STORY ADVANCED BY TECHNOLOGY
You know how there are seemingly infinite new technologies coming out of Silicon Valley? And you know how Hollywood is the world leader in storytelling? Have you ever wondered why there hasn’t been a gathering on the west coast for these incredibly influential industries to come together to bring context to the discussion of the Creation, Marketing and Distribution of content with these new technologies?

Well, now you don’t have to!

INFINITY FESTIVAL takes place over one weekend where the leading Silicon Valley innovators come together with Hollywood’s leading professional storytellers and take over one city block in the heart of Hollywood. The Evolution of Imagination™ continues this fall. Attendance at this exclusive event is limited. Get your tickets here!

The Infinity Festival Monolith Awards™ celebrate “Story Advanced by Technology.” The great creators of our time continue to use technology in compelling ways that inspire audiences around the world. The Monolith Award™ is voted on by a body of professional peers to recognize the most outstanding achievements in categories that include content and technology that are pushing the boundaries of what it means to share a story today!

THE MONOLITH AWARDS™

Rules and Regulations

Awards Year: 2019

I. THE MONOLITH AWARDS FOR NARRATIVE ARTS
II. ELIGIBILITY & ENTRY
III. AWARDS PROCESS
IV. VOTING PROCESS
V. CALENDAR
VI. HONORARY AWARDS
VII. IMPLEMENTATION

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1. CATEGORY: Best Cinematic Narrative produced in Game Engine

The democratization of game engine software has enabled creators all over the world to create their own stories in an entirely new way. The Monolith Awards™ for Best Narrative produced in Game Engine goes to the submitted work that exemplifies excellent storytelling through the creation of content within a game engine.

All eligible content in this category, must be:

· Submitted for entry online: www.filmfreeway.com/infinityfestival

· Any length will be considered

· Submitted as a finished movie-file (h264, h265, .mov, .mp4)

· Content must be produced 100% in a Game Engine. A game engine is a software development environment with core functionality typically including a rendering engine ("renderer") for 2D or 3D graphics, a physics engine or collision detection (and collision response), sound, scripting, animation, artificial intelligence, networking, streaming, memory management, threading, localization support, scene graph, and may include video support for cinematics.

· Produced within the Awards Calendar Year
(The Awards Calendar Year is defined under “V. Calendar”)

· The recipients for this award will be either the Creator, Studio or Production Company that produced the content and submitted the entry.

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2. CATEGORY: Best Game produced in Game Engine

The Monolith Awards™ for Best Game produced in Game Engine goes to the submitted work that exemplifies excellent storytelling through the creation of an interactive experience within a game engine.

All eligible content in this category, must be:

· Submitted for entry online: www.filmfreeway.com/infinityfestival

· Any length will be considered

· Submitted with a license key for judges to download the game

· Content must be produced 100% in a Game Engine. A game engine is a software development environment with core functionality typically including a rendering engine ("renderer") for 2D or 3D graphics, a physics engine or collision detection (and collision response), sound, scripting, animation, artificial intelligence, networking, streaming, memory management, threading, localization support, scene graph, and may include video support for cinematics.

· Produced within the Awards Calendar Year
(The Awards Calendar Year is defined under “V. Calendar”)

· The recipients for this award will be either the Creator, Studio or Production Company that produced the content and submitted the entry.

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3. CATEGORY: Best VR Experience

Virtual Reality is making its way into more and more households all across the world and becoming a way for anyone to immerse themselves in their favorite content. This year, The Monolith Awards™ will recognize the Best VR Experience that shows a compelling use of the format to communicate the story they are telling.


All eligible content in this category, must be:

· Submitted for entry online: www.filmfreeway.com/infinityfestival

· Any length will be considered

· Exhibited within the Awards Calendar Year
(The Awards Calendar Year is defined under “V. Calendar”)

· The recipients for this award will be either the Creator, Studio or Production Company that produced the content and submitted the entry.

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4. CATEGORY: Best AR Experience

Augmented Reality is a technology that allows simulated/computer-generated elements to be added on top of the real world – most commonly achieved through an AR Headset or a screen + camera system. The recipient of the Monolith Award™ for Best AR Experience is given to a project that creates the most cohesive blend of real life and computer graphics, while also delivering a clean and easy-to-follow vision or concept.

All eligible content in this category, must be:

· Submitted for entry online: www.filmfreeway.com/infinityfestival

· Any length will be considered

· Exhibited within the Awards Calendar Year
(The Awards Calendar Year is defined under “V. Calendar”)

· The recipients for this award will be either the Creator, Studio or Production Company that produced the content and submitted the entry.


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5. CATEGORY: Best Video Essay

Similar to its written counterpart, a video essay is a piece of video content that advances an argument. A successful video essay delivers a clear thesis, well-researched and coherent arguments with accompanying sources – packaged in a visually strong video. This category recognizes excellence in both of the written and visual languages by creating a video essay in a subject of their choice.

All eligible content in this category, must be:

· Submitted for entry online: www.filmfreeway.com/infinityfestival

· A maximum length of 15 minutes

· Exhibited within the Awards Calendar Year
(The Awards Calendar Year is defined under “V. Calendar”)

· The recipients for this award will be either the Creator, Studio or Production Company that produced the content and submitted the entry.


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6. CATEGORY: Best Technology Vlog

The world wide web has created a voice for many new roles, including futurists, influencers and critics. This category addresses any person that creates video blogs for online distribution about technology in any shape or form, including: product reviews, tech advice, tech predictions, etc.

All eligible content in this category, must be:

· Submitted for entry online: www.filmfreeway.com/infinityfestival

· Less than 20 minutes in length

· Vlogs that demonstrate a history of an online presence through social media or video distribution platforms will increase the overall consideration.

· Exhibited within the Awards Calendar Year
(The Awards Calendar Year is defined under “V. Calendar”)

· The recipients for this award will be either the Creator, Studio or Production Company that produced the content and submitted the entry.

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7. CATEGORY: Best Social Media Story

Social media has changed the landscape of how we share stories with people. One premiere example of this is the rising trend of social media stories – short recorded moments from the creator’s experience. The award for Best Social Media Story recognizes an outstanding narrative that is created for more than daily documentation, in order to tell real and compelling stories. Whether funny, educational, dramatic, political or any other topic, the core is very simple: story.

All eligible content in this category, must be:

· Submitted for entry online: www.filmfreeway.com/infinityfestival

· Submitted as a single or compiled video file

· Maximum length of 5 minutes (each recorded segment can be up to 30 seconds).

· Exhibited within the Awards Calendar Year
(The Awards Calendar Year is defined under “V. Calendar”)

· The recipients for this award will be either the Creator, Studio or Production Company that produced the content and submitted the entry.

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8. CATEGORY: Best Vertical Video

Horizontal 16:9 widescreen is not the only way to make impactful content. Due to the increasing number of smartphone video producers, creators find new ways to use the vertical “portrait mode” on their devices to tell stories. The award for Best Vertical Video Short goes to the artist and/or team that creates an impactful narrative using the power of the vertical video aspect ratio.

All eligible content in this category, must be:

· Submitted for entry online: www.filmfreeway.com/infinityfestival

· Any length will be considered

· Exhibited within the Awards Calendar Year
(The Awards Calendar Year is defined under “V. Calendar”)

· The recipients for this award will be either the Creator, Studio or Production Company that produced the content and submitted the entry.


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9. CATEGORY: Best Live-Stream

This category is for live-fed video content for an online platform. This category recognizes the best use of original live content for an online video distribution platform of the creator’s choice. Any episode of live-stream content may be submitted, regardless of genre.

All eligible content in this category, must be:

· Submitted for entry online: www.filmfreeway.com/infinityfestival

· Live-streams must be a minimum of 1 minute and a maximum of 2 hours

· No nudity or explicit violence

· Exhibited within the Awards Calendar Year
(The Awards Calendar Year is defined under “V. Calendar”)

· The recipients for this award will be either the Creator, Studio or Production Company that produced the content and submitted the entry.


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10. CATEGORY: Best Cinematic Fine Art Short

Traditional storytelling still has a place at Infinity Festival. For anyone that creates stories with a more conventional arc and act-structure are welcome to submit their work to this category.

All eligible content in this category, must be:

· Submitted for entry online: www.filmfreeway.com/infinityfestival

· Less than 20 minutes in length

· Exhibited within the Awards Calendar Year
(The Awards Calendar Year is defined under “V. Calendar”)

· The recipients for this award will be either the Creator, Studio or Production Company that produced the content and submitted the entry.


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11. CATEGORY: Best Fan-Made Narrative

Great stories have a way of capturing every part of our imagination – sometimes so much that we want to expand the story ourselves. In an effort to expand the scope of what is considered “original content”, the Monolith Award™ for Best Fan-Made Narrative is given to a show, short, or feature that tells a story within a pre-established fictional word – from games, television, or cinema.

All eligible content in this category, must be:

· Submitted for entry online: www.filmfreeway.com/infinityfestival

· Any length of time will be considered

· Exhibited within the Awards Calendar Year
(The Awards Calendar Year is defined under “V. Calendar”)

· The recipients for this award will be either the Creator, Studio or Production Company that produced the content and submitted the entry.

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12. CATEGORY: Best Podcast

Also known as a netcast, a podcast is episodic audio content (sometimes accompanied by video) distributed digitally through streaming or download. It shares many traits with its ancestor, the radio show. But unlike broadcasted radio, anyone can start a podcast and share it online. This award recognizes one outstanding episode from the podcast format.

All eligible content in this category, must be:

· Submitted for entry online: www.filmfreeway.com/infinityfestival

· Any length of time will be considered

· First shown within the Awards Calendar Year
(The Awards Calendar Year is defined under “V. Calendar”)

· The recipients for this award will be either the Creator, Studio or Production Company that produced the content and submitted the entry.


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13. CATEGORY: Best Theatrical Blockbuster

The category for Best Theatrical Blockbuster is reserved for studio-produced features that pushes the envelope of technical innovation for how stories are shared with audiences around the world.

All eligible content in this category, must be:

· Submitted for entry online: www.filmfreeway.com/infinityfestival

· Minimum length of 50 minutes.

· Exhibited within the Awards Calendar Year
(The Awards Calendar Year is defined under “V. Calendar”)

· The recipients for this award will be either the Creator, Studio or Production Company that produced the content and submitted the entry.

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14. CATEGORY: Best Episodic Content

Episodic content is defined as per the understood interpretation of three or more programs created under the same series title.

All eligible content in this category, must be:

· Submitted for entry online: www.filmfreeway.com/infinityfestival

· Any length will be considered

· Exhibited within the Awards Calendar Year
(The Awards Calendar Year is defined under “V. Calendar”)

· The recipients for this award will be either the Creator, Studio or Production Company that produced the content and submitted the entry.


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15. CATEGORY: Best Location-Based Entertainment

Location-based entertainment (LBE) can be a passive or interactive entertainment experience, which is specifically tied to a location outside of the home.

All eligible content in this category, must be:

· Submitted for entry online: www.filmfreeway.com/infinityfestival

· Multi-player or single player, and on any internationally-recognized platform, including but not limited to: Immersive, Console, Handheld, PC, Mobile, Social Media.

· Date of release shall be within the Awards Calendar Year
(The Awards Calendar Year is defined under “V. Calendar”)

· The recipients for this award will be the Publisher or Owner of the Experience.

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STUDENT-ONLY CATEGORY


16. CATEGORY: Best Student Game

The world of game-making is more democratized than ever and has enabled more people than ever to tell interactive stories in world of their own design. Aspiring game creators from colleges around the world are welcome to submit their work in this student-exclusive category.

All eligible content in this category, must be:

· Submitted for entry online: www.filmfreeway.com/infinityfestival

· The game must be complete (not in demo phase).

· Submitted with a license key for judges to download the game

· Multi-player or single player, and on any internationally-recognized platform, including but not limited to: Console, Handheld, PC, Mobile, Web, Social Media.

· Date of release shall be within the Awards Calendar Year
(The Awards Calendar Year is defined under “V. Calendar”)

III. AWARDS PROCESS

The content awards process consists of three main steps:

(1) Entry and/or Nominating
(2) Screening / Review
(3) Voting

Anyone may nominate a piece of content by entering it into IF through the entry process on the IF website. Screenings will be held for industry peers who will vote on all content entries. The Awards Committee will have the final say in the voting process.

The IF Committee overseeing each area of content will serve to nominate and promote the highest quality content in all categories.

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IV. VOTING PROCESS

The persons who vote are the members of the peer selected screening pool, assembled by the Awards Committee for each area of content.
All voting shall take place using the approved voting ballot, provided by the IF Awards Committee.

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V. CALENDAR

The Awards Calendar Year is defined as the continuous one-year period leading up to IF.
The Awards Calendar Year for this year, and until otherwise noted in these Rules & Regulations is: October 21, 2018 – October 20, 2019.

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VI. HONORARY AWARDS

The Awards Committee is encouraged to peer-nominate names of individuals and/or companies for proposed Honorary Awards. While awards in this category will remain undefined, the following have been recommended for this year:

• Normalizing Award for Disruption of the Status Quo
• Content or Technology that Inspires Social Good
• The Award for Visionary Content
• The Award for Visionary Technology
• Audience Choice Award

If so nominated and selected, these awards will be conferred at the Infinity Festival Annual Awards Show.

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VII. IMPLEMENTATION

All decisions regarding the implementation of these Rules and Procedures shall be made by the IF Monolith Awards™ Committee.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Joseph White

    This was a fantastic festival. Perfect mix of industry talks, technology showcase and film screenings. Particularly enjoyed the presentations from NVIDIA, INTEL and NASA JPL. Honoured to be a part of it and win Best Episodic with Subverse. Fingers crossed we can return next year!

    November 2018