Depending on the category and the topic, the Judges will be looking for examples of work where library footage is central to the success of the production or it has given it an added value; where archival footage has helped the understanding of the topic or illustrated it in a way that words alone could not do; where innovative use of footage has managed to portray a topic in a unique way. Judges will also consider the efforts that have been made to find new and / or appropriate footage and to ensure that it looks as good as possible quality-wise.
Head Juror Jerry Kuehl adds: in the category devoted to Factual programming we also consider: 1) Does what is seen on the screen match what the commentary or interviews say? 2) Is the programme's narration factually accurate? 3) Is the use of footage historically accurate? 4) How novel is the archive material?

NB. Footage is considered to consist of moving images and so productions consisting predominantly of stills will not be considered in the same way by the Jury.

General Guidelines:

1. To qualify, a work must have been broadcast, screened or published, for the first time, between 1st January 2011 and 31st December 2011 (the qualifying period).
2. To be considered, all Submission Forms and supporting visual material must be received at the FOCAL office no later than 1st December 2011 (late delivery of visual material will only be allowed for those programmes which are due for transmission during December 2011).
3. All initial Submissions to Award categories 1-14 will be charged a handling fee of �60 (+ VAT). Payment can be made online at the time of submission or an invoice can be generated. If you need to raise a purchase order, please arrange it before filling in the submission form and make sure that you give the correct reference on the payment form. NB. In submitting a programme it is expected that you have the financial resources to send a representative to the Awards ceremony 2nd May 2012, if the submission is shortlisted, and at your own expense. FOCAL International is a not for profit trade association and is not able to offer free tickets to the ceremony or to subsidise any travel or accommodation.
4. Submissions to Award categories 1-14 are open to all production companies, broadcasters, advertisers, footage archives, facility houses, individuals etc. worldwide. Anyone can nominate an employer, colleague, supplier or client. You do not need to be a FOCAL Member to participate in this section of the competition.
5. Submissions are only valid using the online FOCAL International Awards Submissions Entry Form accessed via www.focalint.org.
6. Where supporting visual material is required we will ask you to provide 3 copies on DVD-All Zones (4 copies for the Restoration / Preservation categories) and we will provide you also with an opportunity to upload digital files. Specification details and an uploader facility will be provided once your submission form has been received. For your information, digital files will be stored on a secure password protected site for the duration of the competition. Access will be only to those registered members of the Jury who will also be given unique user access and passwords.
   Viewing material should be in English, dubbed or subtitled. If this is not possible, then the submitter should accept that, since the common language of the international jury is English, the submission is unlikely to receive due consideration.
7. In entering the competition, the submitter accepts all responsibility for: A) gaining the consent of the Producer of the work cited B) ensuring that any further clearances are gained where deemed necessary to comply with the Entry Guidelines C) can provide written proof of the above, upon request.
8. The submitter of the Entry indemnifies FOCAL International against any claims that might arise out of its use of any visual materials supplied to support a Submission in the various ways stated above.
9. Submission of a work does not guarantee nomination.
10. From the initial Submissions, a Jury will shortlist the top 3 per Award category. Final Nominations will be announced in March 2012.
11. The international Jury will comprise a minimum of 3 Jurors per Award category. Members of the Jury will be respected professionals drawn from the footage community within the UK and other countries. The Jury names will be listed in the Awards ceremony brochure. No Juror with a vested interest in a particular submission will be allowed to serve on the relevant Award category.
12. From the shortlisted nominations, voting for the Winner in each Award category will be by the respective panels of jurors, and in some instances, FOCAL Members will also be able to add their votes.
13. Shortlisted nominees will be notified in February / March 2012, whereupon they agree to provide a Digi Beta, Beta SP or broadcast quality DVD, of the complete cited work or a suitable section from it so that a 25 second clip can be edited into the clip compilation to be shown on the night of the Awards Ceremony. They will further agree to provide a minimum 2 promotional stills of the work for inclusion in the Awards Brochure and Archive Zones magazine.
14. Winners will be announced at the Awards presentation 2nd May, 2012 and those collecting Awards accept that their photographic image will be replicated in Archive Zones magazine, on the FOCAL website and in promotional advertisements and posters.
15. The decisions of the international Jury and those FOCAL International Members eligible to vote are final.
16. FOCAL International reserves the right to reject any submission or nomination at any time without prior consultation with the submitter.
17. The Jury reserves the right to change the category to which a Submission is made if they feel another category to be more appropriate; however this will be done in consultation with the submitter.
18. In the event of multiple entries of the same name or title from different people, the Jury will confer with the submitters in deciding which single entry is accepted.
19. FOCAL International accepts no responsibility for non-receipt of any electronic submission or supporting visual material, however, we will be contacting each submitter to verify when their submission is complete.
20. FOCAL International will endeavour to protect any supporting visual material such as DVD's once in its possession, but it accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage, and it will NOT return any such material to the sender except under exceptional circumstances, or where the submitter is willing to pay for delivery. However, full master copies of the Final Nominations received on Beta SP or Digi Beta will be returned upon request.
21. Shortlisted nominees may be asked for permission to show the programmes shortlisted non-theatrically following the Awards presentation.
22. The submitter accepts that their contact details will be stored on a database for use by FOCAL International only.
23. Participation in the FOCAL International Awards implies full acceptance of the Entry Guidelines to the competition.

Additional Guidelines - there is No Charge for the following categories and no need to send any moving images.

1. The Jane Mercer Footage Researcher of the Year Award. The recipient(s) must be member(s) of FOCAL International. Anyone, including a Researcher can nominate themselves or the Jury may nominate individuals during the course of the Jury process. The recipient will be chosen by a special committee, whose decision will be final.
2. The Award for Library of the Year. Only FOCAL International members will be allowed to nominate a library which must be a fully paid up company member of FOCAL International. The recipient will be chosen by a special committee, whose decision will be final.
3. The Award for Library Employee of the Year. The recipient must work for a company member of FOCAL International. Only FOCAL International members will be allowed to nominate a person. The recipient will be chosen by a special committee, whose decision will be final.
4. Submissions to the Award for Lifetime Achievement can be made by anyone, except the person themselves. NB. All Nominees will be asked to email a personal CV in support of the nomination. The recipient will be chosen by a special committee, whose decision will be final.
5. It is within the power of the Jury to grant a further award under the title The FOCAL International Special Award. The criteria used to make such an award will be at the discretion of the Jury whose decision is final.

For further information:
info@focalint.org�
+44 (0)20 3178 3535