Contests

NASA & Houston Cinema Arts Society ‘CineSpace’ Short Film Competition for All Filmmakers: Videos Must Have at Least 10 Percent Publically Available NASA Imagery & Be Up to 15 Minutes (Total) Running Time: Submit Your Videos Before 11:59 p.m. EST on July 31, 2015

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The following video presents CineSpace Video Contest Promo from CineSpace on Vimeo.

NASA and Houston Cinema Arts Society offer filmmakers around the world a chance to share their works inspired by, and using, real NASA imagery through “CineSpace,” a new short film competition premiering at Houston Cinema Arts Festival, November 12-19, 2015.

Films featuring real NASA footage collected from over 50 years of its history will be judged on the creativity, innovation, and attention to detail that are the hallmarks of spaceflight.

NASA and Houston Cinema Arts Society will choose Finalist or “Official Selections,” which will screen at the Houston Cinema Arts Festival in November 2015. Other screenings may also take place throughout the year. NASA judges will award prizes from the Finalist pool.

What We Are Looking For: We are considering short video, film, and digital-media submissions of 15 minutes or less and are seeking works of all genres, formats, and styles including but not limited to narrative, documentary, humorous, dramatic, animation, experimental, ambient, music videos, re-mix, sports, horror, and underground.

We are looking for Submissions that

Are based on innovative artistic presentation and storytelling.
Provoke an emotional response.
Show a mastery of filmmaking craftsmanship.
Submissions MUST contain at least 10% (based on total running time) of NASA video imagery. More than 10% can be used and still photos can also be used in addition to the video imagery. This imagery may be obtained through the NASA Image Archives or other publicly available means such as YouTube or other.

Top prize for this competition is $10,000 USD.

Submission period: June 1, 2015 through July 31, 2015.

More information can be found on cinespace15.org, or by emailing cinespace@cinemartsociety.org

Entries will be competing for a total of $26,000 in prizes, with cash awards going to the top three submissions and the two films chosen that best depict the themes of “Benefits to Humanity from the International Space Station” and “Spirit of Future Exploration of Space.”

CineSpace is a new and untested chance to inspire the next generation of explorers. This unique opportunity allows others to help tell the story of humanity’s place in the cosmos as they see it, with the help of NASA’s vast library of moving and still imagery. Exploration and discovery, which are central to NASA’s mission, are as connected to human psyche as is art, so we are excited to see how artists can help to communicate that mission.

Michael Suffredini, International Space Station Program manager

The Screenings and Competition (hereafter “Competition”) is offered and open only to natural persons who are at least 18 years of age at the time of entry.

  • Parents and guardians of film makers younger than 18 can submit on their behalf.
  • THIS COMPETITION IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

All genres will be considered for all prizes.

The Selection Committee and Competition Judges (collectively the “Jury”) understand that various genres and formats have different dominant qualities. The Jury will consider the following to select finalists and winners:

  • Is the work based on innovative artistic presentation and storytelling?
  • Does the work provoke an emotional response?
  • Does the work show a mastery of filmmaking craftsmanship?
  • Does the work exemplify creative excellence that pushes the boundaries of filmmaking and storytelling?
  • Does the work show a high level of technical, conceptual, and aesthetic innovation and display an exceptional level of creative vision.
  • Does the work show an exemplary use of the original NASA material used?
  • Does the work show an exceptional level of creative vision and execution?
  • Does the work capture a creative expression?
  • Does the work explore new ideas or techniques to further filmmaking as an art form?
  • Does the work offer a fresh perspective?

Considerations for Special Criteria
In general, The Jury is looking for Submissions that elevate the featured themes using creative and original cinematic and/or storytelling techniques.

“Film Best Depicting Benefits to Humanity from the International Space Station”
The Jury will use the following NASA statement as a guide:  “Through advancing the state of scientific knowledge of our planet, looking after our health, and providing a space platform that inspires and educates the science and technology leaders of tomorrow, these benefits will drive the legacy of the space station as its research strengthens economies and enhances the quality of life here on Earth for all people. This Special Award is for the submission that best captures and communicates this message.”

“Film Best Depicting Spirit of Future Exploration of Space.”
The Jury will use the following NASA statement as a guide:  “Exploration and pioneering have inspired and shaped civilizations since the dawn of history. Such endeavors are distinguishing characteristics of an advancing civilization. The U.S. and NASA have figured prominently in this story. As nations explore, they discover, innovate, prosper, lead— and become great. NASA missions, both robotic and human, expand the knowledge of our planet, our solar system, and the universe, leading to the expansion of mankind itself from the Earth to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. This Special Award is for the submission that best captures and communicates this message.”

Prizes

Competition Awards

  • Grand Prize: USD 10,000
  • Second Prize: USD 5,000
  • Third Prize: USD 3,000

Special Judging Categories and Awards for

  • Film Best Depicting Benefits to Humanity from the International Space Station: USD 4,000
  • Film Best Depicting Spirit of Future Exploration of Space: USD 4,000

All remaining finalists receive Official Selection mention.
All Finalists will be “CineSpace 2015 Official Selections” and their works will screen at Houston Cinema Arts Festival November 12-19, 2015. The Finalists’ works will also be posted on the HCAS (Houston Cinema Arts Society) website and various NASA websites. Subsequent screenings may take place at special events throughout the remaining year and a compilation of the finalist may be submitted for screening in its entirety to other collaborating film festivals internationally. All Finalists will be notified of website posts and all screenings.

The following video presents Cinespace15 Short Film Contest:

Deadline to Enter: July 31, 2015

http://cinespace15.org/

NASA and the Houston Cinema Arts Society will offer filmmakers around the world a chance to share their works inspired by and using actual NASA imagery through “CineSpace,” a new short film competition premiering at the Houston Cinema Arts Festival, November 12 – 19, 2015.

Films featuring real NASA footage collected from 50 years of exploring the universe will be judged on the same creativity, innovation and attention to detail that are the hallmarks of spaceflight. Works will compete for cash prizes and other recognition and the opportunity to be shown to audiences both on and off the Earth.

Entry

  • You must submit an audiovisual work (a “Submission”) that complies with the requirements of these Guidelines and Terms between June 1, 2015 at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time and July 31, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (the “Submission Period”) using the means described at http://houstoncinemaartsfestival.org/program-schedule/cinespace-general-information/filmmaker-guidelines-and-rules .
  • There is no entry fee to submit to CineSpace.
  • You may submit more than one original work.
  • Submissions MUST contain at least 10% (based on total running time) of NASA video imagery.  More than 10% can be used and still photos can also be used in addition to the video imagery.
  • This imagery may be obtained through the NASA IMAGE ARCHIVE or other publicly available means such as YouTube or other.”
  • At any time the General Public may visit the NASA IMAGE ARCHIVE and download imagery for public use.
    • Access to this Archive is always available year-round, with the exception of any technical or maintenance related shutdowns.
    • Note that the Archives are constantly updated and refreshed with new material.
  • For access to NASA still images please go to the JSC Digital Image Collection or the NASA Flickr page.

CineSpace uses a submissions system managed by a NASA-contracted company named InnoCentive. By submitting your film to CineSpace you enter into an Agreement with InnoCentive. Please refer to the Terms in Section II of the Guidelines and Terms page for easy reference. The official Submitter Agreement  found on the InnoCentive website is the official Terms [InnoCentive] that you will sign for each work you submit.

Requirements and Judging Considerations

Each Submission must comply with the following rules:

  • It must be an original work by you (apart from the NASA imagery), meaning that you (or the minor you as a parent are submitting for) were one of the work’s principal creators and have the right to submit it to the InnoCentive Submissions Portal and grant the licenses set forth in Terms below.
  • It must have been created after January 1, 2011.
  • It must either be in the English language or have English subtitles (to the extent it contains dialogue or text).
  • It must be no longer than 15 minutes, including credits.
  • It must contain at least 10% (total time basis) of NASA Imagery, which may be found on the NASA Archive or other publicly available sources. (NASA Imagery may be altered with After Effects or other techniques).
  • Works may be Standard or High Definition (720p or 1080p).
  • It must not be an excerpt from a longer work.
  • It must comply with all of the content restrictions set forth in Terms. Among other things, ANY USE OF THIRD PARTY MUSIC IN THE SUBMISSION MUST BE PRE-CLEARED WITH THE APPLICABLE OWNERS/LICENSORS.
  • You must have the right to grant the licenses set forth in Terms.

Academy Award-nominated director, producer and screenwriter Richard Linklater – a Houston native who won best director honors at the 2015 Golden Globes and BAFTA Awards for his film Boyhood – will help NASA and HCAS judge the contest entries.

  • Entries will be judged between August 1, 2015 and September 15, 2015 (the “Judging Period”).
  • Award winners and Finalist will be notified on or before October 31, 2015.
  • The date of a public announcement of Award Winners and Finalist is to be determined at this time.

II. SUBMITTER’s AGREEMENT…..

  • you have all the rights, licenses, permissions and consents necessary to submit the Submission and to grant all of the rights that you have granted to NASA hereunder, including the right for NASA to use and develop derivative works of and from the Submission;
  • all persons who were engaged by you to work on the Submission or who appear in the Submission in any manner have:
  • you understand, recognize and accept that NASA has access to, may create or has created materials and ideas which may be similar or identical to the Submission in concept, theme, idea, format or other respects. You acknowledge and agree that NASA shall have the right to use such same or similar materials, and that you will not be entitled to any compensation arising from NASA’s use of such materials. In the event that your entry is identical or similar to the Submission of another Submitter, NASA reserves the right, at the sole discretion of NASA, to either score one Submission higher than the other subject to the Challenge Statement guidelines or to randomly choose a Submission from all of those submitted which respond to the Challenge Statement guidelines.
      1. given you their express, irrevocable written consent to submit the Submission for unlimited, royalty-free use, exhibition and other exploitation in any manner, for any purpose (including but not limited to public performances in one or more film festivals), and in any and all media, whether now existing or hereafter discovered, throughout the world, in perpetuity;
      2. provided written, irrevocable permission to include their name, image or pictures in or with your Submission (or if a minor who is not your child, you must have the permission of their parent or legal guardian) and you may be asked by NASA to provide permission in writing;
      3. no claims for payment of any kind, including, without limitation, for royalties or residuals, has no approval or consultation rights or any rights of participation arising out of any use, exhibition or other exploitation of the Submission; and
      4. not been and are not currently under any union or guild agreement that results in any ongoing obligations resulting from the use, exhibition or other exploitation of the Submission; and

All intellectual property rights (e.g., Copyrights), if any, in original works CREATED by YOU in ALL SubmissionS (e.g., in the VIDEO SUBMISSION, COMPILATION, idea, or concept) SUBMITTED BY YOU IN RESPONSE TO THIS CHALLENGE will remain with YOU, the Submitter

By entering, you agree that: (i) you hereby grant to NASA a fully transferable, paid-up, royalty free, non-exclusive, irrevocable, world-wide license in all intellectual property (e.g., in any copyright asserted by you) in original works created by you in all Submissions submitted by you in response to this challenge for use in any manner, for any purpose, and in any and all media; (ii) NASA and its authorized representatives have the unlimited right to alter and/or edit all Submission or any part or element thereof; and (iii) NASA and its licensees, successors and assigns have the paid-up, royalty-free, irrevocable, right to use any and all Submissions, and the names, likenesses, voices and images of all persons appearing in all Submissions in any manner, for any purpose (including but not limited to public performances in one or more film festivals), and in any medium now known or hereafter devised throughout the world in perpetuity…..

Please read the full Guidelines & Terms of this competition at http://houstoncinemaartsfestival.org/program-schedule/cinespace-general-information/filmmaker-guidelines-and-rules .

For more information on CineSpace, competition guidelines and the submission process, visit: http://www.cinespace15.org

Good Luck! / Bonne Chance!

PRESS RELEASE

NASA and Houston Cinema Arts Society Create ‘CineSpace’ Film Competition

Winning Submissions to Debut at 2015 Houston Cinema Arts Festival

HOUSTON Feb. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — NASA and Houston Cinema Arts Society (HCAS) will offer filmmakers around the world a chance to share their works inspired by — and using — actual NASA imagery through “CineSpace,” a new short film competition premiering at the Houston Cinema Arts Festival in November 2015.

Films featuring NASA-captured imagery and video collected throughout the agency’s 50-year history will be judged on creativity, innovation and attention to detail – the same hallmarks of spaceflight. Works submitted to CineSpace will compete for cash prizes and the opportunity to be shown to audiences both on and off Earth.

The competition is open to all filmmakers, both professional and aspiring. Submissions of all genres, up to 15 minutes running time, will be accepted. Entries must use at least 10 percent publically available NASA imagery.

The submission period opens June 1 and closes July 31. Finalists and winners will be announced at a CineSpace event during the 7th Annual Houston Cinema Arts Festival (Nov. 12-19). Entries will be competing for a total of $26,000 in prizes, with cash awards going to the top three submissions and the two films chosen that best depict the themes of “Benefits to Humanity from the International Space Station” and “Spirit of Future Exploration of Space.”

“Houston Cinema Arts Society is thrilled to partner with NASA to add a new and unique competitive component to our festival,” HCAS board member Patrick Kwiatkowski said. “Tapping into NASA’s vast archive will afford filmmakers the opportunity to produce compelling and innovative works across all genres. Our audiences will see space like it has never been seen before.”

HCAS is a non-profit organization created in 2008 that organizes and hosts the annual Houston Cinema Arts Festival, the only festival in the United States dedicated to films about the arts. The expertly curated festival has hosted notable filmmakers and actors including Robert Redford, Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, Isabella Rossellini, Tilda Swinton, John Turturro, Shirley MacLaine, Thomas Haden Church, Will Forte, Julie Taymor and James Ivory.

“CineSpace is a new and untested chance to inspire the next generation of explorers,” International Space Station Program manager Michael Suffredini said. “This unique opportunity allows others to help tell the story of humanity’s place in the cosmos as they see it, with the help of NASA’s vast library of moving and still imagery. Exploration and discovery, which are central to NASA’s mission, are as connected to human psyche as is art, so we are excited to see how artists can help to communicate that mission.”

NASA’s journeys into air and space continue to power inspiration that encourages future generations to explore, learn and build a better future. The next decade of exploration will be a time of rapid advancement and innovation as humanity stands poised to take the next giant leap to Mars and beyond.

For more information on CineSpace, competition guidelines and the submission process, visit: http://www.cinespace15.org

To browse NASA video and imagery, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/content/download-nasa-videos-for-cinespace

ABOUT HOUSTON CINEMA ARTS SOCIETY (HCAS)
Houston Cinema Arts Society is a non-profit organization created in 2008 with the support of former Houston Mayor Bill White and the leadership of Franci Neely. HCAS organizes and hosts the annual Houston Cinema Arts Festival, a groundbreaking and innovative arts festival featuring films and new media by and about artists in the visual, performing and literary arts. HCAS sponsors include Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Houston First Corporation, Texas Monthly, Levantine Films, Champion Energy Services, Nabors, Amegy Bank of Texas, as well as a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, and The Brown Foundation, Inc., Texas Commission on the Arts, and others. HCAF is also supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, please visit hcaf15.org.