AMV Contest Rules
Please read through all the rules before entering!
Entry Requirements
- Each individual may enter up to 2 videos for the normal contest. However, the videos may not be submitted into the same category.
- Only videos created after November 3, 2003 will be accepted.
- All videos are allowed to be submitted to the contest as long as they were made after the creation date in the last bullet and have not competed at a previous Youmacon AMV Contest.
- Multi-editor videos will count as 1 entry for each editor involved. However, you may submit as many multi-editor videos you have been a part of as you like and they will count as only 1 of your entries. Limits on running time for multi-editor videos are not set in stone and will vary.
- Entries may not contain bumpers, title screens, MTV style credits, or any other form of identification. We will be creating our own uniform bumpers and will not remove yours for you.
- The running time for videos may not exceed 6 minutes or be shorter then 25 seconds.
- Videos must contain at least 50% anime or video game footage.
- All videos must be in the hands of the contest coordinator by October 14, 2006.
- By submitting your video(s) to this contest you authorize us to screen and distribute it under the Youmacon AMV Contest title. All physical media (CD-R, DVD-R, DVD+R, etc.) submitted becomes the property of Youmacon Enterprises and will not be returned.
- Entries may be disqualified for the following reasons: Objectionable content in the song or video, bad audio or video quality, subtitled footage, failure to adhere to submission rules, lack of signed entry form, or any reason Youmacon AMV Staff deems necessary. If you are unsure if your video would be disqualified due to the above rule, e-mail the contest coordinator and we can view the content of your video and make a decision.
- Exceptions to the rules will be made on a video-by-video basis.
- Entries will be accepted in the following formats:
- AVI
- Huffyuv (preferred)
- DivX
- XviD
- DV
- MPEG
- MPEG-2 (preferred)
- Videotape- and DVD-formatted entries will not be accepted. WMV, RM, and MOV files will also not be accepted. (You can output into an AVI format from Windows Movie Maker. If you are unsure how, the AnimeMusicVideos.org forums will be able to assist you in doing so.)
- All videos should include at least 1 second of black space before and after the video.
- Digital video file format specifications (This is how each video will be encoded for the contest showing)
- 720×480 frame size
- 23.97 or 24 fps (progressive)
- 29.97 fps (interlaced)
- 3:2 pulldown upon playback (for progressive footage)
- 2 pass VBR, avg 3000, max 5000, min 1800, max pass 2
- 44.1kHz or 48 kHz 16 bit stereo uncompressed PCM audio
- You may submit your video with compressed audio, however, you video may be disqualified if there is any problems converting the audio if you do not include an uncompressed WAV along with your entry.
Contest Procedure
- All videos screened at the contest will be converted to the specifications listed above. Submitting your video with these specifications will save AMV staff conversion time, and allow you to preview how your file will look.
- The contest will be played from via a RealMagic Hollywood+ card. You can still find these cheap on eBay if you wish to see how your video will appear on screen.
- The backup display option will be via S-video output from a GeForce graphics card.
- The normal contest’s running time will be 2 hours. If we receive more videos then we have time for we will have to cut videos from the contest pool. A listing of videos selected for the screening will be posted on the convention’s and AnimeMusicVideos.org’s forums. We apologize if your video does not make it into the contest, but this step is necessary.
- Video selection will be broken down like this:
- Disqualified videos are removed first
- Remaining videos are ordered by category. The videos in each category are then counted and equalized until entries of one type are exhausted. If time is not met, category sizes are increased in increments until time is met.
- Original entries are given priority over trolling entries. Also, entries designated as first pick by the creator are given priority over second pick. In other words, trolling entries and second picks will be cut first if the need arises.
- The following awards will be given:
- Fan Favorite
- Best of Show
- Staff Pick
- Best Action
- Best Drama
- Best Romance
- Best Comedy
- Best Upbeat
- Best Technical
- Best Staff
- Most Original Concept
- In the case where a lack of entries are present in a category in order to compete, those videos will then be added to a similar category. Ex, Romance added to Drama, Upbeat added to Action.
- The contest will be judged by a panel of judges at the convention as well as by the attendees present at the Friday showing.
- AMV department staff will select a panel of 2 creators, 2 non creators, and 2 guest judges.
- The judging panel will choose the winners of the following awards:
- Best Technical
- Best Staff
- Most Original Concept
- Best of Show
- The attendees will chose the winners of the following awards:
- Best Action
- Best Drama
- Best Comedy
- Best Upbeat
- Best Romance
- Fan Favorite
- The Staff Pick will be chosen by Youmacon staff.
- Judging ballots will be handed out to the audience before the competition and will be deposited in drop boxes at the end of the screening. The scores will then be tabulated and winners announced at the award ceremony and finalist showing on Saturday of the con.
- You do not need to be present to win. However if you want your award and/or prizes you must either be present, have a proxy at the con to pick it up, or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the contest coordinator (you will be contacted in this case).
- You may submit entries to the following categories:
- Drama: Videos in this category seek to evoke emotional responses from viewers by the successful combination of music, video, and editing which usually involves dramatic subject matter or dramatic elements from the anime.
- Upbeat: Music Videos in the upbeat category are uplifting and have a beat that one can groove to.
- Comedy: Whether parody or just wacky content, videos in this category can be pretty successful as long as someone thinks it’s funny.
- Romance: Videos here are much like drama, except they focus on the relationships between two people. The "aww" factor plays heavily in this category.
- Action: Videos will focus on action whether that is fighting sequences, motions of characters, or fast paced colorful imagery. The key word here is adrenaline.
- Staff: This category is a mixture of all the others, as staff are only allowed to enter in this category.
Submitting Entries
All videos must be in the hands of the contest coordinator by October 14, 2006.
Application
All entries must contain an entry form. Those submitting multiple entries will need to submit a form for each video. The entry form may be found below.
Entry forms may be directly filled out from the Web site and submitted. However, you must also print the form and mail it in with your entry, or scan in a copy of it signed. The process to fill out the form is as such:
- Fill out all required fields in the form
- Click the "Print Form" button (will print the form filled out)
- Click "Submit by Email" (follow directions to submit)
- Send questions to amv@youmacon.com.
View AMV contest entry form (PDF format)
FTP
Entries may be uploaded via FTP using the following information:
- Server: youmaconamv.serveftp.com
- Port: 169
- User: youmaconamv
- Pass: G2piEOOM
The username and password are both case-sensitive.
Please navigate to the folder for the category you are submitting to and upload your video and entry form there. You are unable to alter, edit, refresh, download, etc. on the FTP server. All you are able to do is browse and upload.
If you have any problems regarding the FTP server please contact iceman.f1@gmail.com with your questions. The contest coordinator has no control over the FTP, so please don’t ask him.
Mail
Entries may also be mailed. Send your video and entry form to:
- ATTN: Youmacon 2006
- Nathan Silverthorn
- 15750 Gulley St.
- Taylor, MI 48180-5024
The following media types will be accepted: CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-DL, and DVD+DL. Remember that all media submitted will not be returned. Do not send us your master copy.
Hentai AMV Contest
- You may submit as many videos as you want to the hentai contest, as long as you made them.
- Videos submitted to the hentai contest do not count toward entries for the normal AMV contest (you can still submit 2 AMV contest entries even if you submit 20 hentai entries)
- There is no time limit on video size.
- There are no quality standards.
- You can submit a video that’s as old as your grandmother if you so wish.
- Fill out the hentai contest entry form and submit it electronically through the PDF.
- Use the same FTP server; simply upload to the Hentai folder.
- Submit your videos also to the same address, however, hentai videos need to be on a separate disk from normal contest videos. (They maybe shipped together.)
- The contest itself will be 2-4 hours long, depending on how many entries are received.
- Entries will compete for the top 10 places.
- Videos will be voted on by those in attendance at the showing.
- Videos must contain all animated clips (no live action smut). Since this is a hentai contest, at least 50% of the video must contain hentai material.
- Hentai material is defined as pornographic, ultra violent, sick, nasty, and utterly wrong. (Any or all of these need be present in each video.)
- Videos will be pre-selected for the showing. However, the videos that will be screened will not be announced.
- The contest will take place on late Saturday night of the con.
- All persons entering this contest must be 18 years of age or older.
- Multi-editor projects are limited to 15 minutes in length and will receive no physical prizes if there are any to be given.
- Multi-editor projects are defined as a video collaborated on by 3 or more people.
- In the case of a multi-editor project, please select only 1 editor as the spokesperson, who will submit the video and entry form.
View Hentai AMV contest entry form (PDF format)
Questions regarding the contest may be directed to the contest coordinator at amv@youmacon.com.