2015 ACS National Awards
Awards Guidlines - Copyright Australian Cinematographers Society.
CAT 1: CineKids
Productions shot by ACS CineKids members who are 15 years old or under. There are two levels of entries: (a) Up to 9 Years (b) 10 - 15 Years. Entries must put your Date of Birth on the entry form. There will be a Gold award certificate and an Encouragement award in both age groups. A maximum of 2 entries per CineKid is allowed.
CAT 2: Student Cinematography
Productions filmed by student members of the Society who were cinematography students at time of filming the entry. Gold Student winners from each State awards will be automatically entered into the National Awards to compete for the "Best National Student Cinematographer" Gold Plaque, but will not be eligible for a Golden Tripod or the Milli Award. A maximum of 2 entries per student are permitted in this category. Entrants must state in the online entry form which cinematography/film course they were attending at the time of production of the entry.
CAT 3: Experimental & Specialised
Entries must be experimental cinematography as distinct from experimental films. Specialised cinematography can include stop motion, micro / macro, medical, engineering, etc. Specialised portions of productions may be entered. Art installations, Building projections, etc, may fit into this category. Entrants must state time codes relevant to their work.
CAT 4: John Bowring ACS TV Station Breaks / Promos
Includes promos, openers, closers, teasers and TV station ID's for 'free to air' and 'subscription' TV networks.
Entries must have been specifically shot for this purpose and not just cut down material from an actual program.
CAT 5: Music Clips
Musical items shot for the purpose of entertainment or promotion. Entrants must state whether they were totally responsible for all lighting.
CAT 6: Syd Wood ACS Local / National News
News segments or stories broadcast on any daily news service, filmed within Australia. Stories filmed by more than one cinematographer must clearly state the time codes for the entrants work. Other cinematographers involved in the same story may enter the same item as a separate entry, again indicating their work by stating relevant time codes.
CAT 7: Neil Davis International News
News segments or stories broadcast on any daily news service, filmed internationally. Stories filmed by more than one cinematographer must clearly state the time codes for the entrants work. Other cinematographers involved in the same story may enter the same item as a separate entry, again indicating their work by stating relevant time codes.
CAT 8: Current Affairs
Segments or stories broadcast on daily or weekly television current affairs programs (E.G. '7.30 Report', 'A Current Affair', 'Today Tonight', 'Sunday Night', 'Four Corners', 'Australian Story' & 'Foreign Correspondent'). Stories filmed by more than one cinematographer must state time codes for the entrant's work. Other cinematographers involved in the same story may enter the same item as a separate entry, again indicating their work by stating relevant time codes. NB: Entries which are more documentary in nature and which run for the entire duration of the program have the option of choosing one of either Cat. 7 Current Affairs or Cat. 11 Documentaries, Cinema & TV.
CAT 9: TV Magazine, Lifestyle & Reality
Programs or segments which are 'human interest' covering; travel, leisure, gardening, property, cooking, entertainment, science, sports and the arts. Entries must be of a light nature & not hard news or current affairs.
CAT 10: Corporate & Educational
Productions for a corporate or educational market designed to teach or inform. Corporate videos, real estate sales videos, OHS, training or how to operate films, etc., would be included in this category.
CAT 11: Web & New Media
Narrative web content, fictional, doco, or promotional material created for online release. Includes webisodes, short docos & commercial content released on the web. “Spec” ads that do not have a paid media TV schedule should be entered into this category. Only one episode (webisode) of a series, per entrant, may be eligible for an award.
CAT 12: Documentaries, Cinema & TV
Traditional documentary productions, normally dealing with any aspect of man in relation to his environment. Includes any full-length television documentary and those current affairs subjects that constitute the entire program. (E.G. 'Australian Story' and 'Four Corners')
CAT 13: Ron Taylor AM ACS Wildlife & Nature
A production primarily about animals, plants or the natural environment.
CAT 14: Virtual Cinematography
Computer generated imagery (CGI) for productions created or enhanced with the use of a virtual cine camera with virtual lighting. Entrant must clearly state their involvement.
CAT 15: Commercials - Local / Regional
Low budget advertising productions aimed primarily at local, regional TV and not shown nationally. eg: Brisbane = Local, Townsville = Regional, National = 2 or more States. Commercials that are longer than conventional television times, "Spec" ads and those designed for the web may be entered in Cat 10.
CAT 16: Commercials - National / International
Commercials for national or international television/cinema release. (National = release in 2 or more States.) State any CGI or computer manipulation. Commercials that are longer than conventional television times, "Spec" ads and those designed for the web may be entered in Cat 10.
CAT 17: Dramatised Documentaries
Documentaries based on real life situations or re-enactments of actual events that involve professional actors who are controlled by a Director.
CAT 18: Fictional Drama Shorts
Short dramatised productions intended for film festivals, cinema, television or DVD release, which do not qualify as Features - Cinema, Telefeatures, Mini Series, TV Drama or Comedy.
CAT 19: Telefeatures, Mini Series, TV Drama or Comedy
Productions intended solely for television release. Only one episode of a series per entrant may be eligible for an award.
CAT 20: Features - Cinema
Feature productions intended for national or international cinema release.
Notes:
Gold winners are automatically entered into the ACS National Awards for Cinematography. At the National Awards the Student and Virtual Categories are ineligible for the Milli Award.
