Calendar – Past Event

IDA Documentary Awards - CALL FOR ENTRIES 2011

“...I hold the highest regard for the IDA and its members, so for Waste Land to be recognized by them is an overwhelming honor.
-- Lucy Walker, Director, Waste Land
Winner, Best Feature Award, 26th Annual IDA Awards

“For 30 for 30 to be recognized by the IDA was a true honor -- the award is so meaningful to ESPN Films because it comes from other documentary filmmakers and means 30 for 30 has earned the respect of such an accomplished community.
-- Connor W. Schell, Executive Producer, 30 for 30, ESPN Films
Winner, Best Continuing Series Award, 26th Annual IDA Awards

“An honor from a jury of your peers is indeed the greatest honor. So to us our IDA award is a very special one.
-- Connie Field, Director, Have You Heard From Johannesburg
Winner, Limited Series Award, 26th Annual IDA Awards

“The IDA showcases profoundly creative works that embody the modern documentary: strange, outlandish, engaging, exquisite, sometimes horrifying, and often inspiring real life narratives that when presented through the lens of a master storyteller, somehow connect all of us to each other. I am deeply honored to be included in this vital and thriving cinematic community.
-- Oscar Bucher, Director, Waiting for a Train: The Toshio Hirano Story
Winner, David L. Wolper Award, 26th Annual IDA Awards

IDA is proud to announce submissions are open for the 27th Annual IDA Awards. The IDA Documentary Awards is the foremost event dedicated to the art of documentary film. All winners will be honored at the IDA Documentary Awards Gala in Los Angeles, December 2, 2011. Click here for last year's winners.

Entry is open to any documentary, nonfiction or factual program completed between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011 that qualifies for one of the five main award categories. Projects submitted to prior IDA Awards shows are not eligible. Please contact awards@documentary.org with any questions.

Earlybird Deadline: June 10, 2011
Regular Deadline: June 21, 2011
Late Deadline: July 6, 2011

Click to submit.

IDA Documentary Award Main Categories

FEATURE
Individual, stand-alone documentary, more than 40 minutes in length.
Award recipients: Limited to two persons, one of whom must be the credited Director who exercised directorial control, and the other of whom must have a Producer or Director credit.

SHORT
Individual, stand-alone documentary, less than or equal to 40 minutes in length.
Award recipients: Limited to two persons, one of whom must be the credited Director who exercised directorial control, and the other of whom must have a Producer or Director credit.

LIMITED SERIES
A limited documentary, nonfiction or factual series consisting of more than one episode, linked by a common theme or subject, in its first season (Architecture School, The Alzheimer's Project).
Award recipients: Limited to two persons. While co-production partners may be credited, only the Series Producer(s) will be presented with the award.

CONTINUING SERIES
An ongoing documentary, nonfiction or factual series without an end in sight, consisting of more than 12 episodes, with or without a common theme (American Experience, Brick City).
Award recipients: Limited to two persons. While co-production partners may be credited, only the Executive Producer(s) of the continuing series will be presented with the award.

IDA/DAVID L. WOLPER STUDENT DOCUMENTARY AWARD
A short or feature film/video, produced by registered, degree-seeking student(s). This award recognizes exceptional achievement in non-fiction film and video production at the university level and brings greater public and industry awareness to the work of students in the documentary field.
Award recipients: Limited to two persons, one of whom must be the credited Director who exercised directorial control, and the other of whom must have a Producer or Director credit.
PRIZE: $1,000 cash honorarium, and $1,000 toward the purchase of motion picture film, courtesy of The Eastman Kodak Company.

Student projects are strongly encouraged to consider entering in the IDA/David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award category if they were enrolled students at the time the project was finished.

Special Recognition Awards

Entry to Special Recognition Awards is not required. Eligibility is based on the main award category entered. Not all main categories are eligible for special recognition awards. See below for specific rules.

FEATURE FILM CREATIVE RECOGNITION AWARDS
Awards will recognize special achievement in editing, cinematography and music in films entered in the Feature Category.
Award recipient: The primary person involved in the recognized craft of the selected film.

IDA/ABCNEWS VIDEOSOURCE AWARD
For the best use of news footage as an integral component in a documentary. "News footage" is defined here as factual footage, contemporary or historical, shot for use in context such as newsreels, news specials, magazines or nightly news. "Integral component" is defined here as footage which is central to the structure, meaning and impact of the work.
Entries in the Feature, Limited Series and Continuing Series categories are eligible for this award
PRIZE: $2,000 cash honorarium and research time at the ABCNEWS VideoSource facility in New York.

IDA/PARE LORENTZ AWARD
In keeping with the nature of Pare Lorentz's films, a successful candidate for the Pare Lorentz Award will demonstrate one or more of Lorentz's central concerns (the appropriate use of the natural environment, justice for all, and the illumination of pressing social problems) presented as a compelling story by skillful film-making. A Pare Lorentz film will exhibit the highest production values: objective research, artistic writing, and outstanding music composition along with skillful direction, camera work and editing.
Entries in the Feature, Short, Limited Series and Continuing Series categories are eligible for this award.
PRIZE: $2,500 cash honorarium.

IDA/HUMANITAS AWARD
Is given to a documentarian whose film strives to unify the human family by exploring the stories of human beings who are different in culture, race, lifestyle, political loyalties and religious beliefs in order to break down the wall of ignorance and fear that separates us.
Entries into the Feature category are eligible for this award.
PRIZE: $2,500 cash honorarium.

Judging of the IDA Documentary Awards is based on overall creative excellence. Committees of filmmaking professionals screen all entries and select all nominees. Award winners in the Feature and Short categories are selected by a group of IDA members from the nominees. For all other awards, Blue Ribbon panels select award winners from nominees.

Applications are accepted via Withoutabox. Click here to apply

Eligibility
Films must be completed between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011 to be eligible for entry. Each title is permitted to enter once to the IDA Documentary Awards. Titles that have entered in the past are not permitted to enter into the competition in subsequent years. Each entry may be submitted by only one individual or organization. If the film is a co-production, the entrant assumes full responsibility for notifying the other co-production partners of the entry. In the event of multiple entries for the same film, copyright ownership will determine which entry is accepted. The entrant is responsible for securing and clearing all rights.

Submission requirements
Multiple projects may be submitted, however each submission must be made separately. Submission fees paid online via Withoutabox.com are discounted $5.00.

Projects may be entered into only one of the five main categories. Single episodes for a series submitted to either the Limited or Continuing Series category may also be submitted to the Feature category if the episode complies with the eligibility requirements of the Feature category.

All entries must include a short synopsis, running time, and contact information. All non-English language entries must be sub-titled in English.

Feature, Short, and IDA/David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award entrants must submit five (5) copies of the submitted project on Region 1 or 0 NTSC DVD.

Limited Series entrants must submit one full copy of the series on Region 1 or 0 NTSC DVD. Entrants should enter a full episode list in the long synopsis section. All episodes must have been broadcast within the July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011 eligibility window.

Continuing Series entrants must submit four different episodes from the season. All episodes must have been broadcast within the July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011 eligibility window. Entrants must submit one full copy of the series on Region 1 or 0 NTSC DVD. Entrants should provide a description of each submitted episode in the short synopsis section, brief overview of the entire series in the medium synopsis section, and a full episode list in the long synopsis section on WAB.

Please contact awards@documentary.org with any questions.

Prepress, Publicity, New Media, Awards
If your submission is nominated, we will require an electronic press kit (EPK) uploaded to your WAB entry or delivered electronically to the Awards Event Manager at awards@documentary.org.

EPK to include:
Short biographies of director and producer
Director and producer headshots as jpegs at 300dpi (suitable for print reproduction)
Film stills (no logos) as jpegs at 300dpi (suitable for print reproduction)

Entry in this competition grants IDA the right to use clips (4 minutes maximum), photographs and biographical data for publicity and promotional purposes. Winners will provide an NTSC clip (format to be determined) not to exceed 4 minutes for use at the IDA Documentary Awards. The IDA reserves the right to edit the clip. If no specific clip is provided, the IDA, at its discretion, will select a clip.

Entry in this competition also grants IDA the right to use clips (4 minutes maximum), photographs and biographical data for publicity and promotional purposes for the IDA website, IDA podcasts and mobile feeds, as well as websites of the IDA's promotional partners, media sponsors and web aggregators. The IDA reserves the right to use any submitted materials for all promotional purposes on all existing and future media platforms in perpetuity.

Archive
All entrants agree to release the DVD copies of their production for non-circulation reference at the Documentary Archive in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Film Archive. DVD and publicity material submitted to the IDA Awards will not be returned.

Acceptance of rules
Your digital entry form on Withoutabox.com constitutes full acceptance of IDA Documentary Awards rules and regulations detailed here. The producer(s) listed warrant that they are the owners of the submitted production, including the copyright therein, that they have the right to grant IDA the use of the submitted production in each and all of the rights herein granted; that they have or will obtain all required authorizations, consents and releases from others, including but not limited to those who appear recognizable in the submitted production or who rendered services in connection therewith; and that IDA's use of the submitted production as provided herein will not violate the rights of an other person. IDA reserves the right to resolve all questions not specifically addressed here. Any disputes that may arise concerning the IDA Documentary Awards shall be determined according to the laws of the State of California. Failure to comply with these Rules will render the entry ineligible. Entry fees will not be refunded.

Founded in 1982, the International Documentary Association (IDA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) that promotes nonfiction filmmakers, and is dedicated to increasing public awareness for the documentary genre. At IDA, we believe that the power and artistry of the documentary art form are vital to cultures and societies globally, and we exist to serve the needs of those who create this art form. Our major program areas are: Advocacy, Filmmaker Services, Education, and Public Programs and Events.

Click to submit.

Join IDA to receive significant member discounts on your entry fees! Individual membership levels start at $55 ($45 for students). Click here for more information on IDA membership.

Submission deadlines and fees:
Entries must be complete in Withoutabox.com by 11:59pm July 6, 2011.

IDA Documentary Awards 2010 Winners

MAIN CATEGORY WINNERS

Distinguished Feature Documentary
WASTE LAND - Lucy Walker

Distinguished Short Documentary
WOMAN REBEL - Kiran Deol

Continuing Series
30 FOR 30 - ESPN

Limited Series
HAVE YOU HEARD FROM JOHANNESBURG - Connie Field

SPECIAL RECOGNITION WINNERS

IDA Humanitas Award (tie)
PRESUMED GUILTY - Roberto Hernandez and Geoffrey Smith
THE OATH - Laura Poitras

IDA Music Documentary Award
FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE - Mark Moormann, Jim Bigham

IDA / David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award
WAITING FOR A TRAIN: THE TOSHIO HIRANO STORY - Oscar Bucher, San Francisco State University
THE STINKING SHIP (Honorable Mention) - Bagassi Koura, University of California Berkeley

IDA/ABC News VideoSource Award:
BHUTTO - Duane Baughman

IDA Pare Lorentz Award
WASTE LAND - Lucy Walker