About

The platform for recognizing comedians for their contributions has been neglected for many years. The few recognitions systems in place for comedians are typically not voted on by comedians. In many cases, the few available awards for comedy are voted on by individuals completely outside of the comedy community.

ACASA International is dedicated to providing recognitions systems for comedians that are voted on and awarded directly by the comedians themselves. Through a democratic process of nomination and voting, ACASA comedians will be able to vote for their colleagues who have exemplified talent that exceeds the standard of excellence.

Our primary award project is the ACASA Film Grant Awards. This award program was developed to provide monetary grants to talent for exemplary work in the Comedy Short Film category. Our secondary vision is to present a full awards program to honor and recognize outstanding talent and service in comedy.

Click here for more information about our Film Grant Awards. To support the mission of ACASA, please go to our Support the Vision section.

Nomination and Voting Process for ACASA Film Grant Awards

DEFINITIONS

ACASA short film entries must be an original motion picture created on film or digital format, at least 5 minutes in length and no more than 30 minutes, including all credits.

This excludes from consideration such works as:

1. Interstitials for television or movies broadcasting on television

2. Previews and advertising films

3. Sequences from feature-length films such as credit sequences

4. Unaired episodes of established TV series

5. Unsold TV series pilots

CATEGORIES

Award shall be given for the best achievement in comedy-related shorts in Live Action, Animation or Documentary format.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for award consideration for the 2011 Awards year, a short film must fulfill one of the following qualifying criteria between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2010, 2010. This qualification must take place within two years of the film’s completion date.

A short film may not be exhibited publicly anywhere in any theatrical or nontheatrical form, including but not limited to broadcast and cable television, home video, and Internet transmission other than for festival or student-related exhibition.

SUBMISSION

1. The print or DCP of the short film submitted for the ACASA International Film Grant Awards consideration must be identical in content and length to the print or DCP that qualified.

2. Dialogue or narration must be substantially in English or the film must have English-language subtitles.

3. Prints or DCPs should be marked “Short Film Entry” and shipped prepaid to the ACASA International; 5062 Lankershim Blvd. #3102; North Hollywood, CA 91601.  Prints or DCPs submitted will be retained by the ACASA International throughout the voting process.

4. The deadline for receiving the entry form, all required materials and film print or DCP is 4pm, January 25, 2011. 

5. ACASA International will retain for its archives one film print or DCP of every short film receiving a nomination for final balloting. ACASA will have the right but not the obligation to create a preservation copy of the picture at its own expense. All pictures that are not nominated will be returned at ACASA expense.

6. The recipient of the award will be the individual most directly responsible for the concept and the creative execution of the film. In the event that more than one individual has been directly and importantly involved in creative decisions, a second award may be awarded, and the respective grant award may be divided between the two recipients. No more than two awards will be given to a winning production. In cases where more than two individuals claim major creative contributions, the copyright holder must decide and confirm in writing which two will be eligible to receive the award.

7. No short film may be submitted more than once for ACASA consideration.  A short film must be submitted in the same Awards year in which it qualifies.

1. VOTING

   1. Excellence of the entries shall be judged on the basis of originality, entertainment and production quality without regard to cost of production or subject matter.

   2. A reviewing committee, consisting of volunteer members of the Nomination Committee will view all shorts for nomination consideration..

   3. To determine nominations, all entries selected by the Nominations Committee shall be screened by the Nominating Committee. A member must see all shortlisted films for the ballot to be counted.

2. Final voting for the Short Film Grant Award shall be restricted to ACASA members who may vote for only one film. Members must have screened the short in the ACASA Member’s Lounge or attended an official ACASA screening of the nominated achievements. 

4. ADVERTISING AND PUBLICITY RESTRICTIONS

Only short films that receive nominations or ACASA Film Grant Awards may refer to their ACASA endorsements in advertising and publicity materials. A film that is selected for the shortlist may not identify itself as an “ACASA finalist,” “Academy Short Film” or the like except when it appears in a program consisting entirely of such films.

5. WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT AND PRESENTATION

The final nominees will be notified in advance of the award ceremony. The film shorts of the finalists will be showcased at the ACASA Film Grant Awards Banquet. During the event, the winners will be announced and presented with their award. Winners do not need to be present, however in the event that a finalist cannot attend, they are encouraged to contact the office well in advance to arrange for someone to accept the award on their behalf.