CALL FOR ENTRIES 2011

Enter Now! Earlybird Deadline: June 10, 2011

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.

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.com with any questions.

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

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

Full listing of the 27th Annual IDA Awards rules and requirements available on Withoutabox or here.

Click to submit.

"...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
Distinguished Feature Documentary Awardee

IDA Documentary Award Main Categories

IDA recognizes achievement in five main categories through the following awards:

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).

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). 

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.
PRIZE: $1,000 cash honorarium, and $1,000 toward the purchase of motion picture film, courtesy of The Eastman Kodak Company.

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

Special Recognition Awards

IDA Special Recognition Awards highlight exemplary and unique attributes of some entries in the main five categories.

FEATURE FILM CREATIVE RECOGNITION AWARDS
Awards will recognize special achievement in editing, cinematography and music in films entered in the Feature Category.

IDA/ABCNEWS VIDEOSOURCE AWARD
For the best use of news footage as an integral component in a documentary.
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.

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.

Click to submit.