Anime North Music Video Competition

Anime Music Video 2005 winners page - Link

General Rules:

Music videos can be submitted for any category. A total of up to two entries per individual entrant will be accepted: One entry must be entered in either the Premiere, Open or Novice categories and the other must be entered in the Exhibition or Momiji's Challenge. All entries must be postmarked no later than Monday April 11th 2005 and received no later than Friday April 15th 2005, at:

Anime North Music Video Competition
c/o 180 Columbia Drive
Hamilton, Ontario, CANADA
L9C 3Y6

DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS. Send copies only. DVDs, CD-Vs, and videotapes cannot be returned and become the property of Anime North. All tapes must be clearly labeled with the real name, e-mail address, mailing address and phone number of the entrant. Each entry must include a title, source of music, source of video clips, class, entry category, and a brief statement (maximum 50 words, longer statements will be penalized) outlining the artistic vision/intent of the video. A sample entry form will be available for downloading.

Entry Form (PDF format)

Please submit entries on CD-ROM or DVD in a format (CD-V or DVD) that can be played on a standard DVD Player (such as a Panasonic DVD-RV32). Ensure VHS entries are submitted on new, good quality videotapes to insure adequate reproduction. Videos that are drawn from poor source material or poorly reproduced on used videotape will not be shown.

All entries will be prescreened based on the judging criteria noted below. Those videos that make the finalists' cut will be shown at specific events at Anime North with their associated awards presented immediately following the viewing. The remaining videos will be shown at various times during the convention except for the videos classified by the judges as Alternative that did not make the finalists' cut, which will be shown late Saturday evening. Every effort will be made to show every video submitted to the competition at least once in convention function space.

Categories:

There will be five categories for entrants this year. They are:

Premier: This category has been created for AMV heavyweights - these include the master creators whose preeminence in this field is well documented. The entry must be completed no earlier than Nov 1st, 2004. Technical excellence is assumed and any video with a marked score lower than 80% will be moved to the Exhibition category. The winner of this category will receive the Northern Lights Award for best overall music video at Anime North 2005.

Open: This category is open to anyone who wants to pit his or her entry against some of the best creators in anime fandom. Four awards will be presented based on excellence in meeting aspects of the judging criteria as detailed below.

Novice: This category is for to entrants who do not feel comfortable entering the Open category. These neophytes have made less than 10 music videos and have never won an award or prize for their work. The winner of this category will receive the Newcomer's award and a promotion to the Open category next year.

Exhibition: This category is not judged and is open to anyone who wishes to submit a video for the general viewing pleasure of the convention attendees. As an exception to the general rules, the AMVs in this category can be from any year.

Momiji's Challenge: Our mascot really likes AMVs. However, like Chairman Kaga of Iron Chef fame, she wanted to see something different from your average AMV format. Therefore, she badgered us into creating this category to test the entrants' mettle. The inaugural challenge is to create a one-minute video. The theme is left open to the entrants, but the goal is to create a self-contained music video exactly 60 seconds long from the time the music and video starts to when it stops. All the standard judging criteria apply, but in addition, each entry will be penalized by 10% of their total mark for every full second their AMV is either over OR under one minute. The winner will receive the Momiji's Challenge Award

Additionally, the top AMVs from the Premier, Open, Novice and Challenge categories will advance to a second round of judging to determine the winner of the Momiji no Video Award as the judges' favorite AMV for Anime North 2005.

Judging Criteria:

Competition entries must use music as the main soundtrack. Vocal and instrumental music from any genre and language is acceptable. Entries must be no shorter than 1 minute and no longer than 6 minutes. At least two thirds of the footage must be from Japanese Animation. The remainder may be provided from other sources such as Live Action or North American animation. Eroticism, sensuality (ecchi, lemon), violent action and ludicrous over-the-top cartoon violence are acceptable. Coarse language in song lyrics should conform to that which is acceptable on Canadian radio or in a PG-13 film.

Videos that do not meet the above requirements and/or include graphic sex, extreme violence, misogyny and sexual violence (hentai) shall be marked by the judges as Alternative entries - if they make the finalists' cut then they will be shown late in the program. Those that do not make the cut shall be shown late Saturday evening.

WARNING: Videos that use footage from other Anime Music Videos must have written consent from the original creator of the source video (along with original creator contact information) or else the video will be disqualified.

Music videos will be judged based on the following criteria:

Editing: This includes the technical aspects of the AMV, including special effects, cutting, fading and pacing of the images to the music.

Cinematography: This includes the overall quality of the AMV visual and audio components. This also includes the mood and atmosphere created and how special effects enhance the video.

Originality: This includes the creative use of footage and music to make the video into something unique and never seen before.

Artistic Vision: How well does the creator execute their statement of artistic vision/intention? How bold is it? This involves the visceral impact it has on the audience, good or bad.

Judges' Impression: This is the most subjective of the criteria - how well the judges like the video.

Awards:

The Inukshuks are back again this year as awards for video excellence. Winners will have their name (and/or studio name) and video title engraved on trophies to be presented during the convention.

The awards are:

Some videos that do not win awards will receive Honourable Mentions.

If anyone requires further clarification, please contact the Anime Music Video Competition Coordinator at bradley.bellows@3web.net .

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