Background
The Sikh Coalition invites you to participate in this year’s Diversity Video Competition! If you win first place, you’ll not only get the $1,500 cash prize but your film will be premiered at the Sikh Arts and Film Festival in New York City this November!
The last day to submit your videos is September 30, 2012.
No film experience is required to participate, and people of all ages are encouraged to submit.
Purpose
The purpose of the Diversity Video Competition is to promote understanding and encourage dialogue on civil rights issues, stereotypes, and myths surrounding minority groups (with a particular anchor in the Sikh experience).
It is through this artistic dialogue between submitters and the viewing public that the Coalition hopes to combat ignorance, and encourage all to embrace their diversity.
Competition Topic
My Crown - My Faith
How does it feel to be a Sikh? Why don’t you try! Walk a mile in our shoes!
Film-makers are encouraged to create a 5 minute video (or less) which depicts a non-Sikh adorning/wearing a Sikh turban for a day, and presenting himself/herself as a Sikh. The turban is a Sikh article of faith, and should always be treated with respect. The film should capture the reactions of passersby, friends, and family members. Pre and post interviews with main characters are encouraged.
Submission Deadline
All entries must be received by September 30, 2012.
Competition Phases
Phase 1: Once entries are submitted, the public will be given an opportunity to view the top films, and vote for their favorites.
Phase 2: After the top submissions have been selected, our panel of expert judges will select the 1st and 2nd place winners.
The winner will be announced by November 1, 2012.
Awards
All entries will be eligible for the following awards:
First Place: $1500 and have your film premiered at the Sikh Art and Film Festival in New York City this Fall.
Second Place: $750
Rules and Guidelines
There is no age requirement for the competition.
All videos must be submitted online, via Vimeo. Vimeo is a free, user-friendly video-hosting site, which we will use to receive submissions. It’s fast, easy to use, and takes away the cost and wait involved with sending in hard-copies of your films.
Contestants of all ages may participate in the competition.
Judging Criteria
The Sikh Coalition invites you to participate in this year’s Diversity Video Competition! If you win first place, you’ll not only get the $1,500 cash prize but your film will be premiered at the Sikh Arts and Film Festival in New York City this November!
The last day to submit your videos is September 30, 2012.
No film experience is required to participate, and people of all ages are encouraged to submit.
Purpose
The purpose of the Diversity Video Competition is to promote understanding and encourage dialogue on civil rights issues, stereotypes, and myths surrounding minority groups (with a particular anchor in the Sikh experience).
It is through this artistic dialogue between submitters and the viewing public that the Coalition hopes to combat ignorance, and encourage all to embrace their diversity.
Competition Topic
My Crown - My Faith
How does it feel to be a Sikh? Why don’t you try! Walk a mile in our shoes!
Film-makers are encouraged to create a 5 minute video (or less) which depicts a non-Sikh adorning/wearing a Sikh turban for a day, and presenting himself/herself as a Sikh. The turban is a Sikh article of faith, and should always be treated with respect. The film should capture the reactions of passersby, friends, and family members. Pre and post interviews with main characters are encouraged.
Submission Deadline
All entries must be received by September 30, 2012.
Competition Phases
Phase 1: Once entries are submitted, the public will be given an opportunity to view the top films, and vote for their favorites.
Phase 2: After the top submissions have been selected, our panel of expert judges will select the 1st and 2nd place winners.
The winner will be announced by November 1, 2012.
Awards
All entries will be eligible for the following awards:
First Place: $1500 and have your film premiered at the Sikh Art and Film Festival in New York City this Fall.
Second Place: $750
Rules and Guidelines
There is no age requirement for the competition.
- All videos must be 2-5 minutes in length. Any entries longer than 5 minutes will not be considered.
- More than one filmmaker may create, film, and edit a video together. If this is the case, each filmmaker must fill out a separate application form, and all forms must be submitted at the same time, in the same email.
- Submission must address all facets of prompt provided.
- Video Submissions may use any narrative and technical style, including, but not limited to, documentary, fiction, live action or animation.
- Competition applicants may consult anyone for advice and feedback on their films prior to submission. However, video submissions must be filmed and edited solely by the applicant(s).
- All submissions must be submitted online, through Vimeo.com (see Submission Guidelines).
- Films are to be submitted with the Application Form.
- Once the video has been submitted to the Sikh Coalition, applicant may not edit and resubmit his/her film.
- Films may only use original music (meaning music that is written, recorded, and/or produced by the submitter) or copyright free music.
- Any videos containing profane or discriminatory elements will be automatically disqualified.
- The top two videos that are selected in the Competition become the property of the Sikh Coalition and can be distributed and used for Sikh Coalition purposes.
- Upon selection, First and Second Place Winners must submit original video files to the Sikh Coalition. At that time, a reminder will be sent requesting these materials.
All videos must be submitted online, via Vimeo. Vimeo is a free, user-friendly video-hosting site, which we will use to receive submissions. It’s fast, easy to use, and takes away the cost and wait involved with sending in hard-copies of your films.
- Please read the Instructions and Application Form carefully before submitting your video to Vimeo. Films loaded onto the site cannot exceed 500 MB.
- Acceptable file-types include: asf, asx, avi, divx, dv, dvx, m4v, mov, mp4, mpeg, mpg, qt, wmv, 3g2, 3gp, 3ivx and 3vx. We recommend but do not require you to use .MP4, simply because it will take less time to load, and the site has been designed to work best with this extension.
- For additional questions please send an email to dvc@sikhcoalition.org
Contestants of all ages may participate in the competition.
- No prior film experience is required to participate.
Judging Criteria
- Creativity and Originality: Is the filmmaker conveying a theme, message, and/or experience in a new, exciting, and interesting way? Is the film engaging for the viewer?
- Message: Is the filmmaker exploring a deeper issue or addressing a problem faced by minority groups? Is the message effectively conveyed? How well does the movie provoke thought in its viewers?
- Quality: Is the movie produced with technical and cinematographic aptitude and is edited well?
- Versatility: Does the filmmaker address discrimination towards Sikhs in such a way that a non-Sikh audience would be able to understand and internalize?
- Requirements: Does the submission meet file length limit and use copyright-free music?
