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Children's Film Awards - category criteria

The following criteria is a guide and relative to the ages of the children submitting an entry. Make sure that you read the following carefully as the judges will be looking to see if your film contains the appropriate main elements as listed below. Films can be either live action or animation.

Nursery/reception: Nursery rhymes

The history and origins of most nursery rhymes reflect events in history. Two examples of these types of nursery rhymes history and origins are 'Ring a Ring o Rosies' which refers to the Bubonic plague and 'Remember Remember' nursery rhymes which allude to Guy Fawkes' foiled attempt to blow up the English Houses of Parliament. Many of the words and nursery rhymes lyrics were used to parody the royal and political events of the day, direct dissent would often be punishable by death. Strange how these events in history are still portrayed through children's nursery rhymes, when for most of us the historical events relationship to the nursery rhymes themselves are long forgotten.

Reference: www.rhymes.org.uk

Film to be based on a nursery rhyme and should include:

  • A specific setting
  • Clear identification of main characters
  • Clear sequence of events
  • A strong ending

Year 1/2: Tales with a twist

Film to include features of a traditional tale but with a 'twist' or a complete alternative version of a traditional tale for example: Goldilocks, Little Red Riding Hood and Three Little Pigs and should also include:

  • Set in an original traditional tale
  • Plot that has a 'surprise'
  • Comparison of characters
  • Sequence of events (possibly unexpected)
  • Consequential outcome

For further information please visit www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks1/english/story_telling/index.htm

Year 3/4: Rise to a challenge (in the form of a myth, legend or fable) 

A myth is a story with a purpose and tries to explain the way the world is, with an important social or religious meaning, legends have a stronger historical base than myths, Robin Hood for example. A fable is a succinct story, in prose or verse, that features animals, mythical creatures, plants, inanimate objects or forces of nature.

The film should be an adaptation of a myth, legend or fable (could be a modern version) and should include:

  • A plot that involves risk taking and daring feats
  • Recognisable hero/heroine
  • Identification of anti-hero or villain
  • Strong ending

Film tip: Be creative and think about writing your own story including different types of characters.

For further information please visit http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/theatre.htm or http://bestoflegends.org/

Year 5/6: Stories from around the world

Films can be adapted from stories from around the world or children could make up their own story. The stories can very much be modern day stories. Ask for stories from school friends they might know some that are different.

The film should:

  • Clearly set the scene of the story for the audience including the country of origin
  • Tell the story (or part of the story) in a logical sequence of events
  • Have a strong ending

For further information please visit www.cln.org/themes/fairytales.html

Documentary - The Olympic Truce 'Celebrating sport to build peaceful cultures' 

A documentary asks a question on a particular topic of interest and attempts to answer it by outlining conclusions and possible solutions by the end of the film.

Documentaries should:

  • Clearly state the issue - think about a question you want answered
  • Show the cause of the issue
  • State the consequences of the issue
  • Discuss a possible resolution

This year’s documentary category is focused on London Olympics and the Olympic Truce which encompasses unity, peace, sporting chances, belief, achievement and spirit of sportsmanship.

For the documentary description please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Documentary

For more information on the Olympic Truce visit

http://getset.london2012.com/en/get-set-goes-global/get-set-for-the-olympic-truce  

Film tip: When interviewing someone, choose questions that cannot easily be answered with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to give the interviewee the chance to express their views and opinions on the topic.

Best pop music video

This should be a short film that accompanies a complete piece of music/song. Music videos use a wide range of styles of film making techniques, including animation, live action filming, documentaries and non-narrative approaches such as abstract film. Some music videos blend different styles, such as animation and live action. Many music videos do not interpreimages from the song's lyrics, making it less literal than expected.

Copyright: Due to copyright restrictions, if you use an artist's soundtrack then this will be muted on the evening of the awards and played through the Kingsgate state of the art technical system. You must not use any images of artists or clips from their videos.

For more information please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_video

For copyright queries please contact Helen Gregg on telephone 01733 863618 or visit www.prsformusic.com/Pages/default.aspx and telephone 020 8378 7500.

Best film in a foreign language 

A film based on one of the available drama or documentary categories and uses a foreign language and/or sign language throughout. The film mube one that has already been entered in to a category and then ‘dubbed’ in another language and re-entered for this category.

The film should still fulfil each of the criteria specific to the chosen genre and should also include:

  • A specified foreign language(s) throughout
  • Subtitles in English

Best film by a teacher

Best film by a teacher, the film should be chosen from any of the above categories and  still fulfill each of the criteria as listed.