Divisions & Categories

THE ARTS
Dean Kette, Chair

Categories include:

1. Animation as an art form where technique is emphasized over subject matter.
2. Biographies
3. Experimental concepts or techniques
4. Media Arts including the computer, motion picture, photography, video
5. Performing arts including dance, music, opera, theatre
6. Visual arts including architecture, design, painting, sculpture.

Categories include:

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

Categories Include:

1. Animation
2. Anthology series Stories for children
3. Entertainment for children
4. Entertainment for youth
5. News & Public Affairs 
6. Programs with a religious, ethics or morality point of view 
7. Stories for children
8. Variety Shows

Categories include:

1. Early childhood (pre-school through grade 3)
2. Childcare & development 
3. Lower through middle grades classroom presentations
4. High school or college classroom presentations
5. Biographies 
6. Conflict resolution, violence prevention
7. Consumer education for general public, how to's, home or self improvement
8. Continuing education, in-service training, professional enrichment, ethics
9. Educational travelogues
10. Family relationships, parenting 
11. Guidance: personal or vocational, including personal growth and development, life skills
12. Safety or driver education: home, school, school bus
13. School-to-work: preparation, transition

ENTERTAINMENT
Lance Carwile, Chair

Categories Include:

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
12. 
    Does not preclude entry in a subject matter division, if appropriate.

Categories Include:

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

MENTAL HEALTH
Ellen Stuckenberg (Acting Chair)

Categories Include:

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

PHYSICAL HEALTH
James Luckhaupt, Chair

Categories Include:

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.

Categories Include:

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.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Daniel Whittecar, Chair

Categories Include:

1. Physical sciences including astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, physics, space topics
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

Categories Include:

1. Anthropology and ethnology, including race issues, black studies  
2. Biographies   
3. Citizenship, including civil rights and liberties, community action, politics, public service, social and political reforms
4. Contemporary military topics, national defense, war and peace
5. Feminist and women's issues, gender issues
6. International relations including economics, social and political developments
7. Investigative reports, exposés
8. Hard news features and featurettes
9. Public affairs programming
10. Social documentary short subjects (40:00 or less)
11. Social documentary features (longer than 40:00)

A separate competition is held for the CD-ROM format. All conventional formats are accepted. Please specify which format entered. The subject matter treated should be covered in any of the regular production categories. The interactive component is best suited to a separate category in which CDs compete with each other. All other judging criteria applies. ($100.00 flat fee per CD or interactive format)

MEDIA OF PRINT
James Richardson, Chair

Categories Include:

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. Print materials are retained in our archives.

Categories Include:

1. Informational or documentary writing
2. Narrative or dramatic writing

The production script of any film or video entered in the current festival is eligible. Innovation, clarity, liveliness and good storytelling are highly regarded. Judges prefer a copy of the shooting script. Whether informational or narrative, visuals should be indicated in either the two column or full page format. Transcripts must include visual descriptions. The intent of this competition is to honor the written word - the script and its writer.

Categories Include:

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. Print media (promotional material for your entry--no fee)
7. Screenwriting ($35 fee)

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 1998, 1999, or 2000. Student scripts may be entered only if produced, and the production is entered. The conditions for a student script are the same as for the professional screenwriting competition (see above). 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.

Hints for placement of entry in Divisions and Categories:

Purpose of production is a primary factor in placement. If your entry has more than one purpose, state clearly on Entry Form. Try to prioritize purposes.

What do you want to achieve with this production?

Subject matter is usually a determining factor for placement.

Style (drama, documentary, animation) can be a factor.

Target Audience is also important.

Series: Total running time of a series determines fee.

Length: Feature length is longer than 40:00, and short subject is 40:00 or less. Exception is the student category where the cost break point is 15:00. (See fee schedule)

Some productions could compete successfully in 2 or 3 divisions. i.e., a documentary about Native Americans who are prone to diabetes could be placed in Social Issues 8 or 9 (style); Humanities 2 (subject matter); and/or Physical Health & Medicine 5 (subject matter).

For the purpose of a competition, sometimes the style or technique may be more relevant than the subject matter. i.e.: A stunning animation piece dealing with a rather routine subject, may be more appropriate to enter into the animation category, rather than a subject matter category.