BRCFF

Our awards are based solely around the 10 Principles of Burning Man, and we accept shorts (under 5mins), animations and music videos. We also accept Feature Films, though they *Must* be submitted via videogasm@blackrockcityfilmfestival.com), If you have a film that touches on any of the 10 themes of Burning Man’s principles outlined below, then we potentially have an award for your film.

RADICAL INCLUSION (FILM AWARD)
Anyone may be a part of Burning Man. We welcome and respect the stranger. No prerequisites exist for participation in our community.

GIFTING (FILM AWARD)
Burning Man is devoted to acts of gift giving. The value of a gift is unconditional. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value.

DECOMMODIFICATION (FILM AWARD)
In order to preserve the spirit of gifting, our community seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorships, transactions, or advertising. We stand ready to protect our culture from such exploitation. We resist the substitution of consumption for participatory experience.

RADICAL SELF-RELIANCE (FILM AWARD)
Burning Man encourages the individual to discover, exercise and rely on his or her inner resources.

RADICAL SELF-EXPRESSION (FILM AWARD)
Radical self-expression arises from the unique gifts of the individual. No one other than the individual or a collaborating group can determine its content. It is offered as a gift to others.
In this spirit, the giver should respect the rights and liberties of the recipient.

COMMUNAL EFFORT (FILM AWARD)
Our community values creative cooperation and collaboration. We strive to produce, promote and protect social networks, public spaces, works of art, and methods of communication that support such interaction.

CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY (FILM AWARD)
We value civil society. Community members who organize events should assume responsibility for public welfare and endeavor to communicate civic responsibilities to participants. They must also assume responsibility for conducting events in accordance with local, state and federal laws.

LEAVING NO TRACE (FILM AWARD)
This award is proudly presented by Disappear Here Film Festival, taking place in Ireland each September. (www.disappearherefilmfest.com)
Our community respects the environment. We are committed to leaving no physical trace of our activities wherever we gather. We clean up after ourselves and endeavor, whenever possible, to leave such places in a better state than when we found them.

PARTICIPATION (FILM AWARD)
Our community is committed to a radically participatory ethic. We believe that transformative change, whether in the individual or in society, can occur only through the medium of deeply personal participation. We achieve being through doing. Everyone is invited to work. Everyone is invited to play. We make the world real through actions that open the heart.

IMMEDIACY (FILM AWARD)
Immediate experience is, in many ways, the most important touchstone of value in our culture.
We seek to overcome barriers that stand between us and a recognition of our inner selves, the reality of those around us, participation in society, and contact with a natural world exceeding human powers. No idea can substitute for this experience.

In 2022 we will also present Awards in the following categories: Best Animation, Best Experimental, Best Documentary/Biography, Demonstrates Most Principals, Best Burner Filmmaker, Best Non-Burner Filmmaker, Best BM Theme Related, Audience Choice, Best of Show.

Black Rock Categories

Best Experimental Film
The movie is an experiment in creating cinematic experiences that challenge traditional narrative structures and conventions of filmmaking. Using various abstracting techniques such as out-of-focus shots, painting or scratching on film, rapid editing, asynchronous soundtracks and nonlinear narrative structure to create a unique experience for the viewer.

Best Animated Film
The best animated films are those where the major characters are animated, and where no less than 75 percent of the running time is animated. Telling a story, communicating a feeling, or selling an idea that would be too difficult, expensive or impossible to film in real life.

Best Biography
A biographical film, or biopic, is one that covers the life of a genuine individual. It attempts to comprehensively tell a person's life story or at least the most historically important years focusing on very specific moments. Taking "creative license" with parts of the individual's life or character for dramatic purposes.

Best Documentary
Documentaries are a film genre that use a non-fictional cinematic style to present the material. The word “documentary” is used to describe both the actual filmed piece as well as the film's genre.

Best Film By A Burner

Best Film By A Non-Burner

Best Burning Man Related

Demonstrates The Most Principles

Best Representation Of This Year’s Theme “Waking Dreams”

Audience Choice