DIVISIONS:
(we no longer require category designations)

1. Animation where technique is emphasized over subject matter.
2. Biographies
3. Experimental concepts or techniques
4. Media Arts
5. Performing arts including dance, music, opera, theatre
6. Visual arts including architecture, design, painting, sculpture.

1. Commercial travelogues
2. Demo reels by agencies, individuals or production houses
3. Orientations and presentations including industrial displays, museums,
recreational facilities, theme parks, tours, visitor centers, etc.
4. Public relations and information - commercial
5. Public relations and information - non-profit, including
fund raising, PSA's 
6. Professional enrichment, ethics
7. Reports, including corporate identity or image,
manufacturing/technical processes
8. Safety or security issues
9. Sales promotion and advertising including television
commercials, electronic press kits, trailers
10. Training, job orientations, motivation, recruiting

1. Early childhood (pre-school through grade 3)
2. Lower through middle grades classroom presentations
3. High school or college classroom presentations
4. Children's television programming
5. Stories for children
6. Entertainment for youth

1. Biographies 
2. Conflict resolution, violence prevention
3. Consumer education for general public, how to's,
home or self improvement
4. Continuing education, in-service training,
professional enrichment, ethics
5. Educational travelogues
6. Family relationships, parenting 
7. Guidance: personal or vocational, including personal growth
and development, life skills
8. Safety or driver education: home, school, school bus
9. School-to-work: preparation, transition
10. Childcare & development 

1. Anthology series
2. Feature length drama (more than 40:00)
3. Feature length comedy (more than 40:00) 
4. Short subject drama (40:00 or less) 
5. Short subject comedy (40:00 or less)
6. Entertainment television specials
7. Episodic television series
8. Human interest shorts
9. Made for TV movies
10. Mini-series
11. Sports programming and topics

(Does not preclude entry in a subject matter division, if appropriate.)

1. Biographies
2. Cultural issues, customs, cultural travelogues 
3. Folk: crafts, cultures, lore, music
4. Heritage, traditions  
5. History: local, national or world
6. Language, literature, the classics
7. Philosophical issues, ethics
8. Preservation of artifacts, buildings

1. Issues concerning abuse, addiction
2. Allied Health Professions
3. Death and dying
4. Disease education, management or treatment
5. Narrative or fictional docu-drama on mental health issues
6. Nursing
7. Patient education
8. Professional education
9. Senior concerns
10. Sexuality and gender-related issues
11. Volunteer training.

These topics may be addressed specifically to the professional
or patient. Please specify target audience.

1. Issues concerning abuse, addiction
2. Allied health professions
3. Alternative Medicine and therapies
4. Death and dying
5. Dentistry
6. Disease education, management or treatment
7. Medical procedures and techniques
8. Narrative or fictional docu-drama concerning physical health
or medicine topics
9. Nursing
10. Patient or professional education  
11. Preventive medicine
12. Public health issues
13. Rehabilitation   
14. Senior concerns
15. Sexuality and gender-related issues 
16. Volunteer training.

These topics may be addressed specifically to the professional or
patient. Please specify target audience.

1. Biographies
2. Doctrinal, denominational issues  
3. The literary tradition: the Bible, Koran, Torah , etc.
4. Family life and dynamics issues
5. Institutions: church, synagogue, temple
6. World religions, Eastern religions, New age,
Comparative religions, etc.
7. Religious, ethics or morality point of view for children & youth

1. Physical sciences including astronomy, chemistry, mathematics,
physics, space
2. Biographies 
3. Earth sciences including agriculture, climate, geography,
geology, oceanography
4. Environmental issues including conservation, ecology, energy,
ethics, natural resources
5. Life sciences including biology, botany, horticulture
6. Nature and wildlife including adventure, endangered species,
outdoor and recreational topics 
7. Technology or engineering topics including computer science
and television

1. Animation
2. Comedy
3. Documentary
4. Drama (There is a cost break at 15:00)
5. Experimental (please explain the nature of the experiment)
6. High School Student Productions

All or part of the production must have been done while enrolled in a
film or video production class or program. A copy of student registration
or a letter signed by your instructor will be accepted as verification and
must be furnished before your entry is considered eligible. Your
production must have been completed in 2004, 2005, 2006, or 2007.
All other festival entry terms and considerations apply. Students receive
a substantial discount on their entry fees.

Foreign language entries: Although the jury panel would prefer an
English soundtrack or English subtitled production,
if this is not possible, you may submit an English language script
with your entry. This exception applies only to student entries.

1. Anthropology and ethnology, including race issues, black studies  
2. Citizenship, including civil rights and liberties, community action,
politics, public service, social and political reforms
3. Feminist and women's issues, gender issues
4. International relations including economics, social and
political developments
5. Investigative reports, exposés
6. Hard news features and featurettes
7. Public affairs programming
8. Social documentary short subjects
9. Social documentary features

1. Military Topics 
2. Terrorism 
3. National Defense

The online division continues to evolve. Entries will be accepted in the
following areas:

1. Standalone Multimedia
Any standalone piece delivered via web or CD ROM that includes video.
Examples:
A promotional piece for a Metroparks system delivered on CD ROM
with embedded video. An informational Flash work delivered
via the Web with embedded video.

2. Video-Enhanced Websites
Any website that includes video, where the entire site is to be judged.
Emphasis will be on the integration of video into the site.
This category includes two subcategories:
a. Content Websites
Websites that use straight video and/or Flash with embedded video
to supplement their other content. Quality of video is a factor.
Examples:
A news website with streaming or downloadable video.
A corporate or nonprofit website with streaming or downloadable video.
A topical website with streaming or downloadable video.
b. Video Collection Websites
Websites whose purpose is to display video works of diverse origin
and content. Emphasis will be on the quality of the website
as an interface.
Example:
A website that allows anyone to post samples of short video work

3. Online Film Promotions
Any standalone piece or website delivered via CD ROM or web that
support a video or film that has also been submitted to the
Chris Awards during the current or past years.
Site does not have to include video.

Items accepted:
1. Box/Sleeve packaging
2. Brochures, Fliers, Posters
3. Guides (resource, study, teacher)
4. Press kits
5. The Total package (including all print materials)

Since 1982, we have been recognizing excellence of print media
materials with the Ben Franklin Award. This special recognition is
unique to the Columbus International Film & Video Festival.
Each subject-matter division is authorized to select appropriate
and significant work demonstrating outstanding design.

We encourage you to send in your best and most complete print
materials with your entry. Nominees will be evaluated by a panel
of print and graphic professionals. Superior work will be cited with
a certificate of excellence or special recognition. The print piece
deemed most outstanding may receive the Ben Frankin Award.
Note that there is no charge or fee for this special competition.
The opportunity this special recognition provides is yet another
reason to enter our competition.