Call for Entries
The 21st Annual Videomaker/Canon Short Video Contest

It's time once again for the Videomaker/Canon Short Video Contest. You've got the video, we've got the prizes - go ahead ... take the chance. Whether you operate in standard definition or have taken the HD plunge, we can't wait to see your entry. Don't wait around, though - to qualify for the contest, your entry must be received in our office by Friday, October 31, 2008, at 5PM Pacific Time.

The Videomaker / Canon Short Video Contest is open to all videographers unaffiliated with Videomaker / Canon or any of the contest's sponsors.

All entries must include an equipment list showing the original list price for each component used in the production. Equip­ment used must total no more than $20,000. The cost of the equipment used will be taken into consideration in judging.

Written proof of copy­right must be included for all materials (audio and video) used in each submitted production. Written proof is defined as a document signed by the copyright holder giving the videographer, by name, explicit permission to use the specific material. In the case of royalty-free content, the videographer must list the name of the library and track or name of media clip used.

The body of all entries must be five minutes or less in length. Commercials and PSAs must be a broadcast-ready length of :30 or :60.

Entries in standard definition must be submitted as Windows Media, QuickTime, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 or DV25 (e.g., DV AVI/QuickTime DV) burned to CD or DVD or a DVD-Video disc or a Mini DV videocassette. Entries in high defini­tion must be submitted as an MPEG-2 transport stream (.m2t or .mpg file extension), MPEG-4, QuickTime HD or WMVHD formats burned to CD or DVD. We cannot accept HDV tapes, Blu-ray Discs or HD DVDs. You may submit the same entry in multiple formats if desired (e.g., burning a disc as DVD-Video and including your final rendered DV AVI file in the DVD-ROM area of the disc). Note: we strongly recommend sending HD entries with an SD version for a backup in case we have problems importing the HD version into our system.

Please, no more than one entry per disc or tape. However, you may enter as many videos as you like. If possible, please send multiple entries in the same en­velope. However, if you want to submit the same video into multiple contest categories, you need to send only one copy of the video.

Please do not apply stick-on paper labels to your discs. (You will be judged by the content of your video. Judges will not see the presentation of your packaging.) Label your disc with a suitable marker for optical media or with a printer that can print on the surface of the disc.

Fill out the entry form completely. Photocopies of the entry form are accepted. If you are sending more than one entry, fill out a sepa­rate entry form for each. If you want to enter the same video into multiple categories, fill out only one entry form and simply check off all of the categories in which you want to enter your video.