2011 Categories

CONTENT CATEGORIES:
Best Animal Behavior Program
Awarded to the program that most effectively explores animal behavior in a new, fresh, imaginative or authoritative way. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $180)

Best Wildlife Habitat Program
Awarded to the program that most effectively explores a unique habitat or ecosystem. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $180)

Best Conservation Program
Awarded to the program that most effectively contributes to an awareness of timely and relevant conservation issues or solutions. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $180)

Best People & Nature Program
Awarded to the program that most effectively explores the relationship between humans and animals or the environment. The relationship must be central to the program; the mere presence of people is not sufficient. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $180)

Best Earth Sciences Program
Awarded to the program that most effectively contributes to an appreciation and understanding of the geosciences and related earth systems. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $180)

Best Science and Nature Program (NEW CATEGORY)
Awarded to the program that most effectively incorporates science and scientific discovery into an understanding of some aspect of the natural world. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $180)

Conservation Hero (NEW CATEGORY)
Awarded to the film that most effectively celebrates the work of individuals or groups committed to enhance the protection, awareness or understanding of a species, ecosystem or some other aspect of the natural world. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $180)

PROGRAM CATEGORIES:
Best Limited Series
Awarded to the television mini-series running for a single season that most effectively advances a natural history theme. Series of any length may enter. Individual episodes may be entered into other categories.
Submit three episodes that best represent the series. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $240)

Best Children’s Program
Awarded to the program that most effectively inspires an appreciation of the natural world, or issues associated with animals and the environment, to young audiences.
Peer judged by children to select the finalists. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $120)

Best Hosted or Presenter-led Program
Awarded to the program that makes the most effective use of a host or presenter in communicating an appreciation and understanding of the natural world. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $120)

Best Short Program
Awarded to the program, between 3 and 20 minutes in length, that best advances an appreciation or understanding of the natural world. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $90)

Best Short Shorts (NEW CATEGORY)
Awarded to the most effective and compelling project under three minutes in length (regardless of distribution format) that best advances an appreciation or understanding of some aspect of the natural world. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $30)

Best Theatrical Program
Awarded to the program created for distribution in a commercial theatrical venue that best advances an appreciation or understanding of the natural world. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $120)

Best Immersive Program
Awarded to the program created for distribution in an immersive theater environment that best uses its technology and resources to advance an appreciation or understanding of the natural world. This category includes Large Format, 3-D program and Full Dome programs. Finalists and award winners will be selected entirely by peer judges. If a suitable number of entries are submitted in any of these individual formats, organizers may create separate categories for each format. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $120)
Click here for the 2011 Fulldome Judging Specs

Marian Zunz Newcomer
Award Presented in recognition of the achievement of the best first-time filmmaker in the field of natural history production. This award is intended for filmmakers who, while they may have worked on other natural history films, are making the first film for which they have creative control. Submission must include a resumé showing past work and an outline of the responsibilities of those who worked on the program. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $60)

Best Cultural Institution Media Installation
Awarded to the cultural institution media project that most effectively fulfills its mission and advances an appreciation for the natural world and its species, habitats or challenges. This includes projects which were not created for distribution in commercial or large format theaters or via the internet or television but for site specific installation and display in museums, zoos, and aquariums. Finalists and award winners will be selected entirely by peer judges. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $90)

Best Interactive and New Media
Awarded to the project that best integrates the interactive potential of digital media to raise awareness and understanding of the natural world in non-traditional distribution methods, including web-based and mobile and downloaded personal media technology.
Finalists and award winners will be selected entirely by peer judges. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $60)

CRAFT CATEGORIES:
Finalists and award winners in these categories are determined by peer judges.

Best Sound
Awarded for the combined contribution of production mixing, sound editing, sound effects and post production mixing that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part. The Best Sound category will be judged by Dolby Laboratories and DVDs with 5.1 audio is their optimal choice, although Stereo will be accepted. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $120)

Best Cinematography
Awarded for the cinematography that, regardless of the technology used to acquire it, most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $120)

Best Editing
Awarded for the editing that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $120)

Best Original Musical Score
Awarded for the original musical score that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $120)

Best Writing
g Awarded for the writing that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part through the union of imagery, storyline, dialog and narration. A word document or pdf of the script (in English) must be submitted in addition to the standard submission requirements. (Entry Fee in U.S. Dollars: $120)