honestly, most people just upload it to TikTok and call it a day, but if you want that $10,000—or the shot at the $100,000 grand prize—you’ve gotta play by the ABC rules.
It’s been on the air since 1989. Bob Saget started it, Alfonso Ribeiro is killing it now, and the show is still the ultimate "user-generated content" pioneer. But they are picky. Really picky. They get thousands of clips a week. If yours looks like it was filmed with a potato or features your kid doing something genuinely dangerous, it’s going straight to the digital trash bin.
The First Step: Knowing What AFV Actually Wants
Before you even touch an upload button, you need to understand the vibe. They love "the set-up." Think about it. A guy is walking toward a trampoline. He’s confident. Too confident. You know what’s coming, but the "how" is the surprise. That anticipation is what makes the live audience in California lose their minds.
Quality matters, but maybe not how you think. You don't need a Hollywood camera. Most winning clips nowadays are shot on iPhones or Androids. However, if your lens is covered in finger grease or you’re filming vertically with giant black bars on the sides, it’s a tougher sell. They want clear, horizontal (if possible) footage where the action is centered.
Why Your "Cute" Video Might Get Rejected
There is a fine line between funny and "call Child Protective Services." AFV is a family show. If a kid gets hurt and starts crying hysterically, it’s not going on TV. They want the "I'm okay!" kind of falls. Also, skip the background music. If you’ve got a radio playing a Taylor Swift song in the background, they can’t air it because of licensing nightmares. Keep the natural audio. The sound of someone laughing behind the camera is often funnier than the stunt itself.
How to Submit a Video to America's Funniest Videos: The Official Channels
You have a few ways to get your footage to the producers. The most common is the official website, but let's break down the nuances because the paperwork is where people usually mess up.
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The Online Upload
Go to the official AFV website. You'll see a big "Submit Your Video" button. It’s pretty straightforward. You’ll need to provide your name, email, and a description of what’s happening. Be descriptive but brief. Instead of "Dog jumps," try "Golden Retriever fails 3-foot jump onto couch." It helps the screeners sort through the mountain of files.
The AFV App
If you’re on your phone, this is probably the easiest route. You can pull the clip directly from your camera roll. It’s available on both iOS and Android. Just be sure you’re on a strong Wi-Fi connection. Nothing kills a submission faster than a corrupted file because your 5G dropped out mid-upload.
The "Old School" Way
Believe it or not, you can still mail in a physical copy if you’re living in 1995 or just have a weirdly specific file format on a USB drive. But honestly? Don't. It takes forever and things get lost in the mail. Stick to digital.
The Legal Stuff That Everyone Ignores
When you're figuring out how to submit a video to America's Funniest Videos, you have to realize you’re signing a contract. This isn't just "sharing" a video. You are granting Vin Di Bona Productions (the folks who make the show) massive rights to your footage.
Basically, they want exclusivity.
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If your video has already gone viral on Jukin Media or you’ve sold the rights to a news station, AFV might pass. They want to be the ones to "break" the video to a national audience. If you’ve already got 10 million views on YouTube, the "novelty" is gone for the network. Read the Terms of Use. It’s boring, but it matters. You’re usually testifying that you are the one who filmed it and that everyone in the video has given their permission to be on TV. If your neighbor is in the shot and they’re a litigious jerk, you might have a problem.
What Happens After You Click Submit?
Silence. Lots of it.
You won't get an email the next day saying you're going to be on TV. The process is slow. Screeners watch every single clip. If they like yours, it goes to a second round. If it makes it past the producers, you’ll eventually get a phone call or a very formal email. They will ask for a high-resolution version of the original file. They might also ask you to sign more specific release forms.
If you get that call, do not post the video anywhere else. Keep it under wraps. The show thrives on that "first-look" energy.
Does it cost money?
No. Never. If someone asks you for a "processing fee" to get your video on AFV, you are being scammed. Run away. The show pays you if you win, not the other way around.
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Increasing Your Chances of Winning the $10,000
Winning isn't just about luck. It's about timing. AFV does themed episodes—animal specials, kids specials, "epic fails." If your video fits a specific niche, it has a better chance of being slotted into a montage.
- Keep it short. The best clips are 10 to 30 seconds. Anything longer and the audience loses interest.
- The Reaction. Sometimes the person watching the fail is funnier than the fail itself. If your camera work includes a hilarious reaction, keep it in.
- No Filters. Don't use TikTok filters or weird face-swaps. They want the raw, authentic footage.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't submit videos you didn't film. You'd be surprised how many people try to submit a clip they found on Reddit. The producers have seen it all. They will find out, and you’ll be disqualified.
Also, avoid "staged" videos. The show's producers are experts at spotting fake reactions. If it looks like you told your kid to fall over for the camera, it’s not going to make the cut. They want the genuine, accidental, "oh my god did that just happen" moments.
Another thing: check your background. If there’s a pile of dirty laundry or something embarrassing in the frame, it might distract from the comedy. Or, it might make it funnier. Use your judgment. But generally, clean-ish is better.
Actionable Next Steps
If you have a clip that's burning a hole in your hard drive, here is exactly what you should do right now:
- Trim the Fat: Use your phone’s editing tool to cut out the 40 seconds of nothingness before the actual funny part happens. Leave about 3 seconds of "lead-in" and 5 seconds of "aftermath."
- Check the Audio: Make sure we can hear the thud, the laugh, or the "uh-oh." If it's too windy or loud, try to use noise reduction software or just hope the visual is strong enough.
- Go to the Source: Visit AFV.com/submit and follow the prompts.
- Keep the Original: Do not delete the original high-res file from your phone. If they pick you, they will need that uncompressed file to make it look good on a 65-inch 4K TV.
- Check Your Spam: Producers often reach out via email. If you don't check your "Junk" folder, you might miss your chance at $100k.
Success with AFV is part persistence and part pure, unadulterated chaos. You might submit ten videos and hear nothing, then the eleventh one—the one you almost didn't film—becomes the season winner. Just keep the camera rolling.