Blizzard Awards 2006: Categories & Requirements: A. Program Awards

General Requirements
A1 DRAMA: LONG FORM Budget exceeding $3.5 million
A2 DRAMA: LONG FORM Budget less than $3.5 million
A3 DRAMA: SHORT FORM less than 60 minutes
A4 ANIMATION
A5 COMMERCIAL / PROMOTION / PSA / INTERSTITIAL
A6 DOCUMENTARY
A7 LIFESTYLE / REALITY
A8 REPORTAGE
A9 PERFORMING ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
A10 MUSIC VIDEO
A11 MOTIVATIONAL / INSTRUCTIONAL
* PROGRAM SPECIALTY RULES (Aboriginal, Children / Youth, Non-Commercial / Artist Categories)
A12 ABORIGINAL
A13 CHILDREN / YOUTH
A14 NON-COMMERCIAL / ARTIST

General Requirements

Manitoba Production : Each motion picture entered for a Program award must be a Manitoba Production.

• A Manitoba Production is a motion picture produced or co-produced by a Manitoban producer(s), executive producer(s) or co-producer(s) with an on-screen credit. Associate Producer credits are not acceptable.
• The Manitoba producer must be (or have been) a Manitoba Resident (see Definitions : Manitoban ) at the time / during the production of the motion picture being submitted for consideration.
• Entries without on-screen credits, such as client-commissioned work, must verify in writing the role of a Manitoban producer(s), executive producer(s) or co-producer(s). Associate Producer credit is not acceptable.
• Any motion picture that qualifies as "Manitoba Production" under the residency criteria of Manitoba Film & Sound, and/or the Manitoba Arts Council and/or the Winnipeg Film Group can be considered as a Manitoba Production for Program and/or Program Specialty categories.

Program submitted only by Manitoban : Only a Manitoba producer(s), executive producer(s) or co-producer(s) can submit an entry in a Program category.. This residency must coincide with the period during which the program was produced.

• Manitoba Resident : Any person legally entitled to be and remain in Canada, and who is ordinarily a resident of Manitoba, and has been resident in the province for at least 200 days during the eligibility period (January 1, 2003 through to March 31, 2005) shall be considered as Manitoban for Blizzard Awards 2006.

Craft and Performance work by a Manitoban on a Non-Manitoban motion picture

• For a Craft or Performance entry for work on a Non-Manitoban motion picture, the entrant must be (or have been) a Manitoba Resident at the time / during the production of the work being submitted for consideration. Only the Manitoban(s) working on a Non-Manitoban motion picture are eligible to enter for a Craft or Performance category.

One Program Category entry per Motion Picture : Each motion picture can be entered in ONE PROGRAM Award category.

• The exceptions are motion pictures also eligible for consideration in a PROGRAM SPECIALTY category : Aboriginal, Children / Youth, or Non-Commercial / Artist. These pictures may also be entered in ONE other PROGRAM category.
• Any number of motion pictures entered : A producer may submit an unlimited number of individual motion pictures or episodes of a series.
• Each episode of a series will be considered as a distinct, single entry in a category.

Budget Top-Sheet : Program Categories restricted by budget parameters must include a copy of the budget top sheet signed by an Authorized Signing Person. (see Definitions)

• Budget determines program category for long-form drama (60 minutes or more).
  
  • Drama : Long Form ­ budget greater than $3.5 million
  • Drama : Long Form ­ budget less than $3.5 million.

Target audience and purpose and results: Program category entrants are encouraged to briefly state in the application, when relevant or appropriate , the production's:

• intended viewers and purpose, (e.g. for Commercials and Motivational entries, entrants may choose to identify: target demographic, results, impact, for Children/Youth category, entrants can identify age group) and/or
• creative (e.g. for Reportage category, entrants may choose to identify factors approach and/or technical challenges and/or unusual production techniques), and/or
• context (e.g. for Reportage category, entrants may choose to identify factors affecting the topic selection and/or background of the story, and for Performing Arts, Music Video and Non-Commercial/Artist categories, entrants may wish to state the nature of the artistic exploration).

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A1 DRAMA : LONG FORM ­ Budget exceeding $3.5 million

Any dramatized story with a run time of 60 minutes or more, principally intended as entertainment for theatrical, broadcast and/or other viewing release, made with a budget exceeding $3.5 million. One hour episodes of series television, movies of the week (MOW) and mini-series are included in this category. The drama can use singularly or in any combination : live action, animation and re-creation/re-enactments of "real-life" stories.

• Must submit budget top-sheet signed by an Authorized Signing Person. (see Definitions) .

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a2 DRAMA : LONG FORM ­ Budget less than $3.5 million

Any dramatized story with a run time of 60 minutes or more, principally intended as entertainment for theatrical, broadcast and/or other viewing release, made with a budget NOT exceeding $3.5 million. One hour episodes of series television, movies of the week (MOW) and mini-series are included in this category.

The drama can use singularly or in any combination : live action, animation and re-creation / dramatic re-enactments of "real-life" stories.

• Must submit budget top-sheet signed by an Authorized Signing Person. (see Definitions) .

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A3 DRAMA: SHORT FORM ­ less than 60 minutes

Any dramatized story with a run time of LESS than 60 minutes, principally intended as entertainment. This category includes episodic television of less than one hour, live action, animation and re-creation / dramatic re-enactments of "real-life" stories.

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A4 ANIMATION

Any motion picture, excerpt or commercial produced frame by frame, by computer or traditional method, in any genre, of any length, with any budget, for any venue.

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A5 COMMERCIAL / PROMOTION / PSA / INTERSTITIAL

Content about a product or service, for advertising, promotion, information or public awareness, that encourages a particular response from a specific audience.

Commercials, promotions, public service announcements, interstitials and promotions, using any format or combination of formats including : live-action, animation and dramatized components, are eligible.

• Compilations, including campaigns, should run a maximum 15 minutes.
• If relevant, viewer results or impact should be briefly stated on application.

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A6 DOCUMENTARY

Non-fiction, factual representation of reality exploring a person, place, event, situation or issue, in any genre, of any length, with any budget, for any venue including series TV.

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A7 LIFESTYLE / REALITY

Non-dramatic, fact-based programming, of any length, made to inform or entertain a general interest audience. This category includes series and segments or packages of live-time material, constructed situations, practical how-to, light information, magazine, talk-show, cooking, craft and leisure activities.

• Each episode of a series shall be considered as a distinct single program entry.

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A8 REPORTAGE

Any information program, series or segments of any length, directed at a general audience, including broadcast news, current / public affairs, and sports. This category includes : real-time specials, live-event coverage, as well as packages of edited live-time material, commentary, and/or analysis of issues.

• Compilations should run a maximum 60 minutes combined time.
• If appropriate, context or background to story should be briefly summarized.

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A9 Performing Arts & ENTERTAINMENT

Any program, special or series, of any length, in any venue intended as an artistic celebration, amusement or entertainment, featuring performers and/or music including : musicians, singers, dancers, comedians, magicians, puppets, circus artists or any other variety / specialty acts. This category includes all musical, variety / combination shows.

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A10 MUSIC VIDEO

Any motion picture featuring the performance of music, of any length, with any budget, for any venue.

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A11 MOTIVATIONAL / INSTRUCTIONAL

Corporate, industrial, educational and training content presented to achieve a defined purpose or effect with a target audience. This category includes practical, explanatory series or programs of any length, using any format or combination of live-action, dramatization or animation components.

• If relevant to the entry, viewer results should be briefly stated on application.

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* PROGRAM SPECIALTY RULES (Aboriginal, Children / Youth, Non-Commercial / Artist Categories)

Program Specialty plus one Program Entry : A motion picture submitted for a PROGRAM SPECIALITY award ( Aboriginal, Children / Youth or Non-Commercial / Artist) may also be entered in ONE other PROGRAM category.

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A12 ABORIGINAL

Any program or series, in any genre, of any length, for any venue, on any matter pertaining to Aboriginal people, presenting an Aboriginal perspective or focused on issues relating to Aboriginals. At least one of the key creative positions (producer, writer or director) must be a person of Aboriginal descent and should be identified on the application.

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A13 CHILDREN / YOUTH

Any program or series, in any genre, of any length, for any venue, that is clearly intended for the entertainment and/or education of pre-school children (under 6), grade school-aged children (under 12), or youth (under 21).

• The target age group should be stated on the application.

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A14 NON-COMMERCIAL / ARTIST

Any motion picture in any genre, of any length, for any venue not produced primarily for a client, broadcaster, or theatrical distributor ("non-theatrical"). Projects may be self-distributed, or distributed by a filmmakers' co-op, an artist-run centre, or similar non-arms length distributor, or exhibited in a gallery or studio or any venue where screening is not primarily intended for a 'paying audience'. This category includes emerging filmmakers and students, as well as established artist exploring unique expressions of a point-of-view and/or experimenting with unconventional production techniques.

If a sufficient number of Nominees warrant in a year, the Nominations Jury may recommend to the Blizzard Committee that this Category be split into Narrative and Non-Narrative work.

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