Program Categories
Commercials (Under $1,000)
A TV commercial not to exceed 60 seconds in length. Must have had a total budget (agency fees not included) of $1,000 or less.
Commercials ($1,001 to $5,000)
A TV commercial not to exceed 60 seconds in length. Must have had a total budget (agency fees not included) of between $1,001 and $5,000.
Commercials ($5,001 to $15,000)
A TV commercial not to exceed 60 seconds in length. Must have had a total budget (agency fees not included) of between $5,001 and $15,000.
Commercials ($15,001+)
A TV commercial not to exceed 60 seconds in length. Must have had a total budget (agency fees not included) of $15,001 or more.
PSA (Under $5,000)
A Public Service Announcement that does not promote a for-profit interest and does not exceed 60 seconds in length. Must have had a production budget (agency fees not included) of $5,000 or less.
PSA ($5,001+)
A Public Service Announcement that does not promote a for-profit interest and does not exceed 60 seconds in length. Must have had a production budget (agency fees not included) of $5,001 or more.
Corporate Internal Communications
A film or video produced by or for a business, corporation, industry, government agency or commercial association, for internal information purposes such as staff communication, orientation, motivation or employee news. Does not include training programs.
Corporate & Community Marketing
A film or video produced by or for a community, business, corporation, industry, government agency or commercial association, for development, external sales, marketing, recruiting or promotional purposes - including infomercials. Does not include training programs.
Corporate Training (Under $15,000)
A film or video produced by or for a business, corporation, industry, government agency or commercial association, for the purpose of educating and/or training either internal or external audiences. Must have had a total budget of $15,000 or less.
Corporate Training ($15,001+)
A film or video produced by or for a business, corporation, industry, government agency or commercial association, for the purpose of educating and/or training either internal or external audiences. Must have had a total budget of $15,001 or more.
Student Production
A video or film produced by a student enrolled in an Iowa K-12 school, college or university. There is no completion date restriction; however, an entry may be judged in this category only once. All traditional and experimental forms are welcome. The judging committee may choose to divide entries by High School and College. Multiple awards may be given in this category. Please submit program in its entirety.
Educational Production
A film or video produced solely for educational or informative purposes. Does not include corporate programs.
TV News Feature or Series
A single or on-going television news feature, special report(s) or series. Must have been produced by, and seen on, an Iowa television station.
Documentary
A non-fictional film or video produced in the documentary style on any subject, typically intended for a general audience. Please submit five copies of the program in its entirety.
Entertainment - Short Form
A film or video produced for the purpose of entertaining a general audience, and is less than 30 minutes in length. Does not include corporate programs. Please submit five copies of the program in its entirety.
Entertainment - Long Form
A film or video produced for the purpose of entertaining a general audience, and is more than 30 minutes in length. Does not include corporate programs. Please submit five copies of the program in its entirety.
Entertainment - Feature Film Produced in Iowa Under the Iowa Film Promotion Program
A film produced for the purpose of entertaining a general audience and is more than 30 minutes in length and was produced under the Iowa Film Promotion Program. Please submit five copies of the program in its entirety.
Interactive
An interactive program (various formats). Programs that simply require the viewer to stop and refer to other materials do not qualify. Submissions must be in native format. Please provide five copies of entry.
Craft Categories
Screenplay (Unproduced)
A film or video script of any length, written for the sole purpose of entertainment. Entry must not have been produced. Submission must be in the form of five paper copies.
Screenplay (Produced)
A film or video script of any length, written for the sole purpose of entertainment. Entry must have been produced. Submission must be in the form of five paper copies and a copy of the program in its entirety. Entries will be judged on the printed script.
Script Writing (Produced)
A film or video script written for any corporate, industrial, educational or marketing purpose. Entry must have been produced. Submission must be in the form of five paper copies and a copy of the program in its entirety. Entries will be judged on the printed script. Does not include entertainment.
Art Direction
Art direction or production design on a film or video produced for any application. This includes sets, props, costumes and other visual imagery. Does not include computer generated imagery.
Lighting Design
Creative design and execution of lighting on a film or video.
Director of Photography (electronic)
Creative use of composition, filtration, movement, exposure etc. to create images on video.
Director of Photography (film)
Creative use of composition, filtration, movement, exposure, etc. to create images on motion picture film. Programs shot with “film look” do not qualify.
Direction - Short Form
Creative manipulation of acting, camera blocking, lighting, editing, etc. on a film or video program that is less than three minutes in length.
Direction - Medium Form
Creative manipulation of acting, camera blocking, lighting, editing, etc. on a film or video program that is between three minutes and thirty minutes in length. Does not include live event coverage (i.e., sporting events, concerts).
Direction - Long Form
Creative manipulation of acting, camera blocking, lighting, editing, etc. on a film or video program that is more than thirty minutes in length. Does not include live event coverage (i.e., sporting events, concerts).
Direction - Event
Includes live event coverage (i.e., sporting events, concerts).
Actor
Acting performance by a male in a program produced solely for film or video (no stage performances). This must be a single performance (no demo reels). The entry may contain excerpts from a single performance, provided the entire entry does not exceed the ten minute time limit. This does not include performances in a spokesperson or advertising role; however, dramatic portrayals in corporate productions are eligible. Entries must be accompanied by a head shot or photograph.
Actress
Acting performance by a female in a program produced solely for film or video (no stage performances). This must be a single performance (no demo reels). The entry may contain excerpts from a single performance, provided the entire entry does not exceed the ten minute time limit. This does not include performances in a spokesperson or advertising role; however, dramatic portrayals in corporate productions are eligible. Entries must be accompanied by a head shot or photograph.
Supporting Actor
Supporting acting performance by a male in a program produced solely for film or video (no stage performances). This must be a single performance (no demo reels). The entry may contain excerpts from a single performance, provided the entire entry does not exceed the ten minute time limit. This does not include performances in a spokesperson or advertising role; however, dramatic portrayals in corporate productions are eligible. Entries must be accompanied by a head shot or photograph.
Supporting Actress
Supporting acting performance by a female in a program produced solely for film or video (no stage performances). This must be a single performance (no demo reels). The entry may contain excerpts from a single performance, provided the entire entry does not exceed the ten minute time limit. This does not include performances in a spokesperson or advertising role; however, dramatic portrayals in corporate productions are eligible. Entries must be accompanied by a head shot or photograph.
Spokesperson
A performance in a spokesperson or advertising role. This includes corporate productions, infomercials and broadcast advertising. This must be a single performance (no demo reels). The entry may contain excerpts from a single performance, provided the entire entry does not exceed the ten minute time limit. Entries must be accompanied by a head shot or photograph.
Voice Over Narration
A voice over narration performance in a film, video or multimedia program. This must be a single performance (no demo reels). The entry may contain excerpts from a single performance, provided the entire entry does not exceed the ten minute time limit. This does not include programs produced for radio.
Visual Effects (Mechanical )
Special visual effects created for a film or video. This includes optical, mechanical, pyrotechnics, atmospherics, modeling and miniatures, stop motion, make up and stunts. This does not include computer animation.
Editing (Short Form)
Film or video editing on a program less than three minutes in length.
Editing (Long Form)
Film or video editing on a program more than three minutes in length.
Graphic Art Direction/Design
Post-production graphic art direction and design on a film or video.
Visual Effects (Post-production; Under $10,000)
Visual effects costing less than $10,000, created for any film or video program. This includes cell animation, compositing, and computer generated imagery.
Visual Effects (Post-production; $10,001+)
Visual effects costing $10,001 or more, created for any film or video program. This includes cell animation, compositing, and computer generated imagery.
Animation - Tag or Logo
Animated tag or logo with a maximum run time of 15 seconds, created for any film or video program.
Original Music Score
Original music composed for any film or video program.
Soundtrack Audio Mix
Creative use of sound design and mixing on a film or video. This includes sweetening, foley, music, etc.