The Rookie Awards 2021(“the Contest”) is hosted by The Tasman Theory Pty Ltd (“the Organiser”).

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS CONTEST.

IMPORTANT DATES

• Entries Open 7th March 2021
• Entries Close 1st June 2021.
• Finalists announced 9th July 2021.
• Winners announced 27th July 2021.

Dates mentioned are at 11:59 pm on the date in question. All dates are based on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

ELIGIBILITY

To enter the Contest, you (the Artist) must be an amateur artist with less than 1 year of professional experience in your chosen category.

In other words, you are not eligible if you have worked professionally for more than 1 year in a closely related field.

The sole exception to this rule are paid internships. The intent and spirit of this rule is to ensure you have not gained unfair advantage over other competitors. Please contact the organiser if you require further clarification.

CONTEST CATEGORIES & GROUPS

There are categories across all skill levels and creative media interests, so you are sure to find one that inspires you. To make things easier, we have split the contest into 5 main Contest Groups:

1. Rookie of the Year

9 x categories open to individual artists to showcase their specific industry based skills.

2D Animation Entries should showcase content created in two-dimensional format and has been enlivened with movement. This type of animation is regarded to be the traditional form of animation. Projects can be of any topic. Characters, creatures, props and even environment work will be considered.

3D Animation Entries should include content specifically created for feature animated films/shorts. The key is that all elements should be full CG - environments, characters, set, props, animation and effects.

Concept Art Concept Art is created for feature film, computer games, story narrative, theme parks, advertising and fan-art purposes.

Game Development Projects entered should include content specifically with the intention of contributing to a computer game. This includes models, environments, animations, fx elements, code and more. The judges will be looking for the best creative and/or technical submissions for this massive category.

Visual Effects This category is for artists working with assets and elements that are integrated with live-action footage to create photo realistic environments, characters, sets, props, animation and effects that would be dangerous, expensive, impractical, or simply impossible to capture on film.

Architectural Visualisation Open to artists who specialise in Architectural Visualisation. This is content created to help visualise building interiors and exteriors, landscaping, town planning and sustainability.

Motion Graphics Motion graphics are a way to communicate with the viewer, and add depth to a story. Together with music and effective copy, they can give us a message. We use them to create ads, title sequences for movies, videos and to share information.

Immersive Media Looking for artists creating content specifically for use with virtual reality headsets. The judges are wanting to see completed games, apps, immersive experiences and all the elements involved in pushing this technology to the next level.

Product Design Focused on the art of visualising products, furniture, and gadgets that are to be manufactured through techniques of mass production. Judges looking to see the process from concept design through to completed renderings and even real-world prototypes.

2. Film of the Year

3 x individual/team based categories for artists working on films.

2D Animation Looking for the very best in 2D animated short films. The films can be created by both teams and individuals. Trailers and unfinished projects allowed.

3D Animation Looking for the very best in 3D animated short films. The films can be created by both teams and individuals. Trailers and unfinished projects will be considered.

Visual Effects Films created by both teams and individuals that include live action visual effects used to help tell a story, add that wow factor, or include live action footage.

3. Game of the Year

3 x individual/team based categories for artists working on games.

Console & PC Looking for the very best games for PC & Console. The games can be created by both teams and individuals. Trailers and unfinished projects allowed, but finished games preferred.

Immersive Media Team and individual games that have been designed to use the latest immersive media headsets and systems. Completed projects preferred, but game play examples and trailers accepted.

Mobile This category is for individuals and teams that have created a game for mobile devices. The judges are looking for finished games here, but feel free to submit trailers if necessary.

4. Career Opportunities

Various opportunities provided by production studios. Please refer to individual category pages for details.

5. Specialty

Open to individual artists under 18 years.

Young Guns All great digital artists start at a young age. This is why we have a category open specifically for young artists from around the world to showcase their passion and amazing skills.

HOW TO ENTER

The Artist must submit an entry directly from a category page for the Rookie Awards 2021. Only entries that are submitted here will be reviewed by our judging panel and considered an official entry.

SUBMISSIONS

Ownership and Content

• The Artist retains ownership of all ideas and materials/images upload to the website.
• The Artist can only enter work that has been created by The Artist and that you have the right or authority to enter and publish.
• Fan Art is allowed. The Artist can enter work inspired by concept artists, but The Artist must credit any other artist’s work.
• No Professional Work can be submitted to the Contest. This includes work that was completed at a studio or as part of freelance paid work. Only personal work will be accepted.
• Videos that are involved with Film Festivals and that are restricted from being viewed publicly can be submitted to our judging panel with a private password. All other videos must be viewable to the general public and not require a password to access.
• All entries must be in English.

Deadline and rights

• Late entries will not be accepted.
• The Organiser reserves the right to remove any entry from the Contest for any reason and without notice.
• Entries that do not meet the Contest requirements will be deleted. It is the full responsibility of the Artist to make sure they adhere to these rules and individual contest requirements.

JUDGING

Judging will take place between 1 June 2021 – 15th July 2021.

All entries will be judged based upon criteria that are the sole discretion of the Organiser. As a guide, these include: Overall presentation, technical skills, creative skills, industry skills, variety of content, and employability of the Artist.

The Organiser selects a qualified judging panel to determine the winners and finalists.

The qualifications for serving on the judging panel are, but are not necessarily limited to: - being an upstanding member of their respective industry; - recognised as a leading expert in their field; - the judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

GUARANTEE OF THE ARTIST

The Artist guarantees to The Organiser that:

• The submitted media (images, videos, 3D models, code) were made by the Artist.
• All work is original and that you have the right or authority to enter and publish.
• All details submitted by the Artist are true and correct, and the Artist indemnifies from and against any and all claims and demands made against The Organiser, its assignees or licensees, in relation to the guarantees provided by the Artist in these rules.

GENERAL

The Organiser accepts no responsibility for entry submissions not received for any reason.

The Organiser will not be liable for and expressly excludes liability to you for any loss, injury or damage which results directly or indirectly from The Organiser, including the breach of any third party intellectual property rights.

If the Organiser is unable to provide a winner with a nominated prize, The Organiser reserve the right to supply an alternative prize of similar monetary value.

The Organiser accepts no responsibility for any variation in the retail value of the prize pool.

Participation in the Contest constitutes the Artist’s consent to The Organiser and participating Sponsors to use uploaded entry images, entry video, entry statements, name, for promotional purposes in any media without further payment or consideration.

The Artist will be notified when possible of any inclusion in media and be credited.

SPONSOR PRIZES

Prizes are non-transferable and must be accepted as awarded. No cash or other substitution may be made.

The Contest Sponsors will send prizes directly to winners in a timely manner at the completion of the Contest.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Career Opportunities are all region based (“the Country”). To apply for an opportunity the Artist:

• must be a LOCAL NATIONAL eligible to work in the Country.
• must NOT require any immigration VISA’s to legally work in the Country.
• must NOT require sponsorship from a Studio to legally work in the Country.
• must be able to attend a Studio Internship within the second half of 2021, or otherwise determined by the Studio.

Career Opportunities will be subject to the studio’s terms and conditions.

Career Opportunities details (start date, duration, salary, etc.) to be discussed between the winner and studio. The Organiser takes no responsibility once the studio has made contact with the winner, however we will make sure everything is as planned.

Career Opportunities are at the discretion of the studios and may change at any time without notice. If the Career Opportunities provider does not find an entrant that meets their requirements and needs for production, they are under no obligation to fill the position.

Artists selected as Finalists of Career Opportunities contest will be required to provide photocopies of original passport/visa documents to the Studio if requested to confirm eligibility.

DISQUALIFICATION

Any content submitted by third-party vendors, educational facilities, studios or non-amateur artist’s will be immediately removed from the Contest. The Organiser reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to cancel, modify or suspend any related content on the site.

The Organiser reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to cancel, modify or suspend an Artist if they believe they have too much professional experience in any field that puts them at an unfair advantage to other Artists.

The Organiser reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to cancel, modify or suspend the Contest should virus, bugs, unauthorised human intervention, technical failures or any other factor beyond or The Organiser’s reasonable control corrupt the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper operation of the awards.

Entries must not include media that is deemed inappropriate, offensive, libelous or defamatory, pornographic, sexually explicit, unlawful or plagiarized; the media must not be harassing, abusive, threatening, harmful, vulgar, profane, obscene, excessively violent, racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable or offensive in any way. Such entries may, at The Organiser’s sole discretion, be removed at any time during the event.

WINNER NOTIFICATIONS

Each Winner will be notified by email at the completion of the Contest.

The entrant is responsible for entering their correct email address at the time of submission and prizes may be forfeited if the entrant cannot be contacted or their identity cannot be verified.

All winners will be notified on 30th July, 2021, or as soon as practical thereafter. Winner will have three weeks in which to claim your prize. Failure to respond within this time period will result in forfeiture of the prize although The Organiser will make reasonable efforts to contact the winner to ensure this does not happen.

The Organiser reserves the right to forfeit a prize if not claimed.

ACCEPTANCE

Participation constitutes The Artist’s full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. By participating in the Contest, The Artist is representing and warranting that he/she has read and understood, and agrees to be bound by, these rules. Including the guides and rules referred to herein, these Official Rules constitute the entire agreement between the The Artist and The Organiser in relation to the Contest. They govern The Artist’s participation and supersede any prior or other agreements between The Artist and The Organiser and relating to the Contest.

In no event will The Organiser, and or their parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and related companies, their advertising or promotion agencies or their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents, be responsible or liable for any damages or losses of any kind, including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential or punitive damages arising from access to, or use of, this web site, electronic or computer malfunctions, or entrant participation in this contest, even if The Organiser has been advised of the possibility of such damages.