The Iowa Motion Picture Association Awards (IMPA Awards)

A TV commercial not to exceed 60 seconds in length. Must have had a total budget (agency fees not included) of under $1000.

A TV commercial not to exceed 60 seconds in length. Must have had a total budget (agency fees not included) of between $1,000 and $4,999.

A TV commercial not to exceed 60 seconds in length. Must have had a total budget (agency fees not included) of between $5,000 and $14,999.

A TV commercial not to exceed 60 seconds in length. Must have had a total budget (agency fees not included) of $15,000 or more.

A Public Service Announcement that does not promote a for-profit interest and does not exceed 60 seconds in length. Must have had a production budget (agency fees not included) of less than $5000.

A Public Service Announcement that does not promote a for-profit interest and does not exceed 60 seconds in length. Must have had a production budget (agency fees not included) of $5000 or more.

A film or video produced by or for a business, corporation, industry, government agency or commercial association, for internal information purposes such as staff communication, orientation, motivation or employee news. Does not include training programs.

A film or video produced by or for a community, business, corporation, industry, government agency or commercial association for development, external sales, marketing, recruiting or promotional purposes - including infomercials. Does not include training programs.

A film or video produced by or for a business, corporation, industry, government agency or commercial association, for the purpose of educating and/or training either internal or external audiences. Must have had a total budget less than $15,000.

A film or video produced by or for a business, corporation, industry, government agency or commercial association, for the purpose of educating and/or training either internal or external audiences. Must have had a total budget of $15,000 or more.

A video or film produced by a student enrolled in an Iowa K-12 school. There is no completion date restriction; however, an entry may be judged in this category only once. All traditional and experimental forms are welcome. Multiple awards may be given in this category. Please submit your program in its entirety.

A single or on-going television news feature, special report(s) or series. Must have been produced by, and seen on, an Iowa television station.

A non-fictional film or video produced in a documentary style on any subject. Educational Production A film or video produced solely for educational or informative purposes. Does not include corporate programs.

A film or video produced for the purpose of entertainment and is less than 30 minutes in length. Does not include corporate programs.

A film or video produced for the purpose of entertainment, and is 60 minutes or more in length, with a budget under $50,000. Does not include corporate programs.

A film or video produced for the purpose of entertaining a general audience, and is more than 30 60 minutes in length, with a budget of $50,000 or more. Does not include corporate programs.

A film or video less than 5 minutes of one or more types of 2D, 3D, stop motion, or experimental animation.

A film or video containing 5 minutes and longer of one or more types of 2D, 3D, stop motion or experimental animation.

An interactive program in various media formats, including online interactive formats. Submissions must be in the native format in which the program was used – and also in a form that judges can view. Programs that simply require the viewer to stop and refer to other materials do not qualify. Interactive subjects can include education, science, health, finances, law, business, environment, politics – or entertainment with various characters or endings, challenges with various solutions, or other programs that are interactive and problem-solving. Interactive entries can cross multiple platforms if the entries are submitted in a way that is efficient for the judges to view and judge. Since this is an evolving, important part of the moving image and media industry in all its forms, please submit an inquiry to Michael R. Helgens (michael@thespeedofplot.com or 319-821-0682 ) if you have questions about your project as an entry.

Scripted or nonfiction web series intended for release via streaming on the web. Submit either (1) a minimum of 3 episodes totaling at least 10 minutes of total run time or (2) a single episode that is at least 10 minutes.

A film or video script of any length, written for the sole purpose of entertainment. Entries must be submitted electronically, preferably in Final Draft, Word, RTF or Movie Magic Screenwriter file format. PDF files are not accepted as they don't allow the judges to make notes as they progress through the entire screenplay.

A film or video script of any length, written for the sole purpose of entertainment. Entries must be submitted electronically, preferably in Final Draft, Word, RTF or Movie Magic Screenwriter file format. PDF files can be accepted, but they do not allow the judges to make notes as they progress through the entire screenplay. This category also requires submission as proof of production either one DVD copy or an IMDB entry of (see Long Form Submission on Instructions page).

A film or video script written for any corporate, industrial, educational or marketing purpose. Entry must have been produced. Produced Screenplay Scripts must be submitted electronically, preferably in Final Draft, Word, RTF or Movie Magic Screenwriter file format. PDF files can be accepted, but they do not allow the judges to make notes as they progress through the entire screenplay. This category also requires submission of one DVD copy as proof of production or an IMDB entry of (see Long Form Submission on Instructions page).

Art direction or production design on a film or video produced for any application. This includes sets, props, costumes, and other visual imagery. Does not include computer-generated imagery.

Creative design and execution of lighting in a film or video.

Creative use of composition, filters, movement, exposure, etc. to create images in a video or motion picture film. Programs shot with “film look” do not qualify.

Creative manipulation of acting, camera blocking, lighting, editing, etc. in a film or video program that is less than three 30 minutes in length.

Creative manipulation of acting, camera blocking, lighting, editing, etc. in a film or video program that is between 30 minutes and thirty 59 minutes in length. Does not include live event coverage (i.e., sporting events, concerts).

Creative manipulation of acting, camera blocking, lighting, editing, etc. in a film or video program that is 60 minutes or longer in length. Does not include live event coverage (i.e., sporting events, concerts).

Includes live event coverage (i.e., sporting events, concerts).

Acting performance by a male in a program produced solely for film or video (no stage performances). This must be a single performance (no demo reels). The entry may contain excerpts from a single performance, provided the entire entry does not exceed the ten-minute time limit. This does not include performances in a spokesperson or advertising role; however, dramatic portrayals in corporate productions are eligible. Entries must be accompanied by a headshot or photograph.

Acting performance by a female in a program produced solely for film or video (no stage performances). This must be a single performance (no demo reels). The entry may contain excerpts from a single performance. This does not include performances in a spokesperson or advertising role; however, dramatic portrayals in corporate productions are eligible. Entries must be accompanied by a headshot or photograph.

Supporting acting performance by a male in a program produced solely for film or video (no stage performances). This must be a single performance (no demo reels). The entry may contain excerpts from a single performance, provided the entire entry does not exceed the ten minute time limit. This does not include performances in a spokesperson or advertising role; however, dramatic portrayals in corporate productions are eligible. Entries must be accompanied by a head shot or photograph.

Supporting acting performance by a female in a program produced solely for film or video (no stage performances). This must be a single performance (no demo reels). The entry may contain excerpts from a single performance. This does not include performances in a spokesperson or advertising role; however, dramatic portrayals in corporate productions are eligible. Entries must be accompanied by a head shot or photograph.

A performance in a spokesperson or advertising role. This includes corporate productions, infomercials and broadcast advertising. This must be a single performance (no demo reels). The entry may contain excerpts from a single performance, provided the entire entry does not exceed the ten-minute time limit. Entries must be accompanied by a head shot or photograph.

A voice-over narration performance in a film, video or multimedia program. This must be a single performance (no demo reels). The entry may contain excerpts from a single performance, provided the entire entry does not exceed the ten-minute time limit. This does not include programs produced for radio.

Special visual effects created for a film or video. This includes optical, mechanical, pyrotechnics, atmospherics, modeling and miniatures, stop motion, make-up and stunts. This does not include computer animation.

Film or video editing on a program less than 30 minutes in length.

Film or video editing on a program 60 minutes or longer in length.

Post-production computer-generated graphic art direction and design in a film or video.

Visual effects costing less than $10,000, created for any film or video program. This includes cell animation, compositing, and computer-generated imagery.

Visual effects costing $10,000 or more, created for any film or video program. This includes cell animation, compositing, and computer-generated imagery.

Animated tag or logo with a maximum run time of 15 seconds, created for any film or video program.

Original music composed for any film or video program.

Creative use of sound design and mixing in a film or video. This includes sweetening, foley, music, etc.

A film or video produced for the purpose of entertainment, and 30 minutes to 59 minutes in length. Does not include corporate programs.

A video or film produced by a student enrolled in an Iowa college as an undergraduate. There is no completion date restriction; however, an entry may be judged in this category only once. All traditional and experimental forms are welcome. Multiple awards may be given in this category. Please submit your program in its entirety.

Film or video editing on a program 30 to 59 minutes in length.

A film or video produced solely for educational or informative purposes. Does not include corporate programs.

A video or film produced by a student enrolled in an Iowa university graduate program. There is no completion date restriction; however, an entry may be judged in this category only once. All traditional and experimental forms are welcome. Multiple awards may be given in this category. Please submit your program in its entirety.