Last chance to submit for the Vimeo Awards

Hey filmmakers, Vimeo’s giving out money. Here’s the blurb:

THERE’S JUST ONE WEEK LEFT TO SUBMIT

Like a cheetah on roller skates, the Vimeo Festival + Awards are fast approaching, and we don’t want you to miss a thing — especially your chance to submit! Submissions close February 20, which means you have just one week left to share your best work in one or more of 13 categories. There are categories for everyone, and you don’t have to be a professional filmmaker to show us your stuff.

If the looming deadline doesn’t light a fire under your fingertips, maybe the chance to have your videos seen by famous people will inspire you. As you may have heard, our newly announced Festival + Awards judges include actor/director/Renaissance dude James Franco, world’s funniest human Aziz Ansari, 2012 Oscar Nominee Lucy Walker, snowboard superstar Travis Rice, and Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood.

Don’t miss your chance: Submit today!

And here are the guidelines:

4. REQUIREMENTS AND JUDGING CONSIDERATIONS

4.1 GENERAL

Each Submission must comply with the following rules:

It must be an original work by you, meaning that you were one of the work’s principal creators and have the right to submit it to Vimeo and grant the licenses set forth in Section 6.
It must have premiered (i.e., it was publicly displayed for the first time) online between July 31, 2010 and February 20, 2012 or has not premiered elsewhere at the time you submitted it.
It must be in the English language or have English subtitles (to the extent it contains dialogue or text).
It must fall into one of the “Categories” set forth in Section 4.2 below and comply with all Category-specific length and content requirements. (Vimeo reserves the right to move the Submission to a different Category or disqualify the Submission if it is submitted to the wrong Category).
The Submission must not be an excerpt from a longer work, except for Submissions to the Motion Graphics Category.
It must comply with all of the content restrictions set forth in Section 5. Among other things, ANY USE OF THIRD PARTY MUSIC IN THE SUBMISSION MUST BE PRE-CLEARED WITH THE APPLICABLE OWNERS/LICENSORS.
You must have the right to grant the licenses set forth in Section 6.

We are looking for Submissions that:

Are based upon an interesting concept;
Are innovative;
Are well crafted; and
Create an emotional resonance.

Submissions will be judged based upon the above considerations (the “Overall Considerations“) and the Category-specific considerations set forth in Section 4.2 (the “Category Considerations“).

4.2. CATEGORIES

I. NARRATIVE

Short description: A live action narrative fiction told through the medium of video.
Maximum length: 20 minutes
Requirements: Your Submission must be an original live action short narrative video that exemplifies the art of fictional storytelling. Submissions may come from, but are not limited to, the following genres: comedy, action, drama, musical, horror, etc. Your submission should be a complete story that is presented in a clear, creative, and original way.
Judging considerations: We are looking for creative excellence in videos that push the boundaries of narrative filmmaking and storytelling.

II. DOCUMENTARY

Short description: A short video that presents a factual report on a chosen subject or idea.
Maximum length: 20 minutes
Requirements: Your submission must be an original short documentary that exemplifies the art of non-fiction storytelling. Submissions may include a variety of storytelling methods: presenter led or narrated, fly on the wall, point of view, ambient, or personal stories, etc. Your submission should be a complete idea that is presented in a clear, innovative and original way.
Judging considerations: We are looking for an engaging, creative video that provides insight into a real person, lifestyle, cause, belief, or situation through nonfiction filmmaking methods.

III. MUSIC VIDEO

Short description: A short video that accompanies a complete piece of music or song.
Maximum length: 10 minutes
Requirements: Your Submission must be a music video that has been purposely created as a visual representation of a chosen piece of music or song. Submissions must be an original interpretation created for a band or artist, either a narrative or abstract representation of the music or performance. We will accept unofficial, ‘spec’ music videos. All rights to the music used in the video must be cleared with the applicable owners/licensors.
Judging considerations: We are looking for entries that visually represent the accompanying music in a complementary, fresh and highly creative way, in both concept and execution.

IV. MOTION GRAPHICS

Short description: The use of graphic design principles to create a video using animation or filmic techniques.
Maximum length: 10 minutes
Requirements: Your submission must be an original, non-narrative, short motion graphics video that communicates information via the sequencing of images and text, led by the principles of graphic design. Submissions may include, but are not limited to, any of the following styles of motion graphics: title sequence, infographic, computer processing, graphic bumpers, etc.
Judging considerations: We are looking for videos that show a high level of technical, conceptual, and aesthetic innovation and display an exceptional level of creative vision.

V. ANIMATION

Short description: A story told by giving life to inanimate objects or character designs using computer technology or frame by frame animation.
Maximum length: 20 minutes
Requirements: Your submission must be an original animated short video that illustrates the art of animated storytelling. Submissions may include the following styles of animation: 3D, 2D, mixed media, or any form of stop motion.
Judging considerations: We are looking for animation that deploys a high level of technical, conceptual, and aesthetic innovation in order to enchant the viewer with a strong, engaging story.

VI. REMIX

Short description: A video that is created using images, sequences or audio from existing works to make a new, original, independent piece.
Maximum length: 10 minutes
Requirements: Your Submission must be a video which recombines and modifies existing digital works to create a new transformative work. Submissions must be created using footage and sounds that you have all the necessary rights to use, are in the public domain, or are used under the protection of fair use.
Judging considerations: We are looking for remix videos that show an exemplary transformation from the original material used and show an exceptional level of creative vision and execution.

VII. CAPTURED

Short description: A video that captures your own artistic expression or performance as the subject.
Maximum length: 10 minutes
Requirements: Your Submission must be an original short video with the sole purpose of capturing your own creative expression or performance. Submissions may include: an installation, live performance, social experiment, or any other creative expression.
Judging considerations: We are looking for videos that solely capture a creative expression and are not necessarily creative pieces in and of themselves.

VIII. SERIES

Short description: A set of related or thematic videos, released periodically.
Maximum length per episode: 10 minutes
Requirements: Each Submission must be a single video that includes three (3) sample episodes that best represent the series. Your Submission must come from an original series with more than five (5) episodes that is distributed solely through the Internet. Submissions can be from all forms of storytelling: fiction, non-fiction, musical, etc, and any format: live action, animation, etc. The submitted episodes must accurately represent the series as whole, and will be the basis upon which the series is judged.
Judging considerations: We are looking for a video series that maintains a strong concept through multiple episodes shows an exceptional level of creative vision and execution.

IX. EXPERIMENTAL

Short description: A video that experiments with new ideas and/or techniques, often characterized by the absence of a linear narrative.
Maximum length: 20 minutes
Requirements: Submissions may include video art, abstract works, or any other non narrative-based work that breaks new ground in moving image.
Judging considerations: We are looking for videos that explore new ideas or techniques to further filmmaking as an art form, free from the constraints of the traditional narrative form.

X. ACTION SPORTS

Short description: A video that uses filmmaking to creatively showcase action sports.
Maximum length: 10 minutes
Requirements: Your submission must be a complete original video that focuses on the theme of action sports. Submissions must be complete standalone videos that present the subject matter in a clear, creative, and original way. We define action sports as any of the following, but not limited to: skateboarding, blading, snow sports, kite boarding, surfing, drifting, body boarding, BASE jumping/wingsuit, sky diving, bmx, motorcross, parkour, etc. Entries may be narrative, documentary-based, animated, or based on an experimental technique. Submissions may not be excerpts from longer films. You must have the permission of the applicable sports organization and/or participants to enter the video in a contest.
Judging considerations: We are not looking for trick videos. We are looking for well-crafted videos that elevate the given sport through creative cinematography, editing and storytelling.

XI. FASHION

Short description: A video showcasing a fashion or beauty collection or trend with moving image.
Maximum length: 10 minutes
Requirements: Submissions must communicate a particular trend or moment in fashion, beauty, or style, commissioned by a fashion or beauty brand or magazine. Submissions may not be advertisements that have been broadcast on TV. You must have the permission of the applicable designer and/or fashion show to enter the video in a contest.
Judging considerations: We are looking for Submissions that elevate the featured themes using creative and original cinematic and/or storytelling techniques.

XII. LYRICAL

Short description: A video that showcases the natural world or personal experience using a distinct creative style.
Maximum length: 10 minutes
Requirements: A video that uses one or more of the following styles or techniques: slow motion, timelapse, tilt shift, videoblogs, personal moment videos, travel videos, etc, to capture images of your surroundings or personal life in an outstandingly creative, engaging way.
Judging considerations: We are looking for a fresh perspective that offers new ways of looking at the world around us.

XIII. ADVERTISING

Short description: A short video commissioned by a brand or advertising agency to promote a company, product or service.
Maximum Length: 10 minutes
Minimum Length: 25 seconds
Requirements: Submissions must have the express intent of selling or promoting a product or service. There is no limitation to the style or format. You must have the permission of the advertiser (and advertising agency, where applicable) to enter the video in the contest.
Judging considerations: We are looking for Submissions that showcase outstanding creativity both in the thinking behind the campaign and in its execution.