38th ASC Awards - Documentary Award Category
ASC DOCUMENTARY AWARD - RULES & TERMS
Documentary Eligibility Period
December 1, 2022 - November 30, 2023
Submission Deadlines
•Documentary Submissions open SEPTEMBER 18, 2023
•Documentary Submissions close NOVEMBER 7, 2023 - Extended Deadline
RULES OF ELIGIBILITY
PLEASE READ THE RULES OF ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS CAREFULLY. FAILURE TO MEET ANY OF THE RULES OR REQUIREMENTS MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION ALL RULES, ELIGIBILITY, AND DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Criteria For Documentary Eligibility
•Documentary film with a minimum total running time of 30 minutes OR a single episode of a Documentary Series with a minimum total running time of 30 minutes
•Must have had a commercial theatrical release, broadcast or streamed on television within the United States on a commercial network, a publicly sponsored broadcast system, or pay outlet, or played at a major film festival between DECEMBER 1, 2022 and NOVEMBER 30, 2023
•No more than two (2) primary credited director(s) of photography or cinematographer(s)
•Cinematographers credited under “Additional Photography”, or “Additional Cinematographers” are not eligible for submission
•Multiple episodes of the same series with different directors of photography/cinematographers may be submitted separately, i.e., one series episode per director(s) of photography per entry
•Cinematographers may submit multiple entries provided each submission represents distinctly different film or series titles
•No more than 25% of the documentary may be archival footage, or footage from another source that isn’t the credited cinematographer(s). This includes historical footage, stock footage, news footage, third-party footage, footage captured by the subjects, etc
•No more than 25% of the documentary may be re-created footage. Re-created footage in which the filmmakers have full “scripted” control over the environment with “performers” (actual subjects or actor portrayals) and full control over lighting, takes and retakes, sound, camera setups, location, set dressing, etc. – does not qualify for documentary cinematography as it borders into scripted narrative
•Reality television is ineligible for consideration, including contest-driven or competition programming and programming following the life or work of select individuals intended primarily for entertainment rather than to be informative on a particular subject. Also excluded are variety, news, broadcast sports and talk shows
RULES OF ENTRY
Requirements for Submission
1. One entry per title/series per cinematographer(s)
2. $200 fee per Documentary entry
3. Entries must include:
a) Downloadable link of, or reasonable access to the complete film or full episode
b) 5–7-minute continuous segment representing the best cinematographic selection of the submission. This segment must be a whole portion, in continuity, and may not be a montage or edited in any way
•Uploaded 5-7-minute excerpt on HD data file to FilmFreeway
•H264 or H265 1920x1080 at 23.98 or 24 fps total runtime between 5 – 7 minutes
•Please label as NameofProject_doc (if Documentary Film) OR NameofProject_Episode#
c) Cinematographer(s) name credit as they appear on screen
d) The dates and location of the theatrical qualifying run, broadcast, or film festival
4. Do not include title sequences featuring the director of photography's name
5. Entries must be submitted with their original sound accompaniment
6. Personal headshot (will be used on screen in the event of a nomination)
FAILURE TO MEET ANY OF THE ABOVE CRITERIA & REQUIREMENTS MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION
THE ASC SHALL RESOLVE ALL QUESTIONS OF ELIGIBILITY AND RULES AND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DECLARE ANY SUBMISSION INELIGIBLE
NO REFUNDS
QUESTIONS
For questions regarding the rules of entry, please contact Delphine@theasc.com
For questions regarding FilmFreeway submission process please contact Sal@theasc.com