The purpose of the Student Academy Awards competition is to
support and encourage filmmakers with no previous professional experience
who are enrolled in accredited colleges and universities. While professional
advice may be requested and given during the making of student films, the
Academy believes that professional camera persons, directors, editors,
and writers should not play any major role in the production of such films.
The Academy reserves the right to disqualify from competition any film
in which such professionals have had undue influence.
(a) ALTERNATIVE - The very nature of this category is such that it cannot be readily or satisfactorily "defined." It is reserved for works that challenge the language of film, where personal expression and aesthetic exploration are the primary concerns. Alternative films, whether narrative, non-narrative or experimental, may at times incorporate a variety of techniques from different genres (live action, still photography, animation and special effects) to achieve their objective. This type of film may sidestep the traditional techniques of narrative filmmaking, pushing the boundaries and challenging the norm--delivering its message in a free form, innovation manner.
(b) ANIMATION - Animated films may present an original narrative story, an existing story or fable, or an exploration of a mood or thought. Either comical or serious, they usually fall into one of two general fields -- character animation or abstract animation. Various techniques include cel animation, computer animation, clay animation, pixilation, cut-out pins, camera multiple-pass imagery, kaleidoscope effects, and the film frame itself. Winning animation films are chosen by judging the product as a whole, as well as the artistic and technical skill of the animator in whatever motif or animation technique the student has chosen.
(c) DOCUMENTARY - Documentary films are visual essays which seek to present historical subjects, current social or political issues, or specific human experiences in such a way as to have a dramatic impact upon the viewing audience. Documentaries may be filmed in the cinema vāritā style where camera and microphone merely record the event without injecting the comments or subjective conclusions of the filmmaker, or may be a reenactment. In the latter case, the distinction between dramatic and documentary film lies in the fact that while dramatic film is fictional, documentary film deals with real, factual situations and circumstances. Winning films in this category are chosen on the basis of artistic technique, as well as the ability of the documentarian to fashion reality into a film essay which leaves the audience better informed and/or moved.
(d) DRAMATIC - Dramatic films strive to portray life, a character or a narrative story much the same way a novel does, but within the context of an audio-visual medium. Past dramatic films by students have ranged from those that are serious in tone to films that are comic, as well as the familiar and uniquely American "movie musical". Winning entries in this and all other categories reflect the merit of the film when viewed as a whole, as well as the professional execution of its component parts, such as script, dialogue, direction, cinematography, lighting, acting, editing and scoring. Dramatic category films may be adaptations of existing pieces of literature, or, as has often been the case, original stories written by the student filmmaker.