2008 DVDA Excellence Awards

Categories, Rules and Conditions
(updated 2/14/08)

The annual DVDA Excellence Awards are presented by the DVD Association for the benefit of the DVD Community, our members and sponsors. These Awards recognize excellence in the talent, creativity, craftsmanship and application of technology in the production and authoring of DVD, Blu-Ray and HD DVD discs. Overall quality of a finished title is considered, but relative audience appeal of the content is not a criterion in the judging. Skills used in the art and science of the creation of each title determine the final score. The Excellence Awards are based on merit rather than a traditional competition. Entries are not ranked as first, second or third place; Instead, an independent panel of Optical Disc professionals will score a maximum of 100 points for each entry, based on designated criteria

To reflect the industry’s growth into the next generation of technology, the 2008 Excellence Awards are open to the Standard Definition and High Definition formats, DVD, HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc.

The different formats are not judged against each other, but rather, each title is evaluated objectively. This method makes it possible that there will be a single award, many awards or perhaps none in any given category. It also means that any or all of the formats can be deemed worthy of an “Excellence Award” in a given category.

RULES & REGULATIONS

Entry is open to all distributors, producers, publishers, artists, developers, authors and designers in all product categories. The Excellence Awards do not accept entries for adult entertainment content.

All entries must be published/released between April 1, 2007 and April 1, 2008.

By submitting a title, each participant warrants:

• It has fulfilled its legal obligations in obtaining clearance of co-authors
• It is sole creator with co-authors, and/or warrants it holds rights to title presented, and does not
harm any third party’s rights, or private life or likeliness, or infringe any law, especially copyright law

The DVD Association reserves the right to reject any title with content that, in its sole opinion, may be perceived as deliberately pornographic, discriminatory or violent. Titles submitted cannot be withdrawn from competition once the application has been accepted. Entrants are responsible for paying all costs for shipping titles to the DVDA. Should any discs or other media be lost or damaged during competition or shipment, DVDA shall not be held responsible and no compensation will be offered to entrant. All discs submitted for an entry shall become property of the DVDA.

2008 DVDA EXCELLENCE AWARDS SECTIONS

There are two separate divisions of Excellence Awards, CONTENT OWNER and DEVELOPER each with its own individual entry form.
Each division has its own set of categories, designed to address the particular audiences served within the industry.

The Facility/Individual Excellence Award nomination has its own separate form this year.
Nominations made in this category do not require an entry fee.

CONTENT OWNER EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Titles produced for DVD-Video, Blu-ray and HD DVD formats are all eligible to enter any category.
Each Award is presented to the studio or publisher. The content owner must submit or approve all entries.

CATEGORIES:

1. Children’s
Recognizes excellence in children’s programming, with an emphasis on high quality video and audio, sub pictures, interactive menus, and special features.

2. Theatrical
Recognizes excellence in the use of high quality video and audio, sub pictures, interactive menus, and special features.

3. Music
Recognizes excellence in the presentation of music content and/or music concerts with an emphasis on high quality multi-channel audio, interactive menus, multiple play lists, high quality still images, hybrid discs, etc.

4. Games
Recognizes excellence in Video games specifically designed to play on “set-top” players as well as desktop equipment. NOTE: PlayStation, Xbox, PC-based or titles that only work online, are not eligible.

5. Television Series
Recognizes excellence in content originally created for a television series with an emphasis on high quality video and audio, sub pictures, interactive menus, and special features.

6. Special Features
Recognizes excellence in the creation, quality, quantity and uniqueness of the special bonus features.

7. Advanced Interactivity
Recognizes excellence in enhancing a title’s effectiveness through the use of interactive technologies including, but not limited to, cross-platform applications, dual layer and/or dual side format, ROM and Web-enabled content, BD-J and HDi. Particular emphasis is given to the seamless integration of content from all media sources.

DEVELOPER EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Titles produced for DVD-Video, Blu-ray and HD DVD formats are all eligible to enter any category.
Award is presented to the Facility or Individual whose name appears in the credits and/or on the title’s packaging, or can otherwise prove they have done the work.

CATEGORIES:

1. Menus and Presentation
Recognizes excellence in the quality and presentation of their menus, with an emphasis on both the creative "look" and functional "feel" of the menu systems.

2. Audio
Recognizes excellence in the use of audio, with an emphasis on the quality of the audio, number of channels, number of tracks, and the integration of audio to enhance the overall quality of the title.

3. Authoring Design and Implementation
Recognizes excellence in the use of the navigation features, with an emphasis on SPRM and GPRM register usage, design complexity, interactive features, seamless branching, etc.

4. Video Encoding
Recognizes excellence in the art of encoding video, with an emphasis on the quality, the number of camera angles, length of video content, and the integration of video enhancing the title’s overall quality.

5. Advanced Interactivity
Recognizes excellence in enhancing a title’s effectiveness through the use of interactive technologies including, but not limited to, cross-platform applications, dual layer and/or dual side format, ROM and Web-enabled content, BD-J and HDi. Particular emphasis is given to the seamless integration of content from all media sources.

6. Duane Marquis Government Award
This award is given to those entries that demonstrate excellence for a Government (Federal, State, Local or Foreign) application.

7. Non-Entertainment
Recognizes excellence for non-entertainment purposes, such as in kiosks, sales and marketing, corporate communication, training or education.

8. Technical Achievement Excellence
Recognizes break-thru technical excellence in the creation, presentation of a title. This award will also recognize custom controllers or other external devices.

9. Music
Recognizes excellence in the presentation of music and/or music concerts.

10. Student Excellence Award
Recognizes excellence works created by students. Entrants must be registered high school or college students, and submit proof of registration.

FACILITY/INDIVIDUAL EXCELLENCE AWARD

This is a “craft” award recognizing excellence in a body of work from a production facility or individual.
Discs, Documents, testimonials and representative titles or other works must be submitted.

Note: The Facility or Individual must be nominated by a third party, not an employee of the facility.

HOW TO ENTER

Method: An online entry form must be submitted for each title. Forms are located in the Awards menu at www.dvda.org,

Entry fee : The basic entry fee is $150 per title, subject to the discounts described below

Early Submission Discount: Any titles submitted with payment up to 11:59 PM  PST, March 14, 2008 is eligible for a $25 discount off the initial entry fee (no discount on additional category fees). After 12:01 AM, PST, March 15, 2008, the full entry fee of $150 per title is required of non-DVDA members. Early submission discount and DVDA member discount cannot be combined; only one discount may be claimed by each entrant. Entry fees must be paid in full to the DVD Association at time of entry. Entry fees are non-refundable in all cases.

DVDA Member Discount: Any paid member of the DVD Association in good standing, or anyone who becomes a member by 12:01 AM, PST, March 15, 2008, can deduct $25 off title’s initial entry fee (no discount on additional category fees). Membership can be activated immediately online through PayPal at www.dvda.org.  PDF Membership application forms are available there for download, as well.

Additional Categories: Additional categories may be added for each title entered, at the rate of $75 per additional category. (e.g., one title entered in two categories = entry fee + $75; two titles each entered in one category = 2 x current entry fee).

Payment: Entry fees can be paid via Credit Card using PayPal.  If your geographic area is not served by PayPal, you may contact us to facilitate a direct Credit Card payment or wire transfer. Additionally, payment can occur via bank transfer, or check. Please contact us directly for details.

NOTE: irrespective of payment method, all entries must have their information submitted online.

Any discs or materials submitted cannot be returned.

Send 5 copies of each title entered, along with a copy of the completed entry form (one per title), and any other related documents to:

2008 DVDA Excellence Awards
c/o DVD Association
3727 W. Magnolia Blvd # 812
Burbank CA 91505
USA

All entry materials and fees must be in our possession no later than April 1, 2008.
Incomplete entries, including entries without entry fees paid, will be deemed ineligible.

CLAIMS

By entering the 2008 DVDA Excellence Awards, entrant agrees to full acceptance of all terms, conditions, rules and regulations. (That means, you have agreed to what you have read here)

JUDGING

All entries will be viewed by members in good standing of DVD Association, and judged on merit and demonstration of excellence.

The decisions of the judges are final.

DVDA EXCELLENCE AWARDS CEREMONY

DVDs, Blu-Ray and HD DVDs selected for recognition by 2008 DVDA Excellence Award Jury will be publicly honored during the DVDA Excellence Awards ceremony (schedule to be posted elsewhere on www.DVDA.org . The complete list of winners will be posted at www.dvda.org after the event. (See Award Menu for past winners.)

For non-commercial purposes by the DVDA,award winners agree to provide the DVDA with additional information regarding details of the winning entry -- including, without limitation, excerpts from titles, text, photographs, logos, video clips, audio recordings, company and personal profiles.  The DVD Association reserves the right to record, reproduce and distribute the 2008 DVDA Excellence Awards Ceremony for purposes of benefiting our members.

All entrants warrant DVDA is authorized to freely use any logos, trademarks, title, excerpts and other intangible rights and promotional items related to the entered DVD, Blu-ray and HD DVD titles. Entrant accordingly authorizes DVD Association to use its name and likeness, and that of its representative(s) on site during presentation of DVDA Awards. All discs submitted to accompany an entry become the property of the DVDA.