Submission form for 2024 will be available in April.
Please note that distributors must submit film titles for each category in which they wish to compete. No film is automatically eligible for any category. The deadline to submit is June 9. Awards will be presented on September 19 during the awards gala at the GSCA International Conference in Indianapolis.
To Be Eligible
- Films must have been released and played at a GSCA member theater between June 1, 2023-May 31, 2024.
- If the first playing of a film in a public performance falls between April 1-May 31, 2023, the distributor has the option of allowing the film to be on the ballot for the current year or the following year.
- If a film was released prior to 1999 and has been re-edited, it may be submitted for the film awards.
- Both the film's producer and distributor must be current members of GSCA.
- Film titles must be submitted for each category in which they wish to compete.
- There is no fee to submit films for awards consideration.
- Except for Best Film-Feature Length, films must be under 60 minutes in length.
Process
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Once films have been submitted, GSCA will contact distributors to get content. Distributors are encouraged to submit links to
footage highlighting the specific categories submitted.
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These links will be included on the ballot for voter
consideration.
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A film award ballot will be sent to the voting contact at each member organization.
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Winners will be announced at the GSCA Conference in September.
Film Award Categories
- Best Film, Short Subject
- Best Film, Feature Length
- Best Film for Lifelong Learning
- Film which best represents the development and presentation of giant screen film experiences from a lifelong learning point of view. Criteria below will guide voters in their selection. The film:
- conveys useful information and/or dispels misconceptions and encourages reflective/critical thinking
- introduces new roles and perspectives
- uses familiar starting points but stretches viewer interests and extends their knowledge
- entertaining and compelling
- motivates viewer interest in the film's topic
- provides a variety of experiences to meet the needs of viewers of different ages and from different backgrounds
- provides effective educational resources for further learning
- aspires to be meaningful to multinational audiences and languages
- Best Visual Effects
- Voters should consider overall achievement of the visual effects within the film where the visual effects are a visible, essential, and integral part of the story, and the artistry, skill, and fidelity with which the visual illusions are achieved.
- Best Cinematography
- Best Sound Design
- Voters should consider the audio elements of the soundtrack that do not include music composition but do include location recording, sound effects, foley, dialogue, and final mix.
- Best Original Score
- Voters should consider the instrumental music created expressly for the film, which underscores the action and supports its dramatic needs. A great score is one that provides dramatic power, humor, thematic beauty, emotional impact, and/or any other musical attribute of significance to the film.
Important Deadlines
Click here for a list of materials we need to include your film on the ballot and in the awards ceremony
- April 13: Film award submissions open
- June 9: Film award submission forms due
- June 23: Ballot materials and film files due for virtual screening room for voting contacts
- June 23: Materials for ballot due
- June 28-July 21: Films available virtually to voters for awards consideration
- July 6-21: Awards voting
- July 21: Materials for awards ceremony due from distributors