Every entry is eligible for a core award while consideration for other categories depends on the nature of the video. There is no need to suggest categories for your video, however, you may use the "Notes for Judge" section to do so if you wish.
Best Video - The video with the overall best execution, e.g. a strong concept bolstered by on-point editing and a perfect audio track.
Best Editing - Awarded to videos that are expertly put together in a technical sense.
Best Use of Music - Winners here pay careful attention to aural dynamics to evoke a strong sense of musicality. If the song has lyrics, clip-lyric associations must be clever and insightful.
Best Overview - Videos draw from varying aspects of the source material to form a general overview of the fandom, e.g. its major characters and/or story arcs.
Best Character - Awarded to character studies enhanced by strong song choice and constructed in a way that evokes special insight into the subject.
Best Relationship - Applies to all videos focused on a relationship between two characters. The extent to which a video successfully conveys the emotional resonance behind this bond is weighed heavily in judging. NB: In rounds 1-5, shipper videos were judged separately under "Best Romance."
Best Ensemble - Videos should clearly convey exactly what ties the characters in a chosen group together, be it interwoven relationships or underlying similarities.
Best Narrative - Specifically edited to tell some kind of story, be it for a specific character, a couple, or an entire cast. Judging in this category will take overall narrative coherance into account.
Best Action - A significant portion of the video must be action-oriented, e.g. contain fighting, explosions, chase scenes, etc. Paying close attention to internal motion and maintaining both the flow and energy of the action will be paramount to winning in this category.
Best Comedy - Whether dealing with traditional or black comedy, a video's sense of comic timing and irony will be weighed heavily in judging. Simply stringing together funny clips with no rhyme or reason is not enough to win.
Best Alternative - Awarded to alternate realities, crossovers, episodics, trailers, credits, or anything else that doesn't fit into a conventional category. NB: In rounds 1-5, episodic videos were judged separately under "Best Episodic."
Best Effects - Since vidders have varying philosophies on effects and their use, in this category we are looking for effects that are well-constructed and skillfully applied, be it with the occassional deft touch or as rather frequent eye candy.
Award for Merit - Awarded to otherwise well-made videos that just missed the cut in core or specialized categories.
Notable Entry - Videos that did not win anything else are evaluated on a more subjective basis and not held to as high a technical standard.
Judge's Choice - An entirely subjective award that each judge gives to one of their favorite videos of the round. Winners here may not overlap with Best Video or Notable Entry recipients.
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