Film Competition

Primatology Film Competition

A Primatology Film Competition is to be held to judge the best films/videos made in the area of primatology produced from 1997 up to present. (The last primate film competition was at 1996 IPS Congress.) The winning productions will be screened at the meeting of the International Primatological Society in Edinburgh, Scotland, August 3-8, 2008; the last such competition held screenings at the 1996 IPS Congress in Madison, Wisconsin.

There will be two categories:
(1) professionally made (e.g. commercial or public television company productions with budget above $30,000),
(2) non-professional, independent production with cost of production under $30,000.

There will be preliminary screenings and judging by Ph.D. level primatologists at one or more locations, and the five best entries in each category will be screened in Edinburgh. Monetary prizes will be awarded to the top entries in the non-professional category, and appropriate certificates from the IPS will be awarded to the winners in the professional category.

Each film will be ranked from 1 to 10 in the following categories by each judge:
(1) scientific accuracy/value
(2) aesthetics and film craft
(3) educational/conservation value

An entry fee of $35 for non-professional entries and $75 for professional entries is required (these fees will go towards prizes and miscellaneous expenses). Entry fees should be paid by cheque, in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank or an International Money Order in U.S. dollars. Cheques should be made out to "International Primatological Society" and on the cheque include the statement "For 2008 Film Competition". Payment can also be made using Visa and Mastercard; please inquire about details. This programme is endorsed by IPS.

Each entry should include a written synopsis of content in English along with significant information about the film such as the category (professional or non-professional), length, date of completion, producer, scientific consultants (if any), cinematographer and editor.

All entries will be required to confirm the following: “that high ethical standards were observed in making the film, such that precautions were taken to minimize interference with individual animals, as well as the populations and ecosystems of which they are a part, and that no animal was harmed in the process of film-making."

The deadline for receiving entries is January 31, 2008. All entries should be submitted on DVD with Universal Regional Code (Region “0”). If this format presents a difficulty please inquire. Two DVD copies of each entry are required.

Entries and/or questions regarding the competition should be sent to the following:

Charles Weisbard, Ph.D.
Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology
Columbia University
10th floor, 1200 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10027
USA

Email: cw2359@columbia.edu
Phone: +1-212-854-9987 or +1-718-274-2365
Fax: +1-212-854-8188 (attn: E3B/Primate Film Competition)