ACEN TIME NEW FORMAT PLEASE READ!!!!!!!!!!!!
The largest anime convention in the Midwest is back for 2026! We are back at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center & the Hyatt Regency O’Hare at Rosemont, Illinois from May 15-17,2026.WE ARE RUNNING AN EXCLUSIVE CONTEST FORMAT THIS YEAR
You must create something brand new and unpublished in order to submit to the main contest we are calling the AMV Masquerade. Please review the rules here.
We are also running an exposition format called the AMV Hallmarks Contest where you may submit videos made from the past year. The winners will be decided by the AMV judging staff. Here we determine winners based on the merits we identify upon watching your video(s).
Step 1: Use the registration link when you are ready. You will not submit videos until step 2. You can register before you've completed your video.
Step 2: Use the AMV Masquerade video submission link when you have finished registering and are ready to submit.
Use the AMV Hallmarks video submission link if you have videos you'd like to submit as well.
Information on the AMV Masquerade is as follows:
- The submission deadline for the AMV Masquerade is March 28th, 2026 at 11:59 pm CST.
- Your video for the AMV Masquerade should be between 1 minute 15 seconds minimum and 6 minutes maximum. Any video that is longer than 6 minutes will not be accepted.
- You are permitted an extra submission if your video is under 1 minute and 15 seconds. These videos are judged separately from the other videos.
- This is an exclusive contest meaning your video may not have premiered at con or online in a public setting. I will be looking to see if your video was made public or not.
- We accept footage from anime, western animation, video games, live action, etc.
- Videos may contain swearing, but in moderation. If there is a question about your song choice, please feel free to ask.
- All videos submitted will be provided to the editors in a consolidated location which will be determined at a future date.
- The contest will consist of the 6 main categories Intensity, Drama, Sentimental, Fun/Upbeat, Comedy, and Freestyle. Extra categories will be created and decided by the AMV Judging team. A list of videos will be provided indicating the reason behind why an extra category was created.
- Editors will vote for finalists alongside the AMV judging staff in a fifty-fifty split between editors and AMV judging staff.
- Winners will be selected by the editors who submitted to the AMV Masquerade.
- All videos are eligible for the Theme award which is ACEN The Musical.
- The submission deadline for the AMV Hallmarks is March 15th, 2026 at 11:59 pm CST. The dates are different as you may have noticed. Please keep this in consideration.
- Your videos for the AMV Hallmark must not exceed a total length of 20 minutes.
- The freshness date for the Hallmarks Contest is April 10th, 2025. Any video submitted must be made after this date.
- A list of videos to be played in our contest showing will be provided before con to the editors. Winners will be selected by the AMV staff.
Awards:
- Audience Choice
- Best in Show
- Best in Category
- Best in Category (Shorts)
- Best Nonfinalist
- Best Theme (ACEN The Musical)
- Hallmark Awards
- Coordinator’s Choice
- Best in the Midwest (You must be local and attend the convention. This includes videos sent to the Hallmark Awards.)
- Last Year’s Best in Show Choice (Picked by last year’s Best in Show winner. If the Best in Show winner is unavailable, it will go to the 2nd Place and so forth.)
If there are any questions, feel free to email me at Reyd.Nguyen(at)ACen.org.
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