Filmmakers from around the world are invited to register now to make a short 4-7 minute documentary under an assigned environmental theme and a given topic for Fusion's Project Earth Doc Challenge. The films are judged by a jury and the top 12 films premiere at DOCNYC, America’s largest documentary festival, in November 2016. The winners are awarded $11,000+ in prizes and the top 20 films receive distribution on FUSION network.

When your team registers for the challenge, you can choose between two dates to make your film: September 9-13 or September 12-16, 2016. From each of these dates, you will have 120 hours to complete your film. On your start date, you will receive two environmental themed topics. Your team will choose which topic you want for your film's focus.

Once the challenge is completed, an industry panel of judges will narrow the films down to the top 20 best films. These 20 films will screen on Fusion Media's network and distribution channels over the course of the next two years. From the top 20, 12 films will be selected to premiere at DOCNYC in November 2016. Each team will receive one all access pass to DOCNYC. There will be additional screenings of the top 12 finalist films including The International Audience Awards Film Festival at the Laemmlee Theater in North Hollywood, April 1 - 3, 2017 and at The International Wildlife Film Festival in Missoula, Montana, Spring 2017.

From the top 20, films will be awarded "FUSION" award, the "Doc Challenge" award, Doc Challenge honorable mention, best in directing, cinematography, editing, use of genre, score and best film from each topic.

Audience voting for the films will run May 2-8, 2017. Audience Awards provides a stage for short films and engaging stories. Our platform is dedicated to celebrating the power of storytelling and building an audience for short films and filmmakers. Created by filmmakers, for filmmakers, we are here to help you grow your career and fund your film dreams. The International Documentary Challenge has served the film community since 2006.

The FUSION Project Earth Documentary Challenge will award a total of $11,700 to the FUSION, Doc Challenge and Audience Awards selected films. $7,500 will be awarded to the top films and an additional $3,000 will be donated to a Green organization that the FUSION selected winner designates from a list of such organizations compiled by FUSION. Each of the 12 finalist will win an additional $100 Audience Awards site credit to use towards future contests and challenges. Each finalist team will receive one all access pass to DOCNYC - a $750 value per pass.

JURY AWARDS
Doc Challenge Award: $2500
FUSION Award: $3,000 + $3,000 donation to a green non profit
AUDIENCE AWARDS
1st Place Audience Award: $1000
2nd Place Audience Award: $700
3rd Place Audience Award: $300

Green Non Profits winning filmmaker can choose to award the $3,000 donation:
Humane Society International
Sea Shepard
Jane Goodall Institute
Mission Blue
African Parks

1. ELIGIBILITY: FUSION Project Earth Documentary Challenge (“Challenge”) is open to individuals across the world. The following individuals are not eligible: (i) employees, contractors, directors and officers of Audience Awards and FUSION Media Network, LLC (“FUSION”); (ii) their subsidiaries and affiliated companies; their distributors, web design, advertising, fulfillment, judging and other agencies involved in the administration, development, fulfillment and execution of this Challenge (categories (i) and (ii) collectively, "Challenge Parties"); and (iii) the immediate family members of Challenge Parties (defined as spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, and spouse or "step" of each) and those living in their same households (defined as those persons whether related or not who live in the same residence for at least three months during the twelve-month period preceding the start date of the Challenge).

2. TO ENTER: To register for the Challenge, follow the instructions found on http://theaudienceawards.com/fusion/2016-fusion-project-earth-doc-challenge/register. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and space is limited. Here is the entry fee breakdown:

Earlybird Deadline: May 31, 2016 12:00pm MT- Entry Fee: $99 Regular Deadline: Aug 16, 2016 12:00pm MT- Entry Fee: $125 Late Deadline: Aug 24, 2016 12:00pm MT- Entry Fee: $150 Extended Deadline: Aug 31, 2016 08:00am MT- Entry Fee: $199

3. Times: The Challenge will kick off by September 1, 2016 and conclude by September 9, 2016. At kickoff, Entrants will receive the Challenge assignment and will be given exactly five (5) consecutive calendar days to make and submit a video that conforms to the entry. 2016 The FUSION Project Earth Documentary Challenge allows filmmakers to choose their five days of competition. Filmmakers have their choice of two start dates: September 9-13 or September 12-16, 2016. Once the five days are chosen, the team leader will receive the assignment at 12:00 pm their local time and on the designated start day and will turn in the film and all required forms, images and film 121 hours later by 1:59 am their local time. There is a one hour period after the 120 hour period expires that entrants will be given to upload all required forms, images and film. There is no refund for withdrawal.

4. During the official Challenge period, all creativity will take place, including but not limited to:

Researching the subject matter
Writing the script (if applicable)
Shooting
Editing
Graphics and Sound Design
Rendering
Outputting to tape or other media

5. The only work to begin prior to the "Official Doc Challenge Time Period" is:
Organizing Crew
Securing Equipment
Scouting/Securing Locations
Acquiring Music

6. At least 50% of the footage must be photographed within the time period of the project. Stock footage and photographs are permitted but cannot account for more than half of the footage used. Participants must have all rights to the stock footage and include a release that states this.

7. To ensure the films were made within the required time frame, each team must prove the date the film was made by adding a time element to the credits of the film. This must be done by having someone who appears in your film hold a newspaper on screen. The date of the newspaper must be large enough to read. This should be done in the credits of the film so as to not affect the flow of your film.

8. Each participating group must provide the 2016 The FUSION Project Earth Documentary Challenge organizers with two e-mail addresses. On the date the team leader chooses to begin production, at 12 pm. local time, the team leader will receive two randomly generated topics (from which you must choose one to produce) that must be the mission of the film. To qualify as an official " 2016 FUSION Project Earth Documentary Challenge Film," each group's film must be in one of the topics it receives. You must not share the genres with anyone except your team members until September 14, 2016.

9. All cast and crew must be volunteers.

10. The finished film must be a minimum of 4 minutes in duration, and a maximum of 7 minutes in duration-not including credits.

11. Credits at the end of each film are limited to a maximum of 60 seconds. The 60 seconds is considered additional to the length of the film. (That is, a film may be 7 minutes long, with an additional 60 seconds of credits, for a total running time of 8 minutes.)

12. Any type of video or film camera may be used, however, a maximum of only three video cameras may be used. (Still photos from still cameras are allowed in addition to this 3 video camera limit, DSLRs used for video count against the 3-camera limit.)

13. Sound recordings and Sound Effects: Sound recorders are allowed in addition to the three-camera limit above. As with music, pre-recorded sound effects are allowed, but you must have rights to use them.

15. Films must be submitted online on TheAudienceAwards.com along with all required forms and images by 1:59AM your local time five days after competition begins. Allow for compression and upload. Your film must be less than 1 gb. Films must be compressed with H264 Motion HPEG A, Apple Pro Res 422, DVCProHD.

16.If your film is selected as a top 20 finalist, you must submit a Pro Res, full HD version of your film by mail.

17. Before the finished film begins, the tape should have:
2 seconds of black
A title card with: team name, title, city & country, genre
A title card with:?"This film was made for the “2016 The FUSION Project Earth Documentary Challenge http://theaudienceawards.com/fusion/2016-fusion-project-earth-doc-challenge”
2 seconds of black
Your film

18. The producer/team leader for each group must submit a complete and signed paper copy of the Team Leader's Agreement.

19. Each team must secure talent, crew, music releases and location releases, which must be turned in to the challenge organizers with the finished film/video. The film/video will not be judged or screened unless the 2016 The FUSION Project Earth Documentary Challenge receive the signed releases.

20. To be eligible for the Challenge, Entries must be the original work of the Entrant; must not infringe third-party's rights; must be suitable for publication (i.e., may not be obscene or indecent); must not contain obscene or pornographic material; may not contain defamatory statements about any person, company, organization or entity; may not invade privacy or other rights of any person, company or entity; may not in any other way violate applicable laws and regulations; and may not contain any copyrighted elements (other than as owned by the Entrant and/or 2016 The FUSION Project Earth Documentary Challenge. Entries containing prohibited or inappropriate content as determined by 2016 The FUSION Project Earth Documentary Challenge in its sole discretion, to be inappropriate will be disqualified. 2016 FUSION Project Earth Documentary Challenge reserves the right to make the final determination as to which Entries are eligible.

21. Participating groups are encouraged to work with a local composer and/or musicians to write and record music for the films. It is permissible for a participating group to use pre-recorded music; however the participating group must have the rights to any music used in its film and must provide a release for all music used. If you create your own music using a music software program like Soundtrack, please sign the release yourself as the owner of the program.

22. The Entrant must submit a Certification Statement with his/her completed Entry, certifying adherence to all Official Rules.

23. To be certified as an "Official 2016 The FUSION Project Earth Documentary Challenge," each participating group's film/video production must follow all rules herein. The 2016 The FUSION Project Earth Documentary Challenge Organizers reserve the right to screen only certified "Official 2016 FUSION Project Earth Documentary Challenge Films."

24. No Entries (media or documents) will be returned.

25. 2016 FUSION Project Earth Documentary Challenge and Challenge Parties may, in their sole discretion, disqualify Entries deemed to be inappropriate or otherwise non-compliant.

26. Entrants films will be made available in TheAudienceAwards.com digital library and may compete in Audience Awards competitions.

27. The Doc Challenge Organizers may add to or amend these rules at any time prior to the beginning of the Challenge time period.

28. Entrants will be required to sign the standard Challenge Team Leader's Agreement that sets forth the rights of Entrant, Audience Awards, and FUSION with respect to the use of Entries by FUSION and Audience Awards. A copy of this Agreement is available at http://theaudienceawards.com/fusion/2016-fusion-project-earth-doc-challenge. Individuals under the legal age of majority in their state of residence must have a parent or legal guardian sign the Agreement on their behalf. Individuals may elect to collaborate on an Entry, but they must designate one (1) person as the leader of the group to enter the Challenge, agree to these Official Rules, sign the Team Leader's Agreement and accept the prize on behalf of the group. Neither FUSION, nor Audience Awards nor any of the Challenge Parties are liable for any disputes between collaborators arising out of or related to the Challenge. Entries that do not include all required information and adhere to the foregoing and following requirements will be considered void and will not be considered in this Challenge.

29. All costs associated with the production of an Entry are solely the responsibility of the Entrant.

30. Eligible Entries will be judged based on the judging criteria stated below in Paragraph 8 below.

31. PROJECT TERMS OF SUBMISSION: By submitting an Entry into this Challenge, each Entrant warrants and represents that the Entrant owns all rights to the Entry he/she submits, including, without limitation, the video or digital recording, and the performance contained in each Entry, with the exception of any assets provided by the Challenge for use by Entrants. Each Entrant further warrants and represents that the Entrant has obtained permission from each person who appears in the Entry to grant the rights to the Challenge Parties described in these Official Rules, and will submit copies of such permissions to the Challenge Parties. By submitting an Entry, Entrant agrees to the Official Rules, and further agrees to indemnify and hold FUSION, Audience Awards, and the Challenge Parties (collectively, the "Challenge Indemnitees"), harmless from any and all claims, damages, expenses, costs (including reasonable attorneys' fees) and liabilities (including settlements), brought or asserted by any third party against any of the Challenge Indemnitees due to or arising out of the Entrant's Entry materials in this Challenge, or the Entrant's conduct during and in connection with this Challenge, including but not limited to trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property rights, right of publicity, right of privacy or defamation. Entrant also agrees to release, indemnify and hold harmless FUSION, Audience Awards and the Challenge Parties from any and all claims that any advertising, presentation, web content or any other material subsequently produced, presented, and/or prepared by or on behalf of FUSION, Audience Awards or the Challenge Parties infringes on the rights of Entrant's work as contained in any Entry.

31. JUDGING PROCESS: Judges Prizes: Entries will be judged by a process in which a qualified panel of judges ("Judges") will evaluate each eligible Entry based on the following judging criteria:
Creativity (45%)
Technical Merit (30%)
Adherence to the Assignment (25%)

In the event of a tie, the tie will be broken based on the highest score in the first Judging Criteria, continuing thereafter to each Judging Criteria in order, as needed to break the tie. Entrants agree that Audience Awards has the sole right to decide all matters and disputes arising from this Challenge and that all decisions of Audience Awards are final

Audience Award: The top 12 rated films from the Judges ratings will be considered the "finalists" for the Audience Awards. These 12 finalists will be streamed on theaudienceawards.com, where viewers can watch the films and vote for all of their favorites. The top three most voted films will receive the three Audience Award prizes. All submitting filmmakers receive a filmmaker profile page at The Audience Awards.

32. PRIZES: Six winners will receive cash prizes – a Doc Challenge winner, a FUSION winner, and three Audience Award winners. The Doc Challenge selected winner will receive $2,500; The FUSION selected winner will receive $3,000 and the top three Audience Award winners will receive $2,000 total. The Audience Awards 1st place most voted film wins $1000, 2nd place most voted wins $700 and third place most voted film wins $300. Each of the 12 finalist will win an additional $100 Audience Awards site credit to use towards future contests and challenges. FUSION will also make a $3,000 donation to an environmental organization that the FUSION selected winner designates from a list of such organizations compiled by FUSION.

33. The twelve Finalist films will be premiered at an event to be mutually agreed upon. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall remain in effect through the expiration of the License Period.

34. GENERAL CONDITIONS: By participating, Entrants agree to these Official Rules, which are final and binding in all respects. The Challenge is governed by the laws of the state of California, USA, and all claims must be resolved in California courts or the Federal courts located in California. The Doc Challenge is open to filmmakers from all nations across the world.

35. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY AND RELEASE: No liability or responsibility is assumed by FUSION, Audience Awards or Challenge Parties resulting from any user's participation in or attempt to participate in the Challenge or ability or inability to upload or download any information in connection with participating in the Challenge. No responsibility or liability is assumed by FUSION, Audience Awards or Challenge Parties for technical problems or technical malfunction arising in connection with any of the following occurrences which may affect the operation of the Challenge: hardware or software errors; faulty computer, telephone, cable, satellite, network, electronic, wireless or Internet connectivity or other online communication problems; errors or limitations of any Internet service providers, servers, hosts or providers; garbled, jumbled or faulty data transmissions; failure of any e-mail transmissions to be sent or received; lost, late, delayed or intercepted e-mail transmissions; inaccessibility of the Website in whole or in part for any reason; traffic congestion on the Internet or the Website; unauthorized human or non-human intervention of the operation of the Challenge, including without limitation, unauthorized tampering, hacking, theft, virus, bugs, worms; or destruction of any aspect of the Challenge, or loss, miscount, misdirection, inaccessibility or unavailability of an email account used in connection with the Challenge. FUSION, Audience Awards and Challenge Parties are not responsible for any typographical errors in the announcement of prizes or these Official Rules, or any inaccurate or incorrect data contained on the Website. Use of Website is at user's own risk. FUSION, Audience Awards and the Challenge Parties are not responsible for any personal injury or property damage or losses of any kind which may be sustained to user's or any other person's computer equipment resulting from participation in the Challenge, use of the Website or the download of any information from the website.

36. WINNERS: Winners will be posted online at http://theaudienceawards.com/fusion/2016-fusion-project-earth-doc-challenge

PROJECT ORGANIZER: Film Spur, 1121 East Broadway, Ste. #3 Missoula, MT 59802 SPONSOR: FUSION Media Network, LLC, 8551 NW 30th Terrace, Doral, FL 33122