Categories

Detailed Entry Information

The sponsor will need to categorize the entry by selecting a Production Type and Purpose. Sponsors who need help categorizing an entry are encouraged to use our Selection Wizard or contact the ISMF administrators. We retain the right to re-categorize entries if needed. Definitions of the Production Types and Purposes follow:

Orlando, Florida November 5-8, 2008 The 2008 International Student Media Festival

Production Types

• Podcast– A podcast is a digital audio program that can be downloaded and played on a computer or digital audio player(like and iPod). A podcast can be a stand-alone item or one of a series, though only one of the series should be submitted. Files should be in mp3 or mp4. RSS files are not required. Enhanced podcasts, with images, are accepted but will be considered equally with standard podcasts. Video podcast are not accepted. All podcast entries must be available for download from the Internet until the end of November of the festival year.
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  Live Action – The Live Action production type includes full motion productions that generally have on-screen talent in the form of actors, instructors, hosts, or narrators. Often, a computer will be used for titles, credits, overlays, and editing. Media accepted are MiniDV, VHS, CD, or DVD.
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  Animation – An Animation includes drawn images, clay models, and/or real-life models that are animated to create the illusion of movement. If a piece integrates live action and animation, it falls under the animation production type. Famous examples of integrated animation are the 1945 Gene Kelly film, Anchors Aweigh, and 1988’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Media accepted are MiniDV, VHS, CD, or DVD.
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  Sequential Stills – A Sequential Stills production is a series of images with text, music, video clips and/or narration added. The order that the stills are viewed is fixed by the producer. Often, sequential stills pieces are created in slideshow software like Microsoft PowerPoint. Media accepted are MiniDV, VHS, CD, or DVD.
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  Sequential Stills Class Project - K-5 Only - This is a special form of Sequential Stills (see description above) where a teacher provides more guidance to the student(s). For example, entries are classified as Sequential Stills Class Projects when a teacher structures a template and the students produce the content. This production type is intended for younger students just learning how to create media projects.
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  Interactive Stills – An Interactive Stills production includes images that are viewed in an order chosen by the viewer. Interactive Stills use navigation buttons and/or menus to enable the viewer to select a path. Text, music, video clips and narration may be incorporated into an Interactive Stills production. Media accepted is CD.
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  Website – A website is similar to an Interactive Stills however, it must be available on the Internet until November of the festival year. No media will be required but a website address URL must be provided.
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  Photographic Essay - A photographic essay involves the organization of a number of original photographs on a single theme. It gives a deeper, fuller, more rounded, more intense view of the subject than any single photograph could. The photographic essays will be judged on the quality and appropriateness of all the photos submitted. See Photo Requirements. Media accepted is CD.
• Single Photograph - An outstanding image on any topic may be submitted for this new festival option. It will be judged on its artistic and technical merits. The entry fee for one image is $5. Entrants wishing to submit more that one photograph in this production type should complete separate entry forms for each photograph. See Photo Requirements. Media accepted is CD.

Purposes

• Instructional – The purpose of an instructional piece is to teach something. This goes beyond simply presenting facts. Examples include: tutorials, teaching tools, and interactive games with assessment.
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  Informational – The purpose of an informational piece is to inform the audience but not persuade opinions. Informational pieces could briefly cover multiple topics or focus on one or two. Examples include: News Programs, Biographies, Community Calendars, and Personal Websites.
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  Documentary – The purpose of a documentary is to document an actual event or topic beyond the scope of a typical news story. It should reflect serious research and present facts objectively without fictional matter.
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  Persuasive/PSA – The purpose of a persuasive piece is to present an idea, product, concept, organization or individual in a credible way, so as to change public opinion and/or encourage audience approval, support or participation. Examples include: Advertising, Public Service Announcements, and Movie Trailers. Public Service Announcements (PSAs) are 30 to 60 second messages designed to change public opinion, actions, or feelings.
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  Story – The purpose of a story piece is to tell a story, whether serious or lighthearted, fictional or non-fictional. Examples include: Comedies, Dramas, and Student/Family Experiences.
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  Entertainment – The purpose of a piece in this category is to entertain and/or amuse the audience in a format other than telling a story. Examples include: Music Videos, Variety Shows, Interactive Games, and Game Shows.

Copyright

Please refer to the Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia for copyright guidelines. Under the Fair Use Guidelines, only a portion of copyrighted material is permissible. Please Note: Under the portion limitations, only 30 seconds of a copyrighted piece of music is allowed in a media project. If a media project contains a larger portion of copyrighted material than the portion limitation allows, signature of the copyright owner is required. If the signature is not obtained and given to ISMF, the media project can be deemed as a winner; however, the winning project will not be exhibited at the Festival or allowed on the Judges' Favorites DVD.

Length of Production

Entries may be as long as producers deem fit. Judges will view as much of the entry as needed to ensure a fair appraisal of the work. Please review the Judging Criteria for more information.

Production Teams

Entries may be produced by an individual student, a group, a class, or a club. The entry needs to include the names of all students and teachers who participated in creating the entry in end credits.

Grade Levels

Sponsors will classify each entry as kindergarten through third grade (K-3), fourth and fifth grade (4,5), sixth through eighth grade (6-8), ninth through twelfth grade (9-12), or college/university. If a group of student producers spans different grade levels, select the majority grade level.

Judging Criteria

Each entry will be judged on its own merit. See the Judging Criteria.

Other Contests

Entries that have won in local or state competitions are welcome. However, entries submitted to ISMF need not have been entered nor deemed winners at other competitions. Schools considering multiple entries should evaluate their productions and send only those considered to be of excellent quality.

Entry Media

It is highly recommended that you test your entry using a machine other than the one used for production before submission. ISMF is not responsible for lost, damaged or non-functioning entries. Your media will not be returned. Do not send masters or “only copies”.

The ISMF judges will make a reasonable effort to view all media. However, in the event that the judges are unable to view an entry due to technical difficulties, no refunds will be given.

ISMF will no longer accept entries requiring Hyperstudio or Kidpix for viewing.

 

Photography Requirements

• All still photographs must be submitted as jpegs on a CD.
• Preferred Image Size is 1600x1200 pixels or 8”x10” at 150 dpi, (a Minimum 720x576 pixels or 4”x6’’ @ 72 dpi).
• Photo files must be named with the following convention: 2-digit sequence number, dash, a short description of the photo and the .jpg extension with no spaces in the file name. E.g., 01-BlueFlowers.jpg, 05-EmpireStateBldg.jpg,15-FramedCow.jpg
• Photo files to be included in a photo essay must be stored together in a folder or directory.
• Do not submit prints. All photographs must be the original work of the student photographer(s).

Role of the Sponsor

The sponsor will be the main contact person for an entry. ISMF administrators will send information to and ask questions of the sponsor as needed. Most festival communication will be done via e-mail. It is very important that we have a valid e-mail address. Questions can arise around the time of judging and we request a phone number where the sponsor can be reached in July.

Role of the Backup Contact

The Backup Contact Person is an adult who can get information to/from the sponsor in the sponsor’s absence. This may be a co-teacher, a media specialist or a parent.

Certifications

Sponsors will be required to sign each entry form certifying the following:

1. The entry was produced by students.
2. Sponsors have the full power to enter the above-noted piece in the International Student Media Festival and have obtained in writing the right to make the grants contained in this entry form, including but not limited to, the copyright and other intellectual property rights therein, from the student who created the work.
3. The visual and/or audio material in this production is student produced and adheres to the Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia. If the material in this production does not adhere to the Fair Use Guidelines, sponsors will enclose written permission from the owner(s) of the copyright(s). Sponsors understand that if unreleased copyrighted material is found in the media project by the judges, the project will not be exhibited at the Festival or allowed to be part of the Judges’ Favorites DVD.
4. Sponsors grant AECT permission to make copies of the entry to be used for festival viewings, fundraising, and promotion, as AECT deems appropriate. This may include, but is not limited to, print, electronic, and broadcast distribution.
5. Photographs taken of participants of the International Student Media Festival may be used for promotion, as AECT deems appropriate. Usage may include, but is not limited to brochures, promotional videos, and the ISMF website.
6. In the event that AECT is rendered liable for any damages which result from any breach of the above representations and warranties, then sponsor will hold AECT harmless from and against such liability, including all reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred at arbitration, or any trial or appeal.

Mailing Address for Entries

                        International Student Media Festival
        c/o AECT
        1800 North Stonelake Drive, Suite 2
        Bloomington, IN 47404

Judging Feedback

The completed judging forms with comments about the productions will be available online to the sponsors.