2008 Competition
Prizes & Awards
Prizes
Internship at USA TODAY
A summer 2008 internship at USA TODAY will be awarded to a single filmmaker selected by the staff of USA TODAY from among the entries submitted to Film Your Issue 2008 within the specific category of First Amendment Issues, as outlined by USA TODAY. Please check Categories and Issues for details. The term of the internship is flexible to the student's schedule, starting after May 25 and ending no later than August 25. The internship is for approximately 30 hours per week. The intern will work with the USA TODAY Education department to develop campus programming initiatives related to current issues; with a focus on civic engagement and sustainability. This may include networking (via conference calls and/or meetings) with various college administrators, student groups, and associations focused on promoting civic engagement and sustainability initiatives within higher education. Requirements for eligibility for the internship are as follows: the student must be a sophomore or higher, enrolled in an accredited college or university full–time, and be attending school in the fall of 2008, following the internship. Only one filmmaker of the selected film will be eligible for an internship at USA TODAY. The filmmaker will be responsible for his/her own accommodations and transportation to Washington, DC. A small transportation stipend will be provided.
Internship at United Nations
A fall 2008 internship at The United Nations with United Nations Television will be awarded to a single filmmaker selected by the staff of The United Nations from among the entries submitted to Film Your Issue 2008 within the specific categories as outlined and sponsored by The United Nations. The duration of the internship should be 2-3 months for maximum benefit to the student, starting in mid-September. Requirements for eligibility for the internship are as follows: the student must be enrolled in an accredited college or university full–time, anywhere in the world. Age parameters at the time of submission are 16 and 24. Only one filmmaker of the selected film will be eligible for an internship at The United Nations. The filmmaker will be responsible for his/her own accommodation and transportation to and within New York City.
Internship at PBS’ P.O.V. and Winning Film Posted on the P.O.V. – PBS website
A summer 2008 internship at P.O.V., public television's premier showcase for independent point-of-view documentary, will be awarded to a single filmmaker selected by the staff of P.O.V. from among the entries submitted to Film Your Issue 2008 within the specific categories as outlined and sponsored by P.O.V. films. The internship will be within the programming and production department, the community engagement department, the communications department and P.O.V. Interactive. The term of the internship is flexible to the student's schedule, starting after June 2 and up to August 29. The internship is for approximately 30 hours per week, within the programming and production department, the community engagement department and in P.O.V. Interactive. Only one filmmaker of the selected film will be eligible for an internship at P.O.V.. The filmmaker will be responsible for his/her own accommodations and transportation to and within New York City. Additionally, the winning film will be posted on the P.O.V.-PBS website, and considered for inclusion in a P.O.V. broadcast.
Internship at The Humane Society of the United States
A two-week 2008 internship to work on video projects at the Hollywood Office of The Humane Society of the United States will be awarded to a single filmmaker selected by the staff of The HSUS from among the entries submitted to Film Your Issue 2008. The term of the internship is flexible to the recipient's schedule, starting after June 25 and up to December 19, 2008, subject to approval by The HSUS. The internship is for approximately 30 hours per week. Requirements for eligibility for the internship are as follows: the candidate must be at least 18 years of age, be conversant in English, and have a valid passport and travel documentation if not from within the U.S. Only one filmmaker of the selected film will be eligible for an internship at The HSUS. The filmmaker will be responsible for his/her own accommodations and transportation to and within Los Angeles.
$5,000 college scholarship from Strong American Schools and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
A college scholarship of $5,000 will be awarded to a single filmmaker selected by the staff of Strong American Schools and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation from among the entries submitted to Film Your Issue 2008 within the specific categories as outlined and sponsored by SAS and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Requirements for eligibility are as follows: Entrants must be legal residents of the United States who are currently at least the age of 18 and enrolled in an accredited college or university. The scholarship will be awarded in the form of a payment directly to an accredited college or university to cover tuition and room and board with proof of current enrollment. The scholarship is non-transferable and non-assignable and no cash alternative will be offered. Employees (and members of their families) of Strong American Schools (a project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc.), Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc., The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Film Your Issue, their respective sponsors, parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and their respective advertising, promotion, and production agencies are not eligible to enter or win. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
VIP Filmmaker Pass and Film presented at AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival
A VIP Filmmaker Pass will be awarded to one filmmaker as selected by the programming team of SILVERDOCS as delineated by AFI’s SILVERDOCS program team as outlined within this site. The a VIP Pass will entitle the winning filmmaker to attend the week-long 2008 SILVERDOCS Festival and 4-day Conference. Also, the winning film as selected by the programming team will be presented as part of a panel discussion at the Festival. Two runner-up filmmakers will receive complimentary Industry Passes.
Films broadcast on Starz to its 30+ million viewers
Starz will broadcast the winning films, or excerpts thereof, in the summer of 2008 on its pay-cable platform, except in cases where the content conflicts with its copyright or broadcast standards.
Select Entries Distributed by The Associated Press to its 1,800 Online Video Network media outlets
Select entries during the competition will be distributed to the 1800 media website members of The Associated Press. Winning entries will be platformed to the AP online video network.
Winners presented at Democratic and Republican National 2008 Conventions
A selection of FYI 2008 winning films will be presented during the Democratic and Republican National Conventions in Denver and Minneapolis, by the Impact Film Festival. The FYI films will precede the feature film presentations.
Winning film presented on MySpace
A winning film will be posted on the homepages of MySpace, MySpace TV, and MySpace Impact.
Winning film presented on The Sierra Club homepage
The winning film selected by The Sierra Club will be posted on its homepage.
Winning films presented on AOL True Stories homepage
AOL True Stories will feature the winning films from the 2008 Film Your Issue on its homepage.
Finalist profiled on MTV News
The filmmaker of the audience favorite on Think, MTV's multi-media community focused on youth activism, will be profiled on MTV News.
NAACP Convention
The winning NAACP-chosen film and other top entries will be presented at the NAACP’s 99th Annual Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio, and showcased on the NAACP’s website.
Awards
FYI Jury Award
The top-voted film as selected by the VIP Jury of Film Your Issue 2008 will be awarded the FYI 2008 Jury Award, and be eligible for all additional pertinent awards and prizes, as outlined here. The film will be broadcast in full or excerpted on Starz.
FYI - MTV Think Audience Favorite Award
A single film will be selected by the visitors to Think, MTV's multi-media community focused on youth activism, and awarded the FYI - MTV Think Audience Favorite Award. The filmmaker will be profiled on MTV News. The film and filmmaker will also be eligible for all additional pertinent awards and prizes, as outlined here. The film will be broadcast in full or excerpted on Starz.
The FYI - USA TODAY Award
A single film will be selected by the staff of USA TODAY for the FYI - USA TODAY 2008 Award. The winning film will illuminate First Amendment / Free Speech issues cinematically, eg. the struggle for freedom of expression, ways to use these freedoms, or what happens in a society where free expression of ideas is unwelcome.within the category as delineated by USA TODAY. Please visit the First Amendment/ Free Speech issue tab within this website for further information. The winning film will be posted on the education website of USA TODAY, and broadcast in full or excerpted on Starz. The winning filmmaker will be receive the 2008 internship.
The FYI - Humane Society of the United States Award
A single film will be selected by the staff of The Humane Society of the United States for the FYI - Humane Society 2008 Award, within the category as delineated by The HSUS. The issue will focus on animal welfare. Further information is provided within this site, on the HSUS tab. The filmmaker will be awarded the 2008 internship at The HSUS, in the Hollywood office. Minimum age requirement is 18 years of age. Regardless of the age of the filmmaker, the winning film will be posted on the The HSUS website, and be broadcast in full or excerpted on Starz.
The FYI - NAACP Award
A single film will be selected by the staff of NAACP for the FYI - NAACP 2008 Award, based on six target issues from a civil rights/social justice perspective: Education, Economic Empowerment, Health, Juvenile Justice, Voter Empowerment. Please visit the NAACP tab for further information. The winning film will be showcased on the NAACP’s website, premiered at the NAACP’s 99th Annual Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio during a special presentation and broadcast in full or excerpted on Starz.
The FYI - SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival Award for Documentary Filmmaking Excellence
One film will be selected by the SILVERDOCS Programming team for documentary filmmaking excellence, as outlined on the SilverDocs tab on this site. The film will be screened as part of a special program at the SILVERDOCS International Documentary Conference. The filmmaker will receive a VIP pass to the Festival. Two semi-finalists will also be chosen to receive festival passes.
The FYI - Natural Resource Defense Council and The Sierra Club Award
One or more films will be selected by the staffs of The Natural Resource Defense Council and The Sierra Club in the FYI 2008 Environmental Category Award, as delineated by the NRDC and The Sierra Club. The winning film(s) will be posted on the NRDC and The Sierra Club websites, and be broadcast in full or excerpted on Starz.
The FYI - Human Rights Campaign Award - Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues
A single film will be selected by the staff of The HRC for the FYI - HRC 2008 Award, within the category as delineated by the HRC. The winning film will be posted on the HRC website, and be broadcast in full or excerpted on Starz.
The FYI - Strong American Schools and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Award
A single film will be selected by the staff of Strong American Schools and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the FYI - Strong American Schools and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 2008 Award. The winning entry will be judged on its ability to most effectively exemplify the current crisis in education and why the Presidential 2008 candidates should make education a priority in their campaigns. A college scholarship of $5000 will be awarded to the filmmaker, and the film will be broadcast in full or excerpted on Starz.
The FYI - United Nations DPI Award
A single film will be selected by a team from the Department of Public Information at The United Nations for the FYI - United Nations DPI 2008 Award, within the category as delineated by The United Nations in the issues section. The Department of Public Information has chosen six issues for the 2008 FYI: Climate Change, Human Rights, Intellectual Property, Peace, Tolerance, Migration. Please visit the UN DPI issue tab within this website for further information. The filmmaker will be awarded the 2008 internship at the United Nations, at United Nations Television, and the winning film will be broadcast in full or excerpted on Starz.
The FYI - P.O.V. Award
A single film will be selected by the staff of P.O.V., public television's premier showcase for independent point-of-view documentary films, from among the entries submitted to Film Your Issue 2008 within the specific categories as outlined and sponsored by P.O.V. Visit the tab within this site for further information. The winning film will be selected for illuminating issues from the perspective of P.O.V.’s 2008 broadcast season line-up that focuses on all relevant issues in the 2008 Presidential election, including education, election reform, environment, foreign policy and the war, healthcare and immigration. The winning film will be posted on the P.O.V. site and broadcast in full or excerpted on Starz.
The Walter Cronkite Civic Engagement Leadership Award - to an Outstanding University
Named for the legendary news anchor and Distinguished Jurist of FYI, The Walter Cronkite Civic Engagement Leadership Award celebrates a single institution, faculty or department for excellence in encouraging civic engagement, including participation in FYI Film Your Issue. Award selected in collaboration with Mr. Cronkite.
The Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award
Named for the legendary First Lady and co-founder of The United Nations, the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award will celebrate a single individual for embodying humanitarian values and activism. Award selected in collaboration with the family of Eleanor Roosevelt.
