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August 15, 16, 17; 2008

Anime Music Videos

Entry Requirements:

  1. There is no limit to the number of videos that can be submitted. Only 1 video per category, per creator, will be allowed to compete. All other videos will be considered exhibition entries and will be show as time allows after all competing entries have been shown.
  2. Multi-editor videos are accepted; all editors are counted as participants in the category in which a multi-editor video competes.
  3. Categories for 2008 are Action, Comedy, Romance, Drama, and Dance/Up-Beat/Random.
    The staff reserves the ability to combine similar categories as necessary to provide a minimum of 2 competitors for each category.
  4. Entries may not contain subtitles (unless added by the editor), bumpers, title screens, MTV style credits, or any other form of identification. We will be creating our own uniform bumpers and we will not remove them for you.
  5. The running time for videos, excluding the black video before and after, may not exceed 6 minutes or be shorter then 25 seconds.
  6. Competing videos must contain at least 50% anime or video game footage.
  7. All videos must be in the hands of the Contest Coordinator by 11:59 pm, July 20th 2008.
  8. By submitting your video(s) to this contest you authorize us to screen and distribute it under the Anime Festival Wichita AMV contest title.
  9. All entries must contain an entry form. Those submitting multiple entries will need to submit a form for each video.
  10. Entrants must supply a working e-mail address. If you do not supply an e-mail address on your entry form then staff will be unable to contact you and your entry will be disqualified.
  11. Entries may be disqualified for the following reasons:
    • Objectionable content of video or lyrics.
    • Bad audio or video quality.
    • Failure to adhere to the contest rules.

Objectionable content includes excessive violence, excessive profanity, or sexually explicit footage or lyrics. If you are not sure if the above rule means your entry will be disqualified e-mail the contest coordinator (); we can view the content in question and make a decision.

Exceptions to the rules will be made on a video-by-video basis.

Entry Format:

  1. Entries will be accepted in the following formats:
    1. AVI
      1. HUFFYUV
      2. DIVX 4.x and later
      3. XVID
      4. DV
      5. DVCPRO
    2. MPEG-2
    3. MPEG-1
  2. Videotape and DVD-Video formatted entries will not be accepted.
  3. WMV, RM, MOV, or any other unapproved files will not be accepted.
  4. All videos should include 1 second of black video without audio before and after the video.
  5. Digital Video Showing Format Specifications:
    • MPEG-2 NTSC (4:3)
      • 720x480 frame size
      • 29.97 fps (interlaced), Lower field first
      • 3:2 pulldown (for progressive footage)
      • 2 pass VBR, avg 5000, max 9000, min 3000, 2-Pass
    • Uncompressed (.WAV)
      • 48 kHz
      • 16 bit Stereo

    This is how each video will be encoded for the contest showing. Videos conforming to the showing format will be played as submitted. If you want to be absolutely sure of your video quality, use these settings.

  6. Digital Video File format specifications, submitted videos must maintain the following:
    • Frame size: 720x480 or 640x480
    • Fram rate: 23.97fps or 24 fps (progressive) or 29.97 fps (interlaced)
    • 44.1 kHz or 48.0 kHz sample rate, Stereo or Mono, Linear PCM
      • You may submit your video with compressed audio; however, your video may be disqualified if there are any problems converting the audio if you do not include an uncompressed WAV along with your entry.

Submitting Entries:

Entry Forms:

  1. Entry forms must be typed.
  2. You must print the form and mail it in with your entry, or upload a copy with an FTP submission.
  3. One form must be completed for each entrant and video.
  4. Submissions by a group must have their own entry form, regardless if individuals in that group are also submitting their own entries. ex: an individual has submitted 2 videos, but is also a member for a group video. That individual must have a completed entry form for his/her individual videos, plus another completed entry form for the group project.
  5. When submitting via FTP, include a completed entry form with your submission. We will send out an e-mail upon receiving your entry. The entrant must then reply to our e-mail to confirm the entry; this will count as your “signature” for the entry form. Please note the complete rules under the FTP submission section.

CD / DVD Submissions

  1. We accept CD-R, DVD-R, DVD-R DL, DVD+R, and DVD+R DL. No CD-RW or DVD-/+RW, please.
  2. Be sure disks are single session and are closed.
  3. When burning to disc, please use the raw completed video files. Do not make an actual, authored DVD that plays like a movie. We accept raw data files only.
  4. When Labeling your videos for your disc, please use the following method: Category-Entrant’s Name-Title of Entry ex: Romance-JohnSmith-SailorMoonlight.avi
    We ask for this method, as this will help GREATLY in organizing all of the entries.
  5. When burning the raw data file of your entry onto disc, include a copy of your submission form. This will ensure that we have your information both on paper and disc, so we can always identify your video as needed.
  6. When your submission form is complete, please use the same naming preference as when naming your raw data files. ex: Romance-JohnSmith-SailorMoonlight.txt
  7. When creating your submission disc, the following information must be clearly written as the label for your disc:
    • The title “AFW4 AMV” at the top of the disc
    • Title of your video(s)
    • Name of Entrant(s)
    • Entrant’s E-mail address
    • Entrant’s phone number
  8. Mailing address for the AFW4 AMV contest is the following:
    Eagles Realm LLC
    ATTN: AMV CONTEST
    PO BOX 16326
    Wichita, KS 67216
  9. When the AFW4 staff has received your data disk, we will double check the entry information and test your video for playback capability and send you an e-mail with your video’s status.
  10. After your entry has been tested, we will e-mail you to notify as to whether or not the file plays properly.
  11. All physical media (CD-R, DVD-R, DVD+R, ect.) submitted becomes the property of AFW and will not be returned.

FTP Submissions

  1. For the AFW4 Contest, we will also be accepting submissions via FTP. Please use the following guidelines should you decide to submit in this manner:
    When submitting an entry, please submit the following:
    • The raw data file(s) of your video(s)
    • A text format file of your entry information, identical to the one required if you were to submit via CD / DVD entry.
    • Please create a folder and put your raw data file(s) and entry form into the folder for an organized ftp submission. Name your folder using the same naming preference as the raw data files.
    • Please name ALL your files, which includes your folder, your entry form(s), and your video(s). Please use the same naming system as the one described for the CD / DVD submissions. Category-Entrant's Name-Title of Entry ex: Romance-JohnSmith-SailorMoonlight

How to submit your video by FTP

  1. If you are interested in sending via FTP, please complete an entry form.
  2. Send the entry form attached to an e-mail to: WhtHawk@afwcon.org
  3. Label the subject of your e-mail: FTP REQUEST AFW4
  4. Once we have received your entry form, we will reply to you with the necessary information to be able to upload your video(s) to our FTP server.
  5. You will have 24 hours to complete your upload. If you need more time, be sure to contact the staff.
  6. When submitting your FTP entry, you must have in a file folder, a copy of your entry form, and your video(s). Yes, this means that the AFW4 staff will be receiving two entry forms from you when everything is complete. This will make sure that there are no errors in identifying each entry.
  7. When the AFW4 staff has received your FTP folder, we will double check the entry info and test your video for playback capability.
  8. After your entry has been tested, we will e-mail you to notify as to whether or not the file plays properly.
  9. We will also e-mail you to verify your entry information. You must reply to this e-mail, as this will count as your “digital signature” for the entry form, and thereby granting the AFW4 staff full permission to use your video.

Awards

  1. Best in Show (1 total)
  2. Best in category (1 per category judged)
  3. Other awards as determined by the staff and judges.

Awards will be presented at AFW. If the creator is not present, they are responsible for the collection of their award(s). This may be through a pre-arranged proxy at the convention, or by supplying the staff with the necessary materials and pre-paid labels to ship the awards to your location.

Judging

Entries shall be judged on the following criteria:

  1. Editing – Technical aspects of the creation of the submission including quality of audio and video, special effects, transitions, and their placement in the video. “Are the video and audio easy to see and understand? Do transitions and effects look good, and flow logically and consistently?"
  2. Cinematography - Overall quality of the submission and the use of video, audio, and editing in setting the mode and ambiance of the video. “Do the transitions or effects fit the type of submission? Have those elements contributed to the mood and ambiance fitting the category?”
  3. Originality – This covers the audio, video, and their choice. “Are the video and audio fresh, unusual, and/or used in new and different ways?”
  4. Artistic Merits – How well the creator conveys the purpose of the video as determined by the creator’s artistic statement. “Is there a dramatic story developed for the average viewer? Are jokes accessible and in context of the category?”
  5. Judges' Impression – This a largely subjective category based on the overall impression left by the video. “How well did the above work together? How much do the judges like the video?”

ENTRY FORM

Here is the entry form in pdf format:

AMV ENTRY FORM
And in .doc format:
AMV ENTRY FORM DOC

FaQ

Some frequently asked questions about AMVs are here.