Rules Changes for 2023: Please note, for the 2023 Cinema Eye Honors, we have made two important rule changes for the Audience Choice Award and the newly-named Outstanding Achievement in Visual Design (previously Graphic Design or Animation).
Films become eligible by fulfilling one of three criteria:
Examples of Eligible Films:
NOTE: Films may only submit once for Cinema Eye Feature Honors. For example, if you submitted for 2022 because you were eligible via a festival screening, you cannot submit again this year even if you are eligible via theatrical release.
NOTE: Films that had a public screening prior to August 1, 2020 are not eligible, even if they had not previously submitted and meet the other eligibility requirements.
Films become eligible by fulfilling one of the following four requirements:
Examples of Eligible Films:
NOTE: Films may only submit once for Cinema Eye Feature Honors. For example, if you submitted for the 2022 Honors because you were eligible via festival screenings, you cannot submit again this year even if you are eligible via theatrical release.
NOTE: Films that had a public screening prior to August 1, 2020 are not eligible, even if they had not previously submitted and meet the other eligibility requirements.
Films are eligible if they fulfill all of the following criteria:
NOTE: Single episodes of a documentary series are typically not eligible for the Broadcast Film Award. Please contact Cinema Eye with any questions.
NOTE: Named nominees in this category will be the Director(s) and the Network. The award will go to the Director(s). Films must have a credited director in order to be eligible.
Series are eligible if they fulfill all of the following criteria:
NOTE: Named nominees in this category will be the Director(s) and Network. Award will be presented to the Director(s). Films must have a credited director in order to be eligible.
Anthology Series are eligible if they fulfill all of the following criteria:
NOTE: Named nominees in this category will be the day-to-day Executive Producer(s)/Showrunner(s) and Network. Award will be presented to the Executive Producer(s)/Showrunner(s).
NOTE: Recusal rules apply to all categories (i.e. Feature, Short, Broadcast, Heterodox)
If a member of the Cinema Eye Nominating Committees or Advisory Board/Kitchen Cabinet fulfills a key creative (Director, Producer, Executive Producer, Editor, Cinematographer, Composer, Graphic Designer) or distribution role on a film being submitted for a nomination, they must recuse themselves from voting for nominations in that year in the corresponding categories (Feature, Short or Broadcast) or from any role in overseeing or tabulating the voting process. They may still vote for the award winner.
Films directed by a member of the Cinema Eye Core Team (Week Co-Chairs, Managing Director, Founding Director) are not eligible for Cinema Eye Honors in categories where the Core Team member is the named nominee. Other non-Cinema Eye Production Team members of the film’s creative team are eligible in those categories. Films and Series are eligible if a member of the Cinema Production Team fulfills a different creative role (e.g. Producer, Executive Producer, Editor), however the Cinema Eye Production Team member shall not be eligible for any awards they may be considered for (for example, if a Cinema Eye Production Team member was the sole editor on a film, that film is eligible in all categories aside from editing; if a Cinema Eye Production Team member is one of several editors on a film, that film is eligible in the editing category, but the Production Team member may not be a named nominee).
Films directed by a member of the Cinema Eye Core Team (Week Co-Chairs, Managing Director, Founding Director) are not eligible for Cinema Eye Honors in categories where the Core Team member is the named nominee. Other non-Cinema Eye Production Team members of the film’s creative team are eligible in those categories. Films and Series are eligible if a member of the Cinema Production Team fulfills a different creative role (e.g. Producer, Executive Producer, Editor), however the Cinema Eye Production Team member shall not be eligible for any awards they may be considered for (for example, if a Cinema Eye Production Team member was the sole editor on a film, that film is eligible in all categories aside from editing; if a Cinema Eye Production Team member is one of several editors on a film, that film is eligible in the editing category, but the Production Team member may not be a named nominee).
Films directed by Board Co-Chairs, Advisory Board/Kitchen Cabinet members, Nominating Committee and Production Team members are eligible in all categories, provided individuals recuse themselves in years when their films are eligible as stipulated above.