Third Coast/Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Competition 2017

FEES AND DEADLINES

$35 for student entries uploaded on or before Tuesday, June 13 at noon PDT.$55 for entries uploaded on or before Tuesday, June 13 at noon PDT.$75 for all entries uploaded Tuesday, June 13 after noon PDT through Tuesday, July 11 at noon PDT.Entries uploaded after July 11 at noon PDT will not be judged.

TO BE ELIGIBLE

Entries must range between 3 and 60 minutes in length, with the exception of Best News Feature submissions, which can not exceed 12 minutes.Entries must have been produced and presented publicly for the first time on the radio, the Internet, via podcast or in a public setting (i.e. gallery, museum, classroom) between July 2015 and July 2017.Entries must be produced in English, with the exception of the Best Doc: Foreign Language category!Work featured on this website or on Re:sound is still eligible for entry into the competition.Each producer must sign the release and license agreement on the entry form, which provides Third Coast with broadcast and Internet rights to present submissions in their entireties as part of Best of the Best: The 2016 Third Coast Festival Broadcast between October 2017 and October 2019.

ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES

Entries should consist of an individual documentary or feature.Each documentary in a series is a separate entry.Each feature within a program that presents multiple pieces is a separate entry.Each episode from a podcast is a separate entry.

BEST DOCUMENTARY AWARDS — Gold prize $4,000; Silver prize $3,000; Bronze prize $2,000; Honorable Mention $1,000
Entries for the Best Documentary category should document a place, time, person, event, phenomenon or issue. These include but are not limited to: investigative reports, narrative stories, personal essays and audio portraits. We’re interested in work with a social mission and stories that entertain. Musical and historical documentaries are welcome. Profiles and cultural snapshots are welcome. Podcasts and other programs that redefine the documentary form are welcome. (Length eligibility 3-60 minutes)

NEW! (As of 2016) BEST DOCUMENTARY: FOREIGN LANGUAGE — $1,000
TCIAF will award an exceptional documentary produced in a language other than English. As an international award, we are thrilled to open up the TC/RHDF to local makers in countries throughout the world.English transcript required, with a time stamp at the end of each page.

DIRECTORS' CHOICE AWARD — $1,000

This award is given by Third Coast staff to an entry that strongly demonstrates innovation and creativity in storytelling, sound design and/or overall production style. (Length eligibility 3-60 minutes)

BEST NEWS FEATURE — $1,000
The Best News Feature (BNF) category honors exceptional news features reported by radio newsrooms and independent reporters worldwide. Submissions should be stories (local, national, international) produced in response to events and issues. Enterprising work that brings new stories to light is also encouraged.BNF entries should exhibit exemplary reporting and journalistic integrity. As with Best Documentary entries, BNF submissions should begin with a compelling story choice, and exhibit strong writing, creativity and the use of sound where appropriate. BNF entries are not eligible for the Best Documentary Award. (Length eligibility 3-12 minutes)

BEST NEW ARTIST AWARD — $1,000
This award is presented to a producer who entered the audio field between July 2015 and July 2017. To qualify, each entrant must have recorded, written and mixed her/his entry. It is permissible to have worked with an editor, as long as she/he performed in an advisory capacity only. Co-productions are not eligible in this category. (Length eligibility 3-60 minutes)BNA candidates must confirm on the entry form that their submission was produced in accordance with the guidelines listed above.

RADIO IMPACT AWARD — $1,000
This award recognizes a single documentary or feature (regardless of style or structure) that has significantly impacted an individual, group or community. This can be an investigative report that influenced public debate or a radio story that changed the course of an individual’s life, or something else entirely. (Length eligibility 3-60 minutes)

For a submission to be considered for the Radio Impact Award, candidates must include a statement (500 words max) on the entry form that offers clear and concise examples of the story's impact.

SKYLARKING AWARD - $1,000
This award recognizes stories that are out for fun. Credit to Ira Glass for urging us to create this award with these true words: These stories often require just as much craft and thought and cunning as the big important stuff. Radio would be duller and sadder without them.

ALL WINNING PRODUCERS WILL RECEIVE:

• Prizes ranging from $1000 to $4000
• A license for Hindenburg Journalist Pro editing software
• A gratis pass to the 2017 Third Coast Conference, November 9-11 in Chicago (a $425 value).

For more information please click "Further Official Information" below.