AWA 13 (2007) Contest Rules: The Short Version

[MCWagner]

This is just the brief version of the rules for AWA's contests. Please check out the full rules at http://www.awa-con.com/index.php?page=vat_amv_contests for full details.


AWA AMV RULES, Cliff's Notes Version

Summary of all the long, boring specifications for each contest. We got complaints last time about confusing rules, so this should help summarize everything for you. Check the full version for all the detailed rules if you've got questions.

General:
Rules and schedules are subject to change without notice.

Our tech capabilities have changed a LOT this year. Dont try anything fancy without checking the rules first. We don't wanna spend weeks sorting out tech incompatibilites any more than you do.

Follow all the rules. Making it tough on the tech guy doesn't help anyone.

Don't send us your only copy of your video. (You aren't getting it back.)

We accept any material, any video or music source, just get it to us on time. This means non "Japanese" animation, live action, and even non "music" audio sources are accepted, but being late is not. Each contest has a different deadline, so be sure to note when you have to submit.

Submissions of a mature or violent nature may be restricted to a special late-night viewing session. (We don't censor for content. It's allowed, but showed later.)

One contest per video, please. (One individual video may not be in all the contests.)

You may enter multiple contests if you have created multiple videos.

When you are submitting to a contest, whether or not you are uploading by FTP, please create an account on the FTP site and enter the information for your video there.

One kind of Submission is Accepted:

Video Tape Submissions: NO LONGER ACCEPTED
Since interest has dropped off and the tech requirements for (reasonably good) conversion are pretty high, we're no longer accepting AMVs on tape any more.


Digital Submissions:
Rules for digital submissions are elaborate and include advice on resolution, CODECs and transmission, SOME OF WHICH HAS CHANGED SINCE LAST YEAR. Sorry, no way around it, you'll have to read the long version.

Send us a CD/DVD with the video burned on it as data.
We get the package when we get it. Don't try to weasel around deadlines.

Include a letter with the video tape with all the required info.

Use a standard padded mailer to ship the CD, and leave the CD in its plastic case. Label the mailer with "ATTN:" and the AWA 13 Contest you've entered. Mail all entries ATTN to:

Carl Gray

301 10th Street, NW Apt 127A

Atlanta, GA 30318-0475

Submission by FTP is available and is located at (TBA) Just go to the site and follow the instructions.

Any questions should go to: vattechnical@gmail.com

Contests

Music Video Exposition
Deadline: August 17, 2007

The goal of the Music Video Exposition has always been to give as many videos the chance to be exhibited as possible while awarding recognition to as many deserving videos as is practical.

Entries are judged by the Anime Weekend Atlanta Video Art Track Staff.

Judging is NOT blind. Judges will know who made each video.

There are no set awards, but the general categories usually include Drama, Comedy, Action, Best of Show, etc.

Contest Rules in Addition to General Rules:

All entries must be in our hands no later than August 17, 2007.

You may submit as many videos as could be fit on one standard video tape. (In other words, 2 hours worth.) Though we no longer accept tapes, this length is a good guideline, so we've retained the 2-hour limit on entries.

We'll consider any request for a specific video to be the one shown at the convention. At least one will be shown from each contestant at some time during the convention.


Professional Contest
Deadline: July 20, 2007

Years ago, Anime Weekend Atlanta decided to begin a new and novel manner of judging AMV contests. Instead of having our staff review the videos (which is done for the Exposition), or letting the audience vote on entries (usually leading to logistical nightmares), we had a contest judged exclusively by those who participated.

The contest worked like this; the complete set of "blinded" entries to the contest are all compiled onto tapes, and then copies are mailed back to everyone who entered. This year, though, it's a bit different. NOTICE: THIS YEAR WE WILL BE SENDING OUT DVDs. Nomination and voting for each category is done online at a designated website, with each participant getting a vote for each category. Awards are given based on these votes. Ties are broken by the staffers.

Contest Rules in Addition to the General Rules: Because of all the trouble that goes into making the Professional contest work, we tend to be harsher on the rules. Double-check everything before you send it off.

The only requirement to be a "professional" in this contest is to follow the rules. Every level of experience is welcome to join in.

All entries must be in our hands no later than July 20, 2007.

You may submit only one video, not longer than 15 minutes. Note: Exceptions to single video length are occasionally negotiated. Contact director at drmcwagner@gmail.com for consideration.

Judging is "blind." Your submission, the video footage itself, can not tell us who you are, your studio name, etc. in title cards or bumpers. If you leave it in, we'll disqualify it or we'll snip out anything like this so everyone has a fair chance. PLEASE REMEMBER THIS RULE. WE ARE VERY TIRED OF HAVING TO SNIP UP ENTRIES THAT DON'T FOLLOW THIS RULE.

You can include a second version with your name attached to show at the convention, but the blind one is the one that will be judged. (Make sure on the label that we know it's there.)

For the judging, you must send DVD media.
Check the long version for details on the type and brand of media we will accept.

We copy all the submissions onto these DVDs and send them back to you for judging. Digital submitters will ALSO have to send us these blank DVDs, just because you upload your video does not mean you don't have to judge.

Also include a stamped, self addressed mailer to return the four DVDs back to you. Make sure your media fits in the return mailer.

If you live in a foreign country, or have trouble accessing a post office for various reasons, contact awavat@charter.net for an alternative to sending the blank media and return mailer.

VERY IMPORTANT: Since we don't know yet what the content of these videos will be, there's a chance some of the videos may include scenes of a violent or sexual nature. Since we'll be sending these videos all across the country, and we don't want to get in trouble with anyone's parents, you must be at least 18 years old to judge this contest. In the forms section of this website there is a letter to sign stating just that. If you are not 18 and still want to compete, get your parent or legal guardian to read the final paragraph and sign it. We need the signed letter to send you your judging copies. Yeah, it sucks, but we don't want to risk getting anyone in trouble.

You'll be told when and where to login and put your votes on a website once everything is up and running. You can suggest additional award categories then.



The Masters
SPECIAL NOTICE: THIS MARKS THE RETURN OF THE MASTERS' CONTEST
Deadline: August 10, 2007

The Masters contest is intended to be the competition between the highest skilled video art creators out there. Bring your "A" game to this contest.

Entries are judged by the Anime Weekend Atlanta Video Art Track director, with assistance from select individuals.

Judging is blind. Judging is "blind." Your submission, the video footage itself, can not tell us who you are, your studio name, etc. in title cards or bumpers. If you leave it in, we'll disqualify it or we'll snip out anything like this so everyone has a fair chance. PLEASE REMEMBER THIS RULE. WE ARE VERY TIRED OF HAVING TO SNIP UP ENTRIES THAT DON'T FOLLOW THIS RULE.

There is one award, given to the best video entered. There is no set recognition for runners-up

Contest Rules in Addition to General Rules:

All entries must be in our hands no later than August 10, 2007.

You may submit one video. It may be of any length and contain any audio or video content desired. We especially encourage creativity in source selection for this contest.

The video must be "new material," having not competed or exhibited in other contests prior to AWA 13. (This restriction does not prevent entering the video in other contests after AWA 13.)

[Minion]

let's fucking do this

[kholaras]

Hi everyone, I'm the guy lurking behind the vattechnical@gmail.com address. I'd like to point out the biggest change in the rules (present in the long and boring version): All submissions must be registered through our website (even if you're mailing in), which unfortunately isn't up yet. It should be up by the time the majority of you are ready to submit, but for any of you early birds, please contact me and we can work something out.

Thanks,
Carl Gray
VAT Technical

[Brad]

Individuals submitting to The Masters must have received some form of formal recognition at a previous Music Video contest. However, the recent explosion in the number of AMV contests across the world require us to be a little more specific about this requirement. Because online contests have expanded beyond any one person’s ability to keep up with them, awards given via online contests are not eligible for this qualification. This is in no way meant as a slight against online contests, but rather an acknowledgement that if someone made up a fictional or rigged contest we’d never heard of online to give themselves an award, we’d be none the wiser.

Just to clarify, does this rule extend to the VCA's held on the Org? Granted, it is an online contest, but it's also something very easily verifiable given the nature and scale of this site and the contest (Just wanted to clarify since I know there were some people depending on this "loophole" in order to enter).

[AMV_4000]

Looks like i have till july 10th... awsm..

and the 2 hour limit... im all about that.. awsm

Include a letter with the video tape with all the required info.

yeah, you might wanna change that to exclude video tape... thats all i caught...

[CrackTheSky]

O:

August 17th is more than enough time

[ngsilver]

Oh yeah, been waiting for this ^^ Time to pull out the /gif folder again!

[The Wired Knight]

Individuals submitting to The Masters must have received some form of formal recognition at a previous Music Video contest. However, the recent explosion in the number of AMV contests across the world require us to be a little more specific about this requirement. Because online contests have expanded beyond any one person’s ability to keep up with them, awards given via online contests are not eligible for this qualification. This is in no way meant as a slight against online contests, but rather an acknowledgement that if someone made up a fictional or rigged contest we’d never heard of online to give themselves an award, we’d be none the wiser.

Just to clarify, does this rule extend to the VCA's held on the Org? Granted, it is an online contest, but it's also something very easily verifiable given the nature and scale of this site and the contest (Just wanted to clarify since I know there were some people depending on this "loophole" in order to enter).

The only problem I see with the VCA qualifying is that there are a fair number of bizzare awards and the MAsters don't specify what kind of award you had to win so that opens up a lot of videos suddenly. Although I agree that the VCAs are more respectible and certainly verifiable there is a problem that it would be odd to put hte exception in there for it since other online contests would then want to be counted.

[outlawed]

What the fuck are the VCAs?

[Castor Troy]

What the fuck are the VCAs?