AMV & NC-17 Contests

Anime Music Video (AMV) editors compete, in a newly formatted contest for the honor of Best in Genre, as selected by
the attendees of AnimeNEXT 2011! Editors of all levels of experience are welcome to participate. We are looking for
a combination of Japanese Animation, Japanese Manga, or Japanese Video Games set to music. Please read the rules
thoroughly before submitting.

Deadline for Contest Submissions:

May 27, 2011

Please check for updates, before you send your video(s). All updates will be redundantly posted in these locations:

Forums: AnimeNEXT Forum | AnimeMusicVideos Forum
Social Networks: Facebook | Twitter

Contact us at amv@animenext.org for any general or technical questions.


1. Qualifications

You may only submit an AMV of your own creation. The AMV must have been completed after June 1, 2010. You may only submit
an AMV that has not won first or second placement in any category in any other AMV contests at the time of submission to
AnimeNEXT. You may submit videos that have been submitted to other conventions and/or shown at those conventions. We will
be accepting up to two (2) AMV submissions per individual or collective group of editors. AMV submissions may not be
slightly different versions from one another using the same song. Only one (1) of two (2) videos submitted by an individual
or collective group of editors will be shown during the AMV Contest or the NC-17 AMV Contest (you cannot participate in both).

We are not currently accepting non-full song fan parodies, for the purpose of competing in the AMV Contest.
Any Fan Parodies are submitted to a different department.

You do not have to attend AnimeNEXT to participate. No registration process is required to participate, other than your
Video Information File in section 8B.


2. Competing Music Videos

Only competing videos will be shown in the AnimeNEXT AMV Contest or NC-17 AMV Contest, and only those videos will be eligible
for prizes. Not all AMVs submitted to the contest will be shown during the contest. All AMVs will be placed in 1 of 8 genres.

* Trailers / Intros / Closings (Audio source is from a TV or Movie Trailer, Intro, or Closing. Non-Comedy/Parody)
* Romantic / Sentimental (Cheerful or sad. Subject matter is about love.)
* Dramatic / Serious (Subject matter is not primarily romantic, cheerful, and / or action.)
* Action / Adventure (Subject matter is action and / or story based.
* Upbeat / Dance (Subject matter is peppy, vibrant, and rhythmic.)
* Comedy / Parody (Subject matter is primarily intentionally comedic.)
* AMV Hell (Several distinct breaks in song, topic, and scenes. Comedy only.)
* NC-17 (Any AMV that would be disqualified for content purposes, exceeding PG-13)

During the AMV Contest, the audience will be given a ballot to vote for their favorite video in each of the first 7 genres.
The video with the most votes in each genre will receive a prize. Any AMV that cannot fit into any of these 8 genres will be rejected.
Any AMV that the pre-screen judges feel exceed a PG-13 Rating will be placed in a separate NC-17 AMV Contest, closed from
general admission at AnimeNEXT. To attend, proper ID is required, showing the attendee is at least 17 years of age. Because
this is new to AnimeNEXT, and participation level is uncertain, all NC-17 AMVs will be grouped into a single genre, regardless
of any other factors. The audience will be given a ballot to vote for their overall video. The video with the most votes will
receive a prize.


3. Non-Competing Music Videos

You may choose to submit AMVs to the AnimeNEXT General AMV Screening if you do not wish to compete. Videos that have won awards
in other contests will automatically be placed in the non-competing, General AMV Screening. Any non-competing videos will be
shown during the General Screening, along with any AMVs submitted to the AMV Contest, but that did not make it to the AMV Contest.
The highest rated videos beyond the videos rated for the AMV Contest will be played during the General Screening. Videos disqualified
from the AMV Contest for content reasons may be placed in the NC-17 AMV Contest. There will be no Non-Competing NC-17 screening.

Label your video file and video information file Non-Competing. Follow all other submission processes as though you were competing.


4. Content of Videos

Anime Music Videos must contain a majority of Japanese Animation. This may also include Japanese Video Game footage and
Japanese Manga. AMVs may contain small amounts of live action video, digital images, and non-Japanese Animation. Any video
that is not primarily an Anime Music Video will be disqualified.

Videos containing any sort of logos, watermarks, official credits, credits of your own creation, video bumpers before or
after your video that are not actually your AMV, fan-sub subtitles, corporate subtitles, or any other graphic or lettering
not specifically of your own creation may be disqualified. Videos containing U.S. English text translations in manga may be
disqualified. Audio containing any U.S. commercially produced dubbed voice-overs for anime may be disqualified.

All AMV submissions will be pre-screened for content and audio/video quality. Follow a general PG-13 content guideline for
audio/video content. Videos deemed inappropriate will be disqualified from the AMV Contest and may be shown at the NC-17 AMV
Contest. Disqualifying content is not limited to, but includes, excessive violence, excessive sexual content, and strong language.

NC-17 AMVs must be primarily AMVs. NC-17 AMVs cannot be pointlessly offensive for the sake of being offensive. No more than
25% of the AMV's video or audio content can be rated NC-17. Any of the AMV's NC-17 rated video content MUST be from an Anime,
Japanese Manga, or Japanese Video game, or the AMV will be disqualified.

Comedy-in-non-comedic and cross-genre AMVs Policy: The use of cross-genre elements is permitted. What emotions an AMV evokes
in a person is subjective. The primary genre categorization of an AMV is determined by the information on the editor's submission
file, but may be overridden by the pre-screening judges.


5. Video/Audio Information

The duration of all AMVs must be between 30 seconds and 360 seconds long. Please start your video with one (1) second of silent
black leader and end with one (1) second of silent black footer. Do not include any other bumper or credits of any kind. Any
bumpers may be cropped off, or your AMV may be disqualified. A standard title screen will be placed at the beginning and end
of every AMV during all screenings.

We are only accepting digital formats. AMVs will be played back on a PC during the AMV Contest, NC-17 AMV Contest, General
Screening, and Closing Ceremonies. We are able to accept a wide variety of file formats, file sizes, resolutions, frame-rates,
aspect ratios, sample-rates, and bit-rates.

5A. Video

Please use standard file format such as .avi, .mpeg (.mpg), .mp4, .mkv, .mov, etc. Please do not send .wmv files, as they
cannot be displayed. If you do submit a .wmv, and you can only create .wmvs, the file will be converted to an MPEG-2. File
sizes should not exceed 250 MB. Resolution should be at least 640x480 or 720x480. Any lower will be disqualified, and any
higher may be scaled down, depending on the projectors used. Frame rate should be 23.976, 24, 29.97, or 30 frames per second.
Aspect ratio should be 4:3 or 16:9. Video will be played back at 720x480 in 4:3 Full Screen.

5B. Audio

Sample-rate should be approximately 48000 Hz and bit-rate at 320 kb/s. Audio can be in any format that is regularly used for
digital playback on CDs, DVDs, and computerized audio/video files, such as MPEG1 Layer 2 audio, AC3 audio, or uncompressed
(PCM) audio. Audio will be played back in 2-channel stereo.

5C. Technical Errors, Re-submissions, and Withdrawing your AMV

Files that deviate from these guidelines will most likely play back poorly. If there are technical flaws with your video file,
or if we simply cannot play your video, you may be contacted before AnimeNEXT to re-submit in a different format if there is
sufficient time before the deadline. We are happy to help you fix technical errors, and you may re-submit your video as many
times as necessary.

Any (disqualifying factors) and / or (pre-screening technical point deductions) will be noted in the submission confirmation
e-mail. Corrections are not mandatory. Several editors have taken advantage of re-submitting, and we encourage all editors to
submit videos of the highest quality possible. Videos received will be pre-screened as is.

You may withdraw and / or re-submit your video as many times as you like, for any reason, prior to the deadline. You may
NOT withdraw your AMV after it is selected to participate in the AMV Contest after the pre-screening. AMVs to be played at
any other time during AnimeNEXT may be withdrawn up to June 8, 2011.


6. Pre-Screening Procedure

All AMVs submitted to AnimeNEXT by the deadline will be viewed by a group of pre-selected Judges. All AMVs will be rated on a
10 point scale. 5 Points will be for Technical (1 point for each of the following): video quality, audio quality, correct
aspect ratio, presence of bumpers / editor credits, presence of watermarks / logos / subtitles / official credits. 5 Points
will be for Content (a 1-5 scale of the Judge's subjective opinion of the video). The 4 or 5 (TBD) highest rated videos in
each non-NC-17 genres will be placed in the AMV Contest. The highest rated 10-20 (TBD) highest rated NC-17 AMVs will be placed
in the NC-17 AMV Contest.

Pre-Screening ratings will have no bearing on the voting process (determining the winner of the AMV Contest or NC-17 AMV Contest)
at AnimeNEXT. The Pre-Screening ratings of AMVs will not be made public, but may be requested by editors after the Pre-Screening.


7. Prizes

The Winner (1st Place), in each of the 8 genres, will be awarded with a certificate during Closing Ceremonies of AnimeNEXT on
Sunday, June 12, 2011. Runner Up (2nd Place), and Judges Choice will be recognized with an honorable mention, but no prize will
be awarded. 3rd place and beyond in each genre will not be recognized.


8. Sending in Your AMVs

We may be accepting at-convention submissions. This is TBD at a later time. These AMVs may be used for time slot filler
purposes, or for review at an AMV Panel.

You will receive a notification by e-mail upon receiving your submission. If you do not receive a notification of receiving
your submission in a timely manner (48-72 hours), please try re-submitting using a different e-mail address.

8A. File Labeling

Please title your video file(s): "Editor / Studio – AMV Title"
Please title your video information file(s): "Editor / Studio – AMV Title"
Label your video file and video information file “Non-Competing” if you do not wish to compete.

8B. Video Information File

Please include a .txt file containing the following information for each of your AMV:

1. Full name(s) of all editors.
2. Pseudonym, screen name, alias, or studio name that all editors would like to use.
3. E-mail address for primary contact.
4. Mailing address (only to be used to mail your prize if you are not at AnimeNEXT).
5. List all music artists and songs used for the AMV (Format: "Artist – Song Title").
6. List all anime used for the AMV.
7. Title of your AMV.
8. Genre of your video.
9. Approximate date of AMV completion.
10. Please note if any audio tracks, logos, graphics or lettering are of your intentional and original creation. Please note
any intentional distortions the audio or video that could be mistaken as a playback error. Give a brief description of each
if necessary.
11. If submitting 2 AMVs, note which one you would prefer to have shown during the AMV Contest.
12. Would you allow AnimeNEXT to show your AMV at future AnimeNEXT conventions as part of a showcase of previous year's
AMV Contests? (Yes/No)

[See Example Here]

8C. Submission Option Option 1 of 3 – Direct Download (recommended)

Very Important! Please provide a link to where your AMVs can be directly downloaded. Please include any information necessary
to download your file(s). We will not install special software to extract video from web-based media. YouTube links are NOT acceptable.

E-mail amv@animenext.org (Subject: AnimeNEXT 2011 AMV Contest) to submit your video submission via a direct download.

8D. Submission Option 2 of 3 – Mailing by CD or DVD

Please send the CD or DVD containing your AMV(s) to:

AnimeNEXT AMV Screening
2652 Adams Street
Coatesville, PA 19320

Please label your submission with:

* your name
* mailing address
* telephone number

We need to be able to contact you if we have received your disc, but cannot play it.

We will not be using your CD, VCD, or DVD during AnimeNEXT. We are not accepting any other digital format, such as HD-DVD
or Blu-Ray. Do not send in discs meant to be played back on DVD players. Do not mail in your only copy of your AMVs. You
will not receive your discs back.

8E. Option 3 of 3 – FTP Upload

Please do not request the use of FTP Upload during the week before the deadline. There are a limited number of FTP Logins
available. Please do not rely on this method as your primary source for submitting your video(s).

We will e-mail you with a temporary FTP login and password to upload your AMV to our server. After you have uploaded your
video, send us a second e-mail.
Note: Files in excess of 100 MB may require several attempts to complete the transfer. Please say something in your e-mails,
so that we know you are not spam. You must submit your video within 48 hours of receiving your FTP Login information. The
ogin password will change when given to a different user.

E-mail amv@animenext.org (Subject: AnimeNEXT 2011 AMV FTP Request) requesting a temporary FTP login and password to upload your AMV.


9. Use of your AMV Submission(s)

AnimeNEXT will not use any information or content provided by you for any purpose other than screening, crediting your work
during AnimeNEXT, or to mail you your prize. Any AMVs submitted to AnimeNEXT 2011 may be shown at any time during AnimeNEXT
2011, unless the AMV is withdrawn by the creator of the AMV, using the same contact means as the video was submitted. Upon
the completion of AnimeNEXT 2011, all AMVs submitted to AnimeNEXT 2011 will be archived to a single copy, and all other
copies and instances of the AMVs will be destroyed. The purpose of the archive is for use in the event of a dispute, and the
contents of the archive will not be used or shown for any purpose other than to resolve the dispute.
Any winning (1st Place) AMVs submitted to AnimeNEXT 2011, as voted by the audience of AnimeNEXT 2011, may be kept as a separate
showcase for future AnimeNEXT conventions, only to be shown at AnimeNEXT conventions, and at no other time or place. If you do
not wish to have your video shown after AnimeNEXT 2011, please note in 8B. Video Information File, Part 12.


10. Disclaimer

AnimeNEXT reserves the right to reject or otherwise refuse to show your AMV for any reason, with or without notice. Rules are
subject to change with our without notice.