Video Contests, Film Festivals, and Awards

Frequently Asked Questions About The Aurora Awards
The Aurora Awards recognizes individuals in the film and video industries who have achieved that same ability to captivate their audiences with the displays produced from their own creative forces. Competitors come from private and corporate production groups, advertising agencies and television stations throughout the country.


The Competition
The Aurora Awards is a international competition designed to recognize excellence in the film and video industries. It specifically targets programs and commercials that would not normally have the opportunity to compete on a national level, by focusing on non-national commercials, regional or special interest entertainment and corporate sponsored film and video. Entries have come from across the US, and abroad. such as Canada, Hong Kong, Denmark, Mexico, etc.


Judging
The judging functions are performed by panels of working film and video professionals that are set up in major cities across the country. Most are writers, producers or directors who are previous award winners. Judges with specific proficiencies are matched with specific categories; for example music composers sit on the original music panels. The basic premise of the judging structure for the Aurora Awards is receiving the endorsement of your peers that your work is outstanding. Programs are judged on a fixed scale in areas of creativity, message effectiveness and technical excellence. Added together this provides a score that is measured against an absolute scale to determine if the program is award worthy or not. Using this method there could be several winners in one category or none at all. Overall scores from each panel are also compared to a statistical model to see if there is a consistency and fairness in each panel. If there appears to be a problem, the tapes may be sent to a second panel to assure a consistent and fair judging process.


The Awards
Winners may be awarded a "Platinum Best of Show" or a "Gold Award". The Best of show is the highest honor given. Only about one in ten receive this honor, while about two out of ten receive the Gold Award.


The Statue
The Aurora statue itself was commissioned specifically for the competition by a nationally renowned sculptor. Its strong vertical lines and flowing form were designed to embody the creative reach for higher ground. The statues are cast in the same foundry that creates the Emmy, Oscar and Clio statues. On its pedestal, the Aurora stands just over fourteen inches tall and weighs about five pounds. The Aurora certificates are also custom designed. Each is individually embossed and foiled with a holographic film that gives the three dimensional look unique to this competition.

Aurora Awards
An Independent Film and Video Competition for Commercials,
Cable programming, Documentaries, Industrial, Instructional
and Corporate Videos

299 South Main Street - 17th Floor
Salt Lake City Utah, 84111
Phone (801) 535-4339
Fax (801) 451-0662

www.auroraawards.com