The Rookie Awards 2023(“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 2023.
• Entries Close 1st June 2023.
• Finalists announced 9th July 2023.
• Winners announced 27th July 2023.

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

ELIGIBILITY

The Rookie Awards is open to young creatives who meet the following eligibility criteria:

Minimum Age:

Entrants must be at least 18 years of age or older.

Maximum Industry Experience:

Entrants must have no more than one year of professional industry experience at the time of the contest’s closing date, which is June 1, 2023, working in the fields of 2D Animation, 3D Animation, Concept Art, Game Development, Visual Effects, Architectural Visualisation, Motion Graphics, Immersive Media, Product Design or Virtual Fashion.

Definition of Professional Industry Experience: Professional industry experience is defined as experience gained by working in a professional environment, such as a studio or agency, as a paid employee or independent contractor, or experience gained by working on projects for clients or customers.

Related Industry Experience: Entrants with a maximum of 3 years of professional experience in industries that are similar or related to the contest categories may be considered for eligibility at the discretion of the Rookie Awards team. Related industries are those that involve skills or techniques that are transferable or applicable to the fields of 2D Animation, 3D Animation, Concept Art, Game Development, Visual Effects, Architectural Visualization, Motion Graphics, Immersive Media, Product Design, or Virtual Fashion.

Example: A professional Graphic Designer with 3 years of experience, but has no 3D Animation industry experience, may be considered for eligibility if our team determines that their skills and experience do not give them an unfair advantage over other entrants.

Exclusion of Internships and Work Experience:

Internships and work experience do not count towards the total experience.

Verification of Experience:

All finalists must be prepared to verify their experience to confirm eligibility to participate in the competition. Verification may include providing evidence of prior employment, such as a signed letter from an employer or a copy of a contract.

Misrepresentation of Experience:

Entrants who are found to have misrepresented their experience or provided false information during the verification process will be disqualified from the competition.

HOW TO ENTER

The Artist must submit an entry directly from a category page for the Rookie Awards 2023. Only entries that are submitted here will be reviewed by our judging panel and considered an official entry. Submission uploaded to the Projects section of the website will not be considered.

SUBMISSIONS

Ownership

• The Artist retains ownership of all ideas and materials/images uploaded 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.

Third-Party Content

• Entrants may include third-party content such as 3D files, concept art, or other media that is not owned by them in their entries.
• If an entrant includes third-party content, they must disclose who owns it and how they used it in their entry.
• Entries that include third-party content must not infringe on any copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights of the third-party content owner.

Fan Art

• Fan Art is allowed. The Artist can enter work inspired by concept artists, but The Artist must credit any other artist’s work.

Professional 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 created by the Artist will be accepted.

AI-Generated Artwork

• All entries must be the original work of the entrant, created without the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) algorithms.
• The contest organizers reserve the right to request additional information or documentation from entrants regarding the creation of their entries, including proof that no artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) algorithms were used.

Film Festivals

• Videos that are involved with Film Festivals and that are restricted from being viewed publicly can be submitted with a private password. All other videos must be viewable to the general public and not require a password to access.

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.

Virtual Fashion Focused on 3D virtual fashion. Judges are looking to see the process from concept design through to completed renderings.

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.

JUDGING

Judging will take place between 1 June 2023 – 15th July 2023.

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 entries must be the original work of the entrant, created without the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) algorithms.
• 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 2023, 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, 2023, 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

The Artist grants permission to The Organiser and all official Sponsors of the Contest to display and distribute the submitted work in any media, including but not limited to print, digital, and social media platforms, for promotional and advertising purposes, without any compensation beyond due credit. The Organiser and Sponsors agree to give credit to the Artist whenever possible, and the Artist hereby acknowledges and agrees that such credit is reasonable and sufficient compensation for the use of their work.

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.