Premiere Dates:

January 1 to December 31, 2024

Qualifying Projects

A Photoreal (per Definition G) Feature (per Definition D) or an Animated (per Definition A) Feature (per Definition D) or a episodes of a Photoreal (per Definition G) or Animated (per Definition A) Series (per Definition I) or Limited Drama/Mini-Series (per Definition F), intended for Broadcast or Streaming; a Photoreal (per Definition G) or Animated (per Definition A) Commercial (per Definition B) intended for Theatrical, Broadcast or Streaming; a Game Cinematic (per Definition E), or a Real-Time Project (per Definition H) created with a Real-Time Engine. 

Feature Distribution Requirements

To be eligible in a FEATURE (per Definition D) category, an entry must satisfy at least ONE of these distribution criteria:

1.   The work must have been marketed and exhibited to a public audience via at least ONE of these distribution methods:

• a theater for a paying public audience
• broadcast television to at least 50% of the total potential viewers in the original release country
• pay/basic cable transmissions (including by way of example so-called basic cable, pay cable, pay television and interactive cable)
• broadband to markets representing at least 50% or more of households in the original release country
• recognized web-based/OTT broadcasters who commission content (e.g. Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube Originals, Apple TV+).

2.   The work is eligible for an Academy Award per AMPAS eligibility criteria for the current award year.

3.   The work is eligible for a BAFTA Film award per BAFTA eligibility criteria for the current award year.

4.   The work is eligible for an Emmy, or SAG award as a “Television Movie” per award governing body eligibility criteria for the current award year.

Episodic Distribution Requirements

To be eligible in an EPISODIC (per Definition C) category, an entry must satisfy at least ONE of these distribution criteria:

1.   The work must have been marketed and exhibited to a public audience via at least ONE of these distribution methods:

• broadcast television to at least 50% of the total potential viewers in the original release country
• pay/basic cable transmissions (including by way of example so-called basic cable, pay cable, pay television and interactive cable)
• broadband to markets representing at least 50% or more of households in the original release country
• recognized web-based/OTT broadcasters who commission content (e.g. Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube Originals, Apple TV+).

2.  The entry is an episode of a work eligible for an Emmy, SAG or BAFTA award as a “Series”, “Drama Series”, “Limited Series” or “Limited Drama Series” per the award governing body’s eligibility criteria for the current award year.

Commercial Distribution Requirements

To be eligible in an COMMERCIAL (per Definition B) category, an entry must satisfy at least ONE of these distribution criteria:

1.   The work must have been marketed and exhibited to a public audience via at least ONE of these distribution methods:

• a theater for a paying public audience
• broadcast television to at least 50% of the total potential viewers in the original release country
• pay/basic cable transmissions (including by way of example so-called basic cable, pay cable, pay television and interactive cable)
• broadband to markets representing at least 50% or more of households in the original release country
• recognized web-based/OTT broadcasters who commission content (e.g. Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube Originals, Apple TV+).

2. The entry is eligible for an Emmy as a “Commercial” per NATAS eligibility criteria for the current award year.

Additional Information for Special Awards

Titles, motion graphics and logos are not eligible in any General category.

All Submissions may only be made through this VES Awards website by following the directions below.

• Designate ONE person to be your primary “go to” person for all VES Awards matters. This person is the official Submitter. They must sign the Submission Form.
• The submission form will be available starting on or about September 15, 2024 on this site.
• Click on “Submit an Entry” below.
• After clicking “Submit an Entry”, click on “Create New Submission.” Instructions will take you through the complete registration and submission process and will guide you on how to prepare your materials for upload.
• Give each entry a distinct project title (preferably the project’s main title) and entry name on both the entry form and on the slate (e.g., Main Title of Project: Avengers; Name of Clip: Hulk Smashes Loki).
• When you have completed the Submission Form, click ”Submit”. A unique Submission Number will be automatically issued. At the same time, slates will be automatically generated for your viewing materials.
• One submission per form. Do not combine multiple entries on a single submission form.
• Making a note of the official Submission Number. Do not lose this login information or share it with an unauthorized individual. You will need this information later if you must make changes to your submission.
• Print or Download your completed entry form, have it signed by the appropriate individuals (electronic signatures are acceptable), upload the completed form to the site by the deadline, October 31, 2024.
• Entry fees should be paid by using the online credit card authorization form in the section “Submit an Entry”.
• Use the Submission Number in all correspondence relating to your entry.
• Upload your viewing materials in Submission Format (ProRes LT as specified below), no later than Thursday, October 31, 2024.

Nominees

• The allowable types of nominees and the number of nominees are noted in the special rules of each category. In addition, the special rules of each category specify the valid nominee type(s) which can be assigned to each nominee slot number. Select your nominees carefully. Submitters should consider qualified artists who no longer work at the facility.
• If you find that you need to make an entrant name substitution, go to the original online submission form using the username and password issued at the time of submission. Make the desired name change and click “Submit” to complete the change.
• No substitutions will be allowed after the nomination event.
• If there is valid reason to question the eligibility of an entrant, the VES Awards Committee reserves the right to investigate the situation and take appropriate action. For more information on name substitutions, consult the VES Awards Policies, Section 11, Name changes, substitutions, and challenges.

Submission Forms and Submission Numbers

You must fill out a Submission Form online and obtain a Submission Number to be in the Awards. Complete the form, have it signed (electronic signatures are acceptable), upload the completed form to the site by the deadline, October 31, 2024. List nominees in the order in which they should appear in any announcements or publicity. Make sure the names and email addresses are spelled correctly.

Signatures

Entry forms must be signed by:

• The person submitting the entry (who may or may not be an entrant); and
• The overall project VFX Supervisor (in animated categories, may also be overall project Director or Animation Supervisor); or
• The overall project VFX Producer (in animated categories, should be the Animation Producer).
• In the case of submissions created under the employ of a facility, a member of the facility’s management

The signers acknowledge that all entrants are eligible and agree to follow and be bound by the rules, procedures, and policies of the VES Awards.

In the case of multiple entries from the same submitting organization, instead of signing each individual submission form the overall VFX Supervisor or overall VFX Producer or, in animated categories, the overall Director, Animation Supervisor, or overall Animation Producer (or the equivalent to these job titles) may submit a single signed letter to the Awards Committee covering all of the award submissions they are authorizing. This letter must include each individual Submission Number for which they are signing. To avoid confusion, this letter should be submitted to awards@vesglobal.org at the same time as the entries it is authorizing.

Contact Person

Please assign one contact person for all your entries. This is the individual (the Submitter) to whom the username and password for uploading your electronic submission will be sent.

This contact person must be available to the Awards Committee during vetting (November through early January) to deal with any potentially disqualifying issues that the Awards Committee may uncover during vetting. They should know where to reach everyone named on the submission in case of questions and who can arrange to re-edit a submission if necessary.

Fees

The total fee for each entry is $460, regardless of how many individuals are named on the submission or their VES affiliation.

Vouchers

Each VES member is entitled to one personal Submission Voucher that will cover that member’s entry fee for one entry only or that member’s pro-rated portion of one entry if they are a part of a team entry.

For purposes of pro-rating, VES vouchers are deemed to have a value of $115 regardless of the category being entered. Therefore, the non-VES entrants must pay the difference between the $460 total entry fee minus the value of the VES vouchers being applied to the entry.

• Example #1: Assume that an entry in category 4 (where a total of five entrants is allowed) is using two vouchers valued at $230. That leaves a balance of $230 to be split among the remaining three entrants for a total value of $460.
• Example #2: Assume that an entry in category 12 (limited to four entrants) is using one voucher only. That leaves a balance of $345 to be split among the remaining three entrants.

Vouchers are non-transferable.

Entry Content

Your entry is made of three parts:

The Work to Be Considered 

• The work you are submitting for the judges to view.

The Before & Afters 

• Descriptive information about how the VFX for the project were created.

Supporting Explanatory PDF

Entrants are responsible for their own quality control. The VES accepts no responsibility for viewing materials that do not play properly, are submitted at the wrong resolution or format, or are of inferior quality (see Submission Format, below). 

Work To Be Considered

This is the project material you wish to be evaluated as the end product of (at least in part) the emerging technology being considered. All Work to Be Considered must be submitted as premiered. Long single shots may be edited down for length by trimming the head or tail of the shot, or lifting one continuous section from the middle. However, you may NOT:

• Change the order of sequences from how they appeared within the project 
• Change the order of or edit shots (except very long shots as stated above) within a sequence
• Put different contextual material around the Work to Be Considered other than how it was premiered 
• Add fades or dissolves to “smooth” awkward transitions created by cutting down the sequence. However, you may place a few frames of black between segments 
• Use sound other than the original sound track as premiered 
• Add watermarks to any viewing material

You should provide some contextual material surrounding the Work to Be Considered where it is available. “Contextual Material” is the shots (visual effects or otherwise) immediately preceding or following the work you are submitting. This contextual material shows how the Work to Be Considered fits into the scene, sequence, or project. Contextual Material must be short and solely shown to set up the effects being presented.

Before & Afters

All entries must submit Before & Afters. The Before & Afters material must be unique to this entry and tailored to the category you are entering. Before & Afters entered in different categories from the same project must be significantly different from one another and must specifically address the shots and category being submitted.

The Before & Afters reel must demonstrate the technology and how it is used in producing visuals and must clearly delineate the specific contribution of the technology to the overall shot work. This may include:

• Design schematics
• Interface screen captures
• Video demonstration of the technology being used (as long as the artist is not seen)
• Early iterations of the tech and test results
• Side-by-side comparisons to alternate workflows
• Work-in-progress (developmental progression of shot)
• The finished shot

In addition: 

• Company logos, logo bugs, or individual names identifying who worked on the entry are not permitted.Entries containing such material will be required to resubmit without identifying marks or they may be disqualified.
  
• Special Venue entries must include video footage of the project from the perspective of the audience.
• Real-Time entries should include video footage demonstrating game assets in their native authoring environment. Overlays showcasing hardware and software performance are also welcomed.
• You may not use the same Before & Afters clip for two different categories, though limited reuse of individual shots is permissible as long as they fit the intent of the category.

Your entry may be disqualified if the Before & Afters material contains any of the following: 

• Extraneous material that does not relate directly to the Work to Be Considered, including early test work done on other clearly identifiable projects.
• Shots or sequences that are not shown in the Work to Be Considered except for brief references from external sources, such as YouTube or other films.
• Talking heads explaining the work (voice-over narration is acceptable).

Supplemental Material

The Supplemental PDF is mandatory for all Emerging Technology submissions. All Projects to be considered as part of eligibility vetting must be listed in the Supplemental PDF, with release date and content type (feature, episode, real-time project, commercial, special venue project) and must conform to the VES release guidelines for that year.

Submitters must provide supporting written documentation that describes the innovative technology in sufficient detail for the VES Technology Committee to be able to evaluate its merits.

A detailed development process timeline (development chronology) with contributor attribution is required.

Please use the following format for this timeline:
YEAR
Contributor(s) – Contribution(s)
Development milestone or advancement

Example:
2020
John Doe – software developer
Jane Doe – principal research scientist
Implementation of 2018 SigGraph paper on novel flip solvers including Houdini integration. John Doe was responsible for the writing the majority of the software code. Jane Doe was responsible for the initial research and development of the primary algorithm used in the code.

If the technology is a new version of pre-existing tech, the submission must clearly delineate NEW development, thus establishing what is in scope for consideration.

Supplemental PDF may include external links, but only to published peer-reviewed papers.
Please submit a PDF file of your supplemental material at the time of submission by uploading the PDF by clicking on “Actions>Upload supplemental material” on the Submission Form. PDFs of nominated entries will be posted on the View & Vote website. Do not send printed copies of written supporting material to the VES.

Guidelines for Supplemental Material:

• Put the Submission Number on every page.
• Keep the number of pages to a minimum.
• Written material may not include the names of facilities and artists that worked on the visual effects, however may include names of individuals as part of the Chronology of Development and Contribution
• Reprints of magazine or web articles are not allowed.
• Please name the PDF file the same as the Submission Number of your submission (e.g. 01-9999).
• Eligible projects must be listed by type and release date.
• Please include chronology of development.
• Describe where the technology has been used.
• Is the technology commercially licensed?

Audio

All sound used in the Work to Be Considered portion of the entry must be the original sync sound as premiered. Entries may be submitted MOS, but they must be clearly labeled as such on the slate. However, the Before & Afters material may have alternate audio, including relevant commentary. Commentary may not include the names of facilities or individuals that did the work, be self congratulatory, or otherwise off-topic.

Slates

• The Slates contain the Submission Number needed for the filename.
• The Head Slate goes at the beginning of each submission, and the Tail Slate goes at the end of each submission. Tail slates will be automatically generated when you create your submission. If revised materials are submitted, you do not need to update the Slate.

Submitting Viewing Materials

Viewing materials must be submitted in electronic form. We will not accept a submission in physical media form.

Electronic Submissions

When you first made your submission you created a unique username and password to use for electronic material submissions. Use the same username and password for all your submissions. But keep in mind that each individual entry will also be given a unique file name that corresponds to only one specific Submission Number.

Submission Format: 

The submission format is Apple ProRes LT (422) in a QuickTime wrapper (.mov).

• One tool that you can use to create a correct entry is Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve,  the free version available for PC, Mac, and Linux is sufficient.

All viewing material must follow these guidelines:

• 1920x1080p, 23.98fps ProRes LT (422) Video
• Color encoding per Rec709
• Gamma 2.4
• Audio should be stereo, embedded uncompressed PCM 16-bit or 24-bit 44.1/48KHz. Peak audio levels must not exceed -2dBTP referenced to a digital meter. We require using true peak limiting and ATSC A/85 (US) or EBU R128(EU) standard target loudness levels which target -24dB LUFS for dialogue.

No exceptions to these requirements.

Upload Order

The entry must be uploaded in two parts: 

• The Work to Be Considered (the entry) is one upload; and 
• The Before & Afters material is the second upload. 

Use the VES slates on both uploads and follow the upload order below in assembling your submission: 

Do not combine your uploads.  Viewing material deviating from these format specs will not be accepted.

File Naming Conventions

The Submission Number is the number on your SLATE, formatted as XX-XXXX. Please use versioning in the filename on your uploads, starting with v01. If a re-upload is needed, please use the next version number. The Work to Be Considered and Before & Afters may have different version numbers.

Your uploaded submission(s) must be named as follows:

For Part 1: Work to Be Considered 

• Entry-ID_v##.mov (This is the original project material) 

For Part 2: Before & Afters 

• Entry-ID_beforeandafters_v##.mov (This is your Before & Afters file) 

Example:

For Submission ID 02-0003, name your files as follows: 

• Work to Be Considered: 02-0003_v01.mov
• Before & Afters: 02-0003_beforeandafters_v01.mov

For a reupload of the Work to Be Considered:

• Work to Be Considered: 02-0003_v02.mov

Only ONE submission per technology is permitted for the Emerging Technology Award. Submissions may combine the work of several facilities in one entry. Submitters should consult with their teams to avoid conflicting entries.

If multiple entries are submitted for a technology, all submitters will be notified that they must submit one joint entry or risk disqualification of all entries. If a payment has been made on a duplicate entry, the submitter may use that payment towards an entry in a different category.

However, a Project may feature multiple technologies that are eligible for submission.

Entrant eligibility will be confirmed by the VES Technology Committee in its sole discretion. Published talks, presentations/courses, and media references may be used as additional sources to validate job title and appropriate contribution. Contributor refers to those individuals primarily responsible for directly creating the technology itself. Companies or corporations are not eligible although individual contributors from commercial technology developers could be eligible if their contribution is significant.

Slot 1: Primary designer, architect or developer of the technology being submitted
Slot 2: Additional developer or engineer that has contributed significantly to the development of the technology
Slot 3: Additional developer or engineer that has contributed significantly to the development of the technology
Slot 4: Additional contributor that has added significant value to the design, development, engineering, or integration of the technology

A maximum of four (4) individuals most responsible for the overall technical design, execution, and delivery of the technology may be included.

These individuals may be but are not limited to:
Principal engineer, domain R&D lead, principal research scientist, head of engineering, Software developer, senior researcher, senior engineer, lead software engineer, pipeline developer, systems architect, UX/UI designer, technical director

Exceptions to the rules may be requested by petition. The Awards Committee considers all petitions on their merits and may grant them at its sole discretion. Submit petitions by clicking on the “Petition Committee” link on the Submission Form.