JW Marriott Austin
In both rounds of professional judging, our panels will assign scores out of 10 to each project they’re reviewing based on all of the following programming components that apply:
• Originality
• Casting/Subjects
• Storytelling
• Execution/Technical Production
• Entertainment Value/Impact
For the five main award categories (Competition, Reality, Non-Fiction, Lifestyle, Short-Form Content), Realscreen will assemble a first-round panel of programming executives, agents, distributors and respected non-fiction and unscripted producers. The judges will either be currently working in the category they’re judging or will have significant past work experience in that field.
Judges will assess all of the entries we receive for the awards in their respective category on a scorecard against the criteria noted above. Based on cumulative scores and jury discussion, the top programs in each category will make it onto a shortlist and continue onto Round Two.
For Round Two, a second panel of judges comprised of senior-level programming executives, distributors, agents and producers not affiliated with any of the programs in their judged category will assess each of the shortlisted entries in their assigned categories, using the same scorecard and criteria. Round Two scores will determine a winner in each of the categories.
Each year, Realscreen bestows special honors and recognition in the form of Awards of Excellence to the overall highest scored programs in each of the five main categories throughout the competition:
• Competition
• Reality
• Non-Fiction
• Lifestyle
• Short-Form Content
