Terms & Conditions
Please submit the highest quality dub/media for every entry so they can be judged accurately and winners screened in the best possible form at the Awards.16:9 Monitors are used for judging and at the Awards screening. All entries should be submitted in FULL HEIGHT ANAMORPHIC, 4:3 entries should be pillar boxed.
1. Gold Award Winners from each of the current State and Territory branch awards are the only entries eligible for the ACS National Awards. The branches will automatically enter the State Gold Award winning entries into the National Awards and cover the entry fees. No direct entries are allowed into the National Awards.
2. An “entry” constitutes a single entry. Each episode of a series is classed as a single entry. Multiple episodic entries must be on separate media and accompanied by individual entry forms.
3. Each entry must be submitted on a separate official entry form. The accompanying payment must be for the sum of all of the entries submitted. Payment to be made by EFT, cheque, cash or money order (made out to the relevant ACS State or Territory Branch), in Australian dollars only, or, if accepted, by a credit card approved by the relevant branch.
4. All entrants must be current financial members of the Society and have been totally responsible for the visual content and lighting of the entry.
5. All entries must have been completed, broadcast or released within two years of the current awards and must not have been previously entered into any other State or National ACS awards. Entries of a speculative nature can be entered in their relevant category if they are complete productions which have been screened to a third party.
6. Entrants in the Student Category may submit a maximum of two entries. Current Student members may only enter in the Student Category.
7. Each entry may be submitted in only one category.
8. All entries containing computer generated images (CGI) or CGI manipulation must include a description of such CGI and a time code reference of where it occurs and/or a description of the entrant’s role in said CGI work. Judges reserve the right to invalidate an entry considered CGI manipulated without a written explanation on the Entry form. Any entry produced without the aid of a film, video or data camera, using an optical lens will not be accepted.
9. Multiple camera or joint entries will not be accepted in any category (except the News Directors Award). If more than one cinematographer films an entry, then each cinematographer will have to enter separately, clearly highlighting their work by listing the relevant time codes. The work of other cinematographers and details of their involvement must be provided and clearly identified.
10. Each entry must be provided on a separate tape, film or DVD. All entries must be cued at the head of the work. Entries will only be accepted on the formats listed on this application form.
11. DVD entries must be properly formatted, finalised & chaptered. Please note; when submitting entries on DVD, ACS judges frequently note that the image quality of some DVDs is inferior, and some disks will not play at all. DVDs can also be difficult to navigate. Videotape is normally more reliable and the preferred format for judging. Please check all DVDs before sending. DVDs that will not play after trying at least two machines may be disqualified.
12. In the interests of anonymity for the judging panel, the entrant’s name should not appear in the opening vision or on the disk menu, (excluding finished production credits).
13. The adjudication panel will consist of Accredited members of the ACS. The panel may award as many, or as few, Gold, Silver or Bronze awards as it deems appropriate or withhold giving an award in any category where no entry reaches a sufficiently high standard. The decisions of the panel will be final and binding and no correspondence or discussion whatsoever will be entered into.
14. The adjudication panel may re-categorise any entry, which it considers to have been entered incorrectly. Where possible, the judging panel Chair will contact the entrant, giving the entrant the opportunity to accept the change or withdraw the entry. No fees will be refundable as a result of this action.
15. The News Directors Award will be judged in each state by a panel of News Directors, or senior representatives, from as many networks/stations in that state as is practicable. This is the only category where multiple camera persons may enter the one item together. As this Award is for the best Australian news story, not necessarily for cinematography alone, Gold plaques will be awarded to the winning Cinematographer(s) and their Network. No Tripod or Milli Award for best cinematography will be awarded in this category at the National Awards.
16. All entries must be received by the due time and date and late entries will not be accepted for judging.
17. The Society will take all due care but WILL ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE TO AN ENTRY. INSURANCE OF THE ENTRY IS THE ENTRANTS RESPONSIBILITY.
18. Entries other than State GOLD winners, will be held for collection for up to 6 months, after which time they will be discarded. If an entrant is at a distant location and if a correct address is provided, entries can be retuned by post or courier. The Society will pay return freight only. The ACS will return State and Territory GOLD winners after the National Awards.
19. Copyright clearance and related permissions from the relevant Producer(s) to screen an entry are the entrant’s responsibility. The Society accepts no responsibility for any copyright infringement.
These Terms & Conditions are Effective July 2009
