Tackling Torture Video Contest

Video Contest Rules

Technicalities:

1. Contest is open to both amateur and professional videographers of all ages and from any country.
2. The language of the contest is English.  Videos in other languages must have subtitles or be dubbed in English (if necessary).
3. Videos must be between 30 sec to 5 min in length.  NOTE: No preference is given to longer or shorter videos.
4. Videos must be original content
5. All videos must be in mp4 format, at 480 or 720 dpi only.
6. Send videos through WETRANSFER.COM (https://www.wetransfer.com/) website to tacklingtorturevideo@fastmail.fm  Be sure to include IN THE MESSAGE AREA: 1. YOUR NAME, 2. YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, 3. YOUR CITY/STATE/COUNTRY, 4. TITLE OF VIDEO.  Any submissions without these FOUR pieces of information will not be considered.
7. Finalists will be required to submit short bios and optional photos of themselves for publicity purposes.  Winners will be required to submit contact info to allow receipt of their prizes.
8. Submit your video to one of two categories: Serious or Satirical/Parody
9. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS is MARCH 1, 2015
10. Finalists announced March 8, 2015-- up to twenty (10 in each category) .  Preliminary selection made by members of Tackling Torture and the Top and WAMM
11. Audience Voting will begin on March 8, 2015.  NOTE: contestants are urged to have their friends and associates vote for their videos.
12. JUDGING AND AUDIENCE VOTING COMPLETION DATE IS MARCH 31, 2015.
13. ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS IS APRIL 10, 2015.  GALA PRESENTATION OF ALL FINALISTS AND PRESENTATION OF PRIZES IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, DATE AND PLACE TBA (SOON AFTER ANNOUNCEMENT.)
14. All video creators will be invited to post their entries at T3's youtube channel following the contest.

Videos will be judged on:

1. Clarity of message
2. Usefulness for informing the public of the various issues surrounding the US's use of torture, including the US's lack of pursuit of accountability for authorizing torture or committing torture, negative effects of its use including blowback and the immorality and unethicalness of its use.
3. Creativity
4. Craftsmanship
5. Entertainment value
6. NOTE: no preference will be given to any particular length of video

Judging:

First (Elimination) Round:

FIRST (Elimination) ROUND:  This will be judged by members of T3 and other members of WAMM.  This round will reduce the number of contestants to 10 videos in each of the two categories (20 finalists total).  Elimination-round judges reserve the right to eliminate videos that are deemed offensive regarding race, creed, ethnicity, sexual orientation.  We will favor videos that parents of teenagers may be comfortable allowing their children to view (generally "PG-13").

Second Round: Jury Prize

JURY PRIZES: A jury of film professionals and experts on the use of torture will determine the Jury Prize winners.  Jury members will not know the status of the Audience Prize voting.

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2014

Jury Panel

(2015 Panel pending)

• Sebastian Doggart, filmmaker, director of American Faust: From Condi to Neo-Condi
• Joseph Jolton (also 2015), Minneapolis-based filmmaker and teacher, Minneapolis College of Art and Design,
• Peter Kuznick, writer of the screenplay for Oliver Stone's America is Professor of History at American University, Washington, DC
• Alfred W. McCoy, the author of “A Question of Torture” and “Torture and Impunity” is J.R.W. Smail Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
• Andy Worthington, filmmaker and investigative journalist

Second Round: Audience Favorite Prizes

AUDIENCE FAVORITE VOTING: The 20 videos will be posted at this site (embedded from youtube) for viewing and general voting for the Audience Prizes. Anyone can vote for the Audience Prize.  Each voter can choose 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices and the tallying will follow the rules of "Instant Run-off Voting".  Finalists are encouraged to get the word out and solicit votes!

Four Prizes awarded:

1. $TBA Jury Prize, Serious category
2. $TBA Jury Prize, Satirical/Parody category
3. $TBA Audience Favorite Prize, Serious category
4. $TBA Audience Favorite Prize, Satirical/Parody category