Competition

Main Categories

C1 Corporate Image
iVideos produced to display the corporate image of a company/brand
C2 Marketing B2B
iVideos produced for business-to-business marketing purposes
C3 Marketing B2C
iVideos produced for business to consumer marketing purposes
C4 Branded Content
iVideos produced to tell a story that is directly linked to the brand. Videos are focused on the values of the brand (not on its products or its services) and are designed to appeal to emotions of the viewer.
C5 Informational
iVideos produced to inform and educate the viewer
C6 Internal Communication
iVideos used for internal purposes and to connect with employees, stakeholders...
C7 Human Resources
iVideos produced for recruiting, hiring, deploying, and managing organization's employees
C8 Integrated Communication
iVideos produced as part of a larger communication campaign
C9 Fairs, Shows, Events, Conventions
iVideos produced for fairs, shows, events or conventions (such as openers, presentations, promotional films, livestreams…)
C10 Visitor Films
iVideos produced for exhibitions, museums, parks, etc. Videos to inform, educate, entertain, or set the tone for visitors
C11 Portrait
iVideos presenting a person or a group of people
C12 Adventure & Leisure
C13 Art & Entertainment
C14 Automotive & Mobility
C15 Business, Economy & Finance
C16 Corporate Social Responsibility
C17 Culture & Lifestyle
C18 Diversity & Inclusion
C19 Environment, Ecology & Sustainability
C20 Fashion & Beauty
C21 Food & Beverage
C22 Health, Medical & Wellness
C23 Nature & Wildlife
C24 Non-profit & Fundraising
C25 Political & International Issues
C26 Real Estate
C27 Safety
C28 Science & Technology
C29 Social Issues
C30 Sport & Fitness
C31 Tourism
C31.1 Country Promotion
iVideos produced for promoting a country
C31.2 Region Promotion
iVideos produced for promoting a region, county, state, community, or island
C31.3 City Promotion
iVideos produced for promoting a city, municipality, village or local destination
C31.4 Tourism Product
iVideos produced for promoting a tourist experience in a particular destination, such as: Cultural Tourism, Gastronomic Tourism, Sustainable Tourism, Health and Wellness Tourism, MICE, Rural Tourism, Religious Tourism, Shopping Tourism, etc.
C31.5 Tourism Service
iVideos produced for promoting any service provided to tourists, such as: Accommodation, transportation, restaurants, museums, temples and gardens, theme parks, spas and thermal facilities, recreational services, etc.
O1 Social Media Video
iVideos produced for any social media site
O2 Vertical Video
iVideos produced for viewing in portrait mode
O3 Branded Content
iVideos produced to tell a story that is directly linked to the brand. Videos are focused on the values of the brand (not on its products or its services) and are designed to appeal to emotions of the viewer.
O4 Webisode
iVideos produced as part of a web series
O5 Interactive Video
iVideos produced for supporting user interaction
O6 Video Podcast
iVideos produced as part of an ongoing informative, educative, or entertaining program, usually offered as a subscription
O7 Talk Show & Interview
iVideos produced in the form of a talk show or interview
O8 Web TV
iVideos produced for a web TV platform
O9 Livestream
iVideos produced live for streaming over the internet
O10 Instructional (How-To & DIY)
iVideos produced for explaining to perform a task or action
O11 Portrait
iVideos presenting a person or a group of people
O12 Adventure & Leisure
O13 Art & Entertainment
O14 Automotive & Mobility
O15 Business, Economy & Finance
O16 Corporate Social Responsibility
O17 Culture & Lifestyle
O18 Diversity & Inclusion
O19 Environment, Ecology & Sustainability
O20 Fashion & Beauty
O21 Food & Beverage
O22 Health, Medical & Wellness
O23 Nature & Wildlife
O24 Non-profit & Fundraising
O25 Political & International Issues
O26 Real Estate
O27 Safety
O28 Science & Technology
O29 Social Issues
O30 Sport & Fitness
O31 Tourism
O31.1 Country Promotion
iVideos produced for promoting a country
O31.2 Region Promotion
iVideos produced for promoting a region, county, state, community, or island
O31.3 City Promotion
iVideos produced for promoting a city, municipality, village or local destination
O31.4 Tourism Product
iVideos produced for promoting a tourist experience in a particular destination, such as: Cultural Tourism, Gastronomic Tourism, Sustainable Tourism, Health and Wellness Tourism, MICE, Rural Tourism, Religious Tourism, Shopping Tourism, etc.
O31.5 Tourism Service
iVideos produced for promoting any service provided to tourists, such as: Accommodation, transportation, restaurants, museums, temples and gardens, theme parks, spas and thermal facilities, recreational services, etc.
D1 Biography/Portrait
iDocumentaries displaying the life of a non-fictional or historically based person or people
D2 Branded Documentary
iDocumentaries displaying brand stories that share the brand's mission and values
D3 Docudrama
iDocumentaries featuring dramatized re-enactments of actual events
D4 Investigative Report & Special Report
iReports that feature in-depth reporting on a particular issue
D5 Adventure & Leisure
D6 Art & Entertainment
D7 Automotive & Mobility
D8 Business, Economy & Finance
D9 Culture & Lifestyle
D10 Current Affairs
D11 Environment, Ecology & Sustainability
D12 Ethnology & Sociology
D13 Fashion & Beauty
D14 Food & Beverage
D15 Health, Medical & Wellness
D16 History & Society
D17 Nature & Wildlife
D18 Political & International Issues
D19 Religion & Spirituality
D20 Safety
D21 Science & Technology
D22 Social Issues
D23 Sport & Fitness
D24 Travel & Tourism
I1 Corporate Videos
I2 Online & Social Media
I3 Documentaries
I4 Travel Videos
S1 Corporate Videos
S2 Online & Social Media
S3 Documentaries
P1 Best Animation
P2 Best Cinematography
P3 Best Directing
P4 Best Editing
P5 Best Graphics
P6 Best Library Music
P7 Best Original Music
P8 Best Script
P9 Best Sound Design
P10 Best Special Effects
P11 Best On-camera Talent
P12 Best Performance
P13 Best Use of an Influencer or Celebrity
P14 Best Voiceover / Narrating
P15 Best Use of Emotion
P16 Best Use of Humor

Regulations

The US International Awards are a platform celebrating excellence in branded video productions and documentaries worldwide. Before submitting your creative work, please read the regulations carefully.


Applicants

The US International Awards welcome submissions from a diverse range of creators, including film producers, independent filmmakers, client companies, agencies, TV stations, film schools, and students.
 

Eligibility

Entries must have been produced or released within the last two calendar years leading up to the final submission deadline. 

Please note that previously entered works in any past edition of the US International Awards are ineligible for further participation.

Independent filmmakers may submit unsponsored videos exclusively in the Independent Videos category (and in the additional Production Art & Craft categories).

Film schools, universities and colleges that enter work for their students and the students themselves may only enter in the corresponding Student Videos category (and in the additional Production Art & Craft categories). Submitted videos can be spec work or created for a real client.

Entrants must hold the copyright of the submitted work or possess permission to use it. The US International Awards assume no liability for any copyright infringement by the entrant.
 

Deadline for Entries

Early Bird Deadline: Oct 25, 2024
Regular Deadline: February 14, 2025
Final Deadline: March 14, 2025
 

Submitting your Work

Submissions are done online via the Filmservice International Entry Tool and are completed in three simple steps:

  • Register or login if you are already a registrant
  • Enter your work(s) via submission form
  • Checkout and Pay

After registering, one can immediately start to enter their work. Entrants can save their entry form for later completion, allowing flexibility in the submission process. 

Entries can be submitted across multiple categories, with the US International Awards reserving the right to re-categorize any misclassified entries.

In order to subscribe for the Production Art & Craft categories, the same work has to be submitted in other categories as well.

For category C8 Integrated Communication, the entrant will be asked to include a brief overview of the campaign with background material for evaluation by the jury. jury.
 

Media Format

Submitted work must be uploaded via the online entry form or in case of entering in the category Online & Social Media may be submitted by web link (URL). For uploading, any common file type is acceptable. When providing a link, the entrant has to make sure that the link can be accessed by the jury during the period of judging and will be active for a period of time after the award announcements. If the link requires a password, the entrant has to provide that information in the online entry form.

The entrant is responsible for the technical quality of the video.
 

Language

Submissions must be made in the English language. If the video does not have an English audio track, the entrant must ensure the film has either subtitles or overdubbing in English. Alternatively, the entrant can provide a translation in English of the first and last 10 minutes of the entry using the Filmservice International Entry Tool.
 

Payment

Payments can be made either by bank transfer, credit card, or PayPal.

Please make sure that the given information about the invoice and categories is correct. An additional $30 fee will be applied for any change after issuing the invoice.
 

Jury

An international panel of film experts, creatives, and marketing professionals evaluates all entries.

There is no preset number of winners in a category. More than one Gold and Silver Award or Finalist Status may be allocated in a category – except for category P Production Art & Craft where there is usually only one winner (or more if there is a tie). The top award in a category (except P Production Art & Craft) is not necessarily a Gold Award but may be a Silver Award or a Finalist Status. The jury reserves the right to withhold an award in a category if submissions do not meet expectations.

The results of the jury are final and not contestable. Judging results will not be released unless entry fees are entirely paid.
 

Awards

Black Trophies are awarded in the Production Art & Craft categories. 

Gold and Silver Trophies as well as Finalist Certificates can be awarded in every other category. 

Grand Awards may be selected among the Gold Winners within the main categories.

Specialty Awards may be given out to the Agency of the Year, Production Company of the Year, TV Network of the Year, Client Company of the Year and Film School of the Year. The winners of these awards will be determined by the highest scores the submissions get in the judging process across all categories and regardless of who submitted the entry.
 

Trophy and Certificate Ordering Process:

Our mission is to keep the entry fees low. With this system, there is no free trophy and certificate in case of winning.

If you as a winner decide you want trophies and/or certificates, you can purchase and order them via the US International Awards Store.

The cost of one trophy is $275 and of one certificate is $35.

The recipient is responsible for the shipping costs and is liable to pay any custom duties and taxes.

Awards and certificates for any year starting with the 2023 edition may be purchased at any time.
 

Awards Announcements & Promotion

Winners will be announced in June. Traditionally, for the US International Awards, there will be no Awards Ceremony. Different assets, like badges, laurels, a press release template, etc. will be provided to the winners for their promotional work on the day of the Awards Announcement.

During the online entry process, permission to show and stream the winning production in the winner’s gallery and to use it for other marketing and promotional purposes will be asked for.

If permission is not granted, the film will not be shown in the winner’s gallery and will not be used for other purposes. The file or link will only be seen by the judges.

The entrant agrees to hold the US International Awards from any costs or expenses of any claim arising and bears all costs of copyright infringement, talent residuals, union fees, etc., that may occur through the publication of the entered work. 
 

CIFFT-Ranking List (only affects Tourism Categories)

The US International Awards are an official member of the International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals (CIFFT) and integrate the CIFFT Circuit, a year-long competition that rewards the best tourism videos and campaigns worldwide.

Winners of the international competition automatically score for the CIFFT Rankings, an exclusive reference that honors the most creative and effective audiovisual productions from the Tourism Industry.

At the end of the year, the CIFFT Rankings determine the World’s Best Tourism Films in five categories:

  • Tourism Destinations – Cities
  • Tourism Destinations – Regions
  • Tourism Destinations – Countries
  • Tourism Products
  • Tourism Services

The rating is expressed on a scale from 4 to 18. The film receives points according to the award obtained at each festival.

Special notes:

  • All the winners in the international competitions of the CIFFT Circuit Festivals are eligible for the CIFFT Rankings. If the festival has a National Competition, only the Grand Prix Winner will score for the Rankings.
  • In case a video receives more than one award, only the highest award will be considered for the CIFFT Rankings.
  • The CIFFT Rankings will be updated and published on the CIFFT website, as authorized by each entrant, right after the Award Ceremony of each festival. You can check the CIFFT Rankings here.
  • At the end of the CIFFT Circuit, the top 5 videos of each thematic ranking will be awarded at the World Tourism Film Awards.

For more information about CIFFT Circuit and the CIFFT Rankings, please contact info@cifft.com.

Entry Fees

 

Early Bird Phase
(until Oct 25, 2024)
Regular Phase
(Oct 26, 2024 - Feb 14, 2025)
Final Phase
(Feb 15 - Mar 14, 2025)
Single Entry: First Entry$126$140$155
Single Entry: Additional Single Entry or Category$99$110$120
Series Entry$198$220$240
Single Entry: Student & Independent$36$40$40

 

Important for EU countries: As the invoices are issued from the Filmservice International Office in Austria, entrants from EU countries have to indicate their VAT number in order to get an invoice without VAT. 20% VAT will be charged for Austria.

Why Enter

As a platform for celebrating outstanding creativity and innovation in brand videos and documentaries, the US International Awards seek to honor exceptional storytellers, filmmakers, video creators, and creatives alike.

If you're still on the fence about submitting your work, allow us to provide you with some compelling reasons to enter the US International Awards:

Simple Submission Process

Submitting your work to the US International Awards is a breeze, with a straightforward online submission process that can be completed in your own time. You can save your progress and return to your submission at any time, providing you with extra flexibility.

Low Entry Fees & No Additional Fees

Our mission is to have low entry fees, so that smaller companies, start-ups, one-person companies, and companies in difficult economic conditions are attracted as well. In case of winning, you would not need to pay any acceptance fees to have your achievement announced.

Esteemed Jury Panel

Get your film seen by a panel of seasoned industry professionals. Over 50 international jury members evaluate all submissions. On top of that, the US International Awards encourage jury members to give feedback which is going to be forwarded to the respective entrants. 

Publicity and Recognition

Winners will have their work displayed and promoted at the US International Awards’ Winner Gallery. Enjoy publicity and accolades on our website and social media, in media releases, and worldwide award presentations, adding more platforms of promotion to your benefit.

Marketing and Promotion 

Winning an award can serve as a powerful marketing tool. It provides compelling content for press releases, social media campaigns, and website updates. Relish those good old-fashioned â€śbragging rights” when you win.

Winning an award is newsworthy, meaning you’ll get free PR opportunities, and we even provide you with our press-release template.

Access to Resources and Opportunities

Winners receive a selection of promotional assets to promote their win, like laurels, badges, and graphics in different formats and variants. 

Grand Award and Specialty Award Winners have the chance to share their thoughts and experiences through an interview featured on the US International Awards Press Section. It's a great opportunity to showcase your achievements and inspire others in your field.

Winning will unlock access to these valuable resources to further support your creative endeavors.

Build Company Pride

Recognition through an award can validate your creative vision and storytelling approach, boosting confidence and motivation for future projects. 

Being able to put â€śaward-winning” to your company info will make your employees proud and your company desirable.

Prestige and Industry Recognition

Winning an award from a reputable competition like the US International Awards can elevate your status within the industry. It serves as a mark of excellence and can enhance your reputation among peers, clients, and audiences alike, and has the power to draw new clients.

Awards

Grand Awards

One Grand Award may be selected among the Gold Winners for each of the 5 main categories â€“ Corporate Videos, Online & Social Media, Documentaries, Independent Videos and Student Videos.
 

Category Awards

Gold and Silver Trophies as well as Finalist Certificates can be awarded in every category within the main categories. 
 

Production Art & Craft Awards

Production Art & Craft Awards are awarded in the respective categories. There usually is only one winner per category. 
 

Specialty Awards

Specialty Awards may be given out to the Agency of the Year, Production Company of the Year, TV Network of the Year, Client Company of the Year and Film School of the Year.
The winners of these awards will be determined by the highest scores the submissions get in the judging process across all categories and regardless of who submitted the entry.

FAQ

SUBMISSION PROCESS

How to submit entries?

Submissions are done online via the Filmservice International Entry Tool.

After registering, one can immediately start to enter their work. The entry form can be saved for later completion. So, you can abandon and return at any time without losing any of your work. You can also go back into your account at any time and add entries. 

Submitted work must be uploaded via the online entry form or in case of entering in the category Online & Social Media may be submitted by web link (URL).

Entries must be made in English. It is possible to submit your work in other languages as well. In that case, the film must have either subtitles or overdubbing in English or the entrant must include a translation in English of the first and last 10 minutes of the entry.

Payments can be made either by bank transfer, credit card, or PayPal.
 

Why do I have to provide information about the target group, the objective, the usage and include a project’s description?

The jury will also evaluate your submission on whether it has the ability to effectively reach the intended audience and achieve its goals. In addition, a well-written project description can provide the jury with a better understanding of the purpose and scope of your submission
 

Can I enter my work into more than one category?

Yes, the same entry can be submitted in different categories. By submitting in more than one category, you not only increase your chances of winning in general but also increase your chances of winning a Specialty Award (like Best Production Company of the Year, Best Agency of the Year, …).

Please note that there is an entry fee for each category you submit your work.
 

Is there a limit to the number of submissions I can make?

No, there is no such limit. In fact, when submitting more entries, you increase your chances of winning a Specialty Award (like Best Production Company of the Year, Best Agency of the Year, …).
 

What should I do if I am unsure of the correct category for my submission?

If you are uncertain about which category to select for your submission, you can contact us after you have filled out the entry information, uploaded your video or respectively provided a link. This way, we will have all the necessary information to determine the most suitable category for your work. 

Nonetheless, you do not have to worry about choosing an incorrect category, as we are going to check all finalized entries and reserve the right to re-categorize incorrectly classified entries.
 

JUDGING

Who are the judges?

Our goal is to have a diverse jury that includes a mix of young, upcoming talents, and experienced experts. We introduce each jury member on our Jury Page, complete with a bio so that you can get to know them better.
 

What are the judging criteria?

Submissions are judged on criteria determined by the category. In principle, our judging panel will evaluate the submissions based on their concept, objective, creative and technical excellence, and overall impression.
 

Can I be a jury member?

We are always happy when we get approached by professionals who want to be a part of the jury. If you would like to be considered for the judging panel, please visit our dedicated Judge Nomination section.
 

If I am part of the judging panel, can I still submit entries or have entries in the competition that I have been involved in?

Yes, you are still allowed to submit entries and others can submit entries that you have been involved in. However, you are not allowed to judge any work you or your company entered and any work you have been involved in. This ensures fairness and impartiality in the judging process and ensures that all entries are evaluated based on merit alone.
 

Do you provide feedback for my submission from the jury panel?

Our jury members are encouraged to provide feedback for each submission they evaluate, and this feedback is collected and provided to you anonymously along with the notification of the result.

 

RESULT NOTIFICATION

How do I know if I have won an award?

Entrants are notified of the results in the latter half of May. If you are a winner, you'll receive a notification informing you of your success, although you won't yet know your winner status (Gold, Silver, etc.). The official announcement of winners and their respective winner status will be made in a Winner Announcement Video at the end of June. Additionally, winners will be contacted individually via email, and their work will be displayed in the Winner Gallery.
 

What do the winners receive?

For their promotional work, winners will be provided with different assets, like badges, laurels, winner graphics, a press release template, etc. Further, winners will be featured on the US International Awards winner’s gallery. All winners may also be featured on our social media channels. Furthermore, winners may purchase trophies and certificates.
 

Why do I not get a free trophy and certificate in case of winning? 

Our mission is to have low entry fees so that we can also attract smaller companies, start-ups, one-person companies, and companies in difficult economic conditions. We know that those companies have excellent corporate videos as well and we want them to have the opportunity to submit their great work.

In case of winning, there is no additional fee, nor do you have to purchase a trophy and/or a certificate.

Some winners choose not to receive trophies and/or certificates, while others choose to order multiple trophies and/or certificates for their client, agency, production company, etc. 

If you as a winner decide you want a trophy and/or certificate, you can purchase and order them via the US International Awards Store.
 

STORE ORDERS

Where can I order trophies or certificates?

You can purchase trophies and certificates via the US International Awards Store.
The login information for the Store is the same as for the Entry Tool.

To ensure that trophies are given only to winners, only the entrant can log in with their login details. If someone else involved in the winning project wants to order awards or certificates, they must order through the entrant or contact us directly.
 

Can I choose the text on the award and certificate?

It is completely up to you to decide what credits, names, etc., you would like to have printed on your award or certificate. The only requirement is that it should be appropriate and reasonable. The entry title and category will always be included. For any additional text on trophies, you are limited to 3 lines with a maximum of 65 characters per line. For certificates, you can have up to 4 lines, with the first two lines allowing a maximum of 55 characters per line and the last two lines allowing up to 40 characters per line.
 

How long does it take to receive my order?

Each trophy and certificate is custom-produced with your desired imprints. We process and ship orders on a first-come, first-served basis. However, we'll make our best efforts to process and ship your order within the estimated delivery time of 2-4 weeks for certificates and 4-6 weeks for orders containing trophies.
 

I won an award in a previous edition. How can I order an award for that entry?

Trophies and certificates for any year starting with the 2023 edition may be purchased at any time via the US International Awards Store. 
The login information for the Store is the same as for the Entry Tool.
If someone else involved in the winning project wants to order awards or certificates, they must order through the entrant or contact us directly.