Author Topic: Filmspots: FAQ  (Read 2522 times)

pixote

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Filmspots: FAQ
« on: February 26, 2016, 09:42:11 PM »
What are the Filmspots?

The Filmspots are the annual movie awards of the Filmspotting Forum. 2021 is the fourteenth year of the awards. For more background info on how the Filmspots got started, feel free to trace the history through this thread.

How do the awards work?

First, we keep track of all potential nominees throughout the year in the FYC 2021 - General thread. Those suggestions are compiled into a For Your Consideration (FYC) spreadsheet on Google Docs, which allows for filtering, sorting, etc. Promoting your favorite nominees and getting them added to the FYC document is pretty much essential if they're to have a chance of making the final ballot. Seconding (or thirding) someone else's suggested nominee can be equally important.

Then, there's the nominations balloting. Every Filmspotter is encouraged to submit their five favorite nominees in each category. The top five vote-getters in each category will form the final ballot. You can submit less than five nominees in a given category, and you don't have to vote in every category.

Finally, there's the final balloting. Every Filmspotter is encouraged to pick their favorite from among the nominees in each category. You can submit a final ballot even if you didn't previously submit a nominations ballot. And, again, you don't have to vote in every category.

What are the categories?

Picture
Director
Original Screenplay
Adapted Screenplay
Actor
Actress
Supporting Actor
Supporting Actress
Ensemble Cast
Non-English Language Film
Animated Film
Documentary
Editing
Sound
Score
Soundtrack
Cinematography
Art Direction
Visual Effects
Surprise
Debut Feature
Overlooked Film
Scene (Dramatic)
Scene (Comedic)
Shot
Line

What determines whether or not a film is eligible in a given year?

Films are eligible for up to a three-year period, starting with their first theatrical release. There are five limiting factors, however: Films are no longer eligible in subsequent years after any of the following occur:

1) The film gains a wide theatrical release in the US (playing simultaneously on more than 100 or so screens).

2) The film debuts on DVD in the US.

3) The film earns a Filmspot nomination.

4) The film is a made-for-tv film and airs on US television.

5) The film's US rights are exclusively owned by a streaming service (such as Netflix) and the film premieres on that service.

See here for a specific questions about whether or not certain films are eligible. (Alas, I failed to create a new thread for 2019.)

Are made-for-tv movies and documentaries eligible for the Filmspots?

Yes, but only for the year in which they first air.

Why is [this film] eligible for Best Debut Feature even though IMDb says it's the director's [nth] film?

The Best Debut Feature category recognizes a director's US theatrical feature debut. Earlier films that did not receive theatrical distribution in the US do not affect a director's eligibility.

If a director previously co-directed a film, is their solo directorial debut still eligible for Best Debut Feature?

Only if the previously co-directed films were ineligible for the category by virtue of being shared with a non-debuting director. For example, The Way Way Back counted as the directorial debut for both Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, so a future solo effort from either of them would be ineligible in the category. On the other hand, Greta Gerwig's director credit on Nights and Weekends (2008) did not disqualify her future solo efforts since it was not also the debut of her co-director, Joe Swanberg. (Note: When a film's credits distinguish between a Director and a Co-Director, such as in many Pixar films, the Co-Director does not factor into this category at all.)

What music counts as Score and what music counts as Soundtrack?

The Filmspots define Score as the original music composed for the film. Soundtrack, on the other hand, includes all the music in a film, including pre-existing songs, new songs, the score itself, and so on.

What is the Surprise category?

It's a chance to honor films that, even though they might not be Top 5 of the year material, still exceeded expectations — or came totally out of left field — and were, as the name implies, a pleasant surprise. The previous winners are Blockers, Good Time, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Creed, Edge of Tomorrow, Drinking Buddies, 21 Jump Street, Warrior, Exit Through the Gift Shop, 17 Again, Chop Shop, and Once, which beat out nominees such as It Follows, John Wick, Dredd, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Cedar Rapids, Easy A, Humpday, Paranormal Activity, Redbelt, Mister Lonely, This is England, and Enchanted.

As of 2012, films that earn nominations for Picture, Ensemble Cast, Non-English Language Film, Animated Film, Documentary, or Debut Feature become ineligible for the Surprise category on the final ballot.

Why are there no FYC mentions for the Overlooked Film category?

The nominees for Overlooked Film are not determined by direct vote. The category isn't a part of the nominations ballot. Rather, the nominees are chosen from among the films that received votes in all of the other categories but failed to earn any nominations. For a detailed look at the selection process for the 2013 nominees for Overlooked Film, see here.

When are nominations ballots due?

Sunday, April 24 (extending into Monday morning).

How do I submit a nominations ballot?

Via private message. If you didn't receive a ballot in your inbox, you can copy-and-paste the nominations ballot from the nominations ballots thread.

When will nominations be announced?

The nominees will be posted on the forum on Wednesday, April 27.

When are final ballots due?

Sunday, May 15 (extending into Monday morning).

How do I submit a final ballot?

Via private message. If you didn't receive a ballot in your inbox, you can copy-and-paste the final ballot from the final ballot thread, which will be created shortly after the nominees are finalized.

When will winners be announced?

The winners will be revealed throughout the day on the forum on Wednesday, May 11.

Where can I find the results of the previous Filmspots?

The Past Results thread.

So are foreign films eligible for Best Picture?

Yes, as are animated films and documentaries.

How about short films?

Short films are eligible for all categories (except Debut Feature). World of Tomorrow, running about 17 minutes long, won Best Animated Film in 2015.

Where should I ask questions that aren't addressed above?

In the main Filmspots: General Discussion thread.
« Last Edit: April 20, 2022, 03:42:41 PM by pixote »
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pixote

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Re: Filmspots: FAQ
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2022, 05:11:57 PM »
Updated for the 2021 Filmspots.

pixote
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