Best Use of Footage

in Advertising or Branded Content

Exemplary advertising or branded content campaigns across any platform with essential and intelligent use of archival footage to tell the story of the product.

in an Arts & Cultural Production

Productions that encompass documentaries, docudramas or fiction that feature arts and cultural subjects. For example, productions might focus on literature, visual arts, the history of film and television or biographies of artists, writers and entertainers.

in a Cinematic Feature

Feature documentaries or films which are cinematic in ambition and scope but not necessarily limited to traditional cinema releases. They may be feature documentaries that rely on archival footage to drive the narrative or feature fiction that uses archival footage astutely to clarify or enhance the storytelling in an essential way.

in a Dramatic or Entertainment Production

Productions that encompass fiction-based dramas or entertainment programmes.

in a Factual or Natural World Production

Documentaries or docudramas that deal with current affairs or topical issues, people, events, or phenomena. The category covers a wide array of subjects, such as the economy, politics, the environment or natural world, science and technology, natural disasters, climate breakdown, and human-interest stories.

in a History Feature

For single feature-length productions—60 minutes or longer—such as documentaries or docudramas that deal with historical events, people, or issues.

in a History Production

A history production of a single episode (up to a maximum of 60 minutes) or a multiple-part series that includes documentaries or docudramas dealing with historical issues, events, or people.

on an Innovative Platform

The innovative category celebrates the best use of archives outside the traditional broadcast or cinema sphere. Eligible projects may include visual arts, exhibitions, live events, digital platforms, or the use of archives on another innovative platform in which new audiences are engaging with archives.

in a Music Production

Productions eligible for this category include documentaries, docudramas or fiction films featuring, for example, the history of music or biographies of musicians, singers, and composers.

in a Short Film

Any film of 30 minutes or less in which footage is integral to the storytelling, whether documentary, fiction or any genre of filmmaking.

in a Sports Production

Productions for any media platform that uses footage of any sports are eligible for this award. Productions can include documentaries, docudramas, shorts, trailers, and adverts, and so may also be eligible for the advertising or short film category.

Student Jury Award for Most Inspiring Use of Footage

As part of FOCAL’s outreach strategy to support new generations of industry professionals, we partner with the National Film and Television School in the UK and INA Sup in France to give a selected student jury access to view a number of nominated productions for our Student Jury Award for Most Inspiring Use of Footage.

This student jury is mentored by industry professionals during this process and encouraged to consider the general guidelines/criteria as part of their deliberations).

Consideration for this award is offered without a fee as a part of your submission to the competition's production categories.