Competition Rules

Important Information to understand before entering work.

Advertising & Digital

Each entry must have appeared in the public domain between the dates of 1st May 2022 and 31st August 2023 and only work which has been commissioned by an Advertiser may be entered. Speculative entries are not permitted, and the Kinsale Sharks board may seek further proof that an entry has run publicly, at any time before or after judging. We retain the right to request proof that the work was used commercially in space paid for by the Advertiser.
Work entered at any previous Shark Awards Festival may not be entered, even if it was in a different category than the one that is now being considered.
Entries which have had a complaint upheld by an Advertising Standards Body, Broadcast Standards Body, Online Standards Body will not be accepted.
Please be aware that all entrants from UK will be required to pay VAT.
Any entry that has not been paid in full before the first round of judging will be withdrawn.
Hard copy entries will not be returned to the entrant.
International Agency, Irish Agency & International Network of The Year awards are calculated on a points system and includes shortlisted work.
Irish Agencies may enter work into both Ireland and International categories. These are two separate competitions. The Ireland section is a National competition, whilst work entered into International will compete against International entries. Only work entered into the Ireland section will count towards Irish Creative Agency of the Year.
Definition of an Ireland Entry: Work should be produced in Ireland by an Irish company for the Irish market only, otherwise it must be entered into International.
Great White Shark Award for Creative Agency of The Year (International and Ireland) - Entrants must achieve at least 1 different piece of work for 4 different brands/products/services at the following levels; Shortlist (1), Bronze (3), Silver (5), Gold (7), Integrated (10) or Grand Prix (15) in the Advertising & Digital Categories. Cut-downs, re-edits or versions do not count. Design, Short Film & Music Videos do not count. Craft entries are awarded at the rate of 50%. In the event of a draw, shortlisted entries will be counted (1).
Network Agency of the Year is awarded to an agency network with at least 3 international offices. Entrants must achieve at least different one piece of work for four different brands/products/services at the following levels; Bronze (3 points), Silver (5 points), Gold (7 points), Integrated (10 points) or Grand Prix (15 points) in the Advertising & Digital Categories. Cut-downs, re-edits or versions do not count. Design, Short Film/Branded Content & Music Videos do not count. Craft entries are awarded at the rate of 50%. In the event of a draw, shortlisted entries will be counted (1).
The jury reserves the right not to make any award in any category if the creative standard has not been met.
The decisions made by the jury are their personal subjective opinions and for reasons of confidentiality we do not provide further comment on individual entries.
Entrants agree that any work uploaded to our entry system and put forward for judging may also be screened publicly to an audience at The Kinsale Shark Awards Festival, on the Sharks website and App. You agree that all copyrights and permissions have been obtained and that you have fully complied with all regulatory bodies.

Design

Each entry must have been produced between the dates of 1st May 2022 and 31st August 2023 and only work which has been commissioned by a Client may be entered. Speculative entries are not permitted, and the Sharks board may seek further proof at any time before or after judging. We retain the right to request proof that the work was used commercially in space paid for by a Client.
Work entered at any previous Shark Awards Festival may not be entered, even if it was in a different category than the one that is now being considered
Any entry that has not been paid in full before the first round of judging will be withdrawn.
Hard copy entries will not be returned to the entrant unless specifically requested and paid for.
Design Agency of The Year is calculated on a points system and includes shortlisted work. A minimum of 2 Golds for different pieces of work/client is required. Shortlist (1), Bronze (3), Silver (5), Gold (7), or Grand Prix (15)
Irish Companies may enter work into both Ireland and International categories. These are two separate competitions. The Ireland category is a National competition, whilst work entered into International will compete against International entries. Only work entered into the Ireland category will count towards Irish Design Agency of the Year. A minimum of 2 Golds for different pieces of work is required.
The jury reserves the right not to make any award in any category if the creative standard has not been met.
The decisions made by the jury are their personal subjective opinions and for reasons of confidentiality we do not provide further comment on individual entries.
Entrants agree that any work uploaded to our entry system and put forward for judging may also be screened publicly to an audience at The Kinsale Shark Awards Festival, on the Sharks website and App. You agree that all copyrights and permissions have been obtained and that you have fully complied with all regulatory bodies.

Short Film

The Film must have been “completed” and “aired" no earlier than 1st January 2022
You agree that The Film may be screened to a private audience at the Sharks SF Awards Presentation.
We do accept films that have been published on the internet as well as films on the short film circuit.
The Film should be no longer than 25 minutes excluding Opening Titles and Credits. No Colour Bars or Black Sequences before or after The Film. We operate a rounding up and down system. Films that are marginally over length will be rounded up or down to the nearest minute.
Any film that has been entered into a previous Sharks Shorts festival is not eligible.
Optional: English Subtitles will help the jurors “understand” Films submitted in their Original Language.
Closing date for entries is 30th November 2023
The Shortlist (Finalists) will be published on our website by 20 January 2024
Irish companies/individuals may enter work into both Ireland and International categories. These are two separate competitions. As a national show, work entered into Ireland categories will compete with other Irish entries only. Work entered by Irish companies/individuals into the International categories will be judged against International work.
The jury reserves the right not to make any award in any category if the creative standard has not been met.
The decisions made by the jury are their personal subjective opinions and for reasons of confidentiality we do not provide further comment on individual entries.
There is no pre-determined minimum or maximum number of films required to make a shortlist. The jurors are tasked with selecting work that is well above standard quality as the bar for their selection. Equally there is no pressure on the jury to find a winner. At The Sharks we do not operate a 'Best in Show' principle, so if the jury feel the Gold standard has not been met this year, in any particular category, then it is possible that no prize will be awarded.
You grant us permission, if requested, to use a still image (of your choice) for publicity purposes on our website and social media pages.
Irish Entries should be directed by an Irish Passport holder and produced in Ireland by an Irish production company, and for 2022 entered by an Ireland Registered company.
Refunds will only be made in exceptional circumstances, and may be subject to a deduction for our expenses.

Music Video

For 2023 the MV must have been “completed” and “aired" no earlier than 1st April 2021.
Open for Entries 24th October 2022
Closing dates for entry is 28 February 2023
Films previously entered at a Shark Awards Festival are not eligible even if it was in a different category than the one that is now being considered.
The jury reserves the right not to make any award in any category if the creative standard has not been met.
The Shortlist (Finalists) will be published on our website 15 April 2023. The winners will be announced at our new MV Brighton UK festival ion 4th May 2023
Best in Category may be awarded to more than one winner. There are no Bronze or Silver awards, we go from Finalist to Winner, with the successful entrant receiving a coveted Black Shark.
Irish companies/individuals may enter work into both Ireland and International categories. These are two separate competitions. As a national show, work entered into Ireland categories will compete with other Irish entries only. Work entered by Irish companies/individuals into the International categories will be judged against International work
The decisions made by the jury are their personal subjective opinions and for reasons of confidentiality we do not provide further comment on individual entries.
You grant us permission, if requested, to use a still image (of your choice) for publicity purposes on our website and social media pages.
Irish Entries should be directed by an Irish Passport holder and produced in Ireland by an Irish production company, and for 2023 entered by an Ireland Registered company.
Record Label, MV Production Company of the Year (selected from all categories), MV Edit House of the Year (selected from the editing category only) & MV VFX/Post House of The Year (selected from VFX, grading & animation categories) are calculated on a points system and includes shortlisted work. A minimum of 2 winners for different music videos is required. Shortlist 1 point, Best in Category (winner) 3 points, Grand Prix 5 points. With exception to Record Label points are awarded to entrant company only.
Best MV for Low Budget may also be entered into Best MV category (two different entries).
Best New Music Video Director - the work submitted must have been completed no earlier than 1 Jan 2021 - the Director may not have directed any other work before this date, otherwise he/she cannot be considered as 'New'. There is no age limit in this category.

Best New Talent

New Director - must be under the age of 30 as at 1st Sept 2023
New Music Composer - must be under the age of 30 as at 1st Sept 2023
New DOP - must be under the age of 30 as at 1st Sept 2023
New Editor - must be under the age of 30 as at 1st Sept 2023.
New Colourist - must be under the age of 30 as at 1st Sept 2023.
New Sound Designer - must be under the age of 30 as at 1st Sept 2023.
New Producer is open to both agencies and production companies. The nominee must be proposed by Head of TV, ECD Company MD or equivalent. The submission must include a reel (can be 1 ad), a bio and a written proposition on the merits of the nominee. For the avoidance of doubt, work that was overseen by an Executive Producer can not be considered.
Work submitted for consideration must not be part of a collaboration with other individuals.
You may enter more than 1 piece of work, but must be submitted as part of the same video file.
Work can include; test or spec spots, TV or web commercials, music videos, and any web content. Reel must be under 7 mins long.
Please keep your entry as short and succinct as possible, the jury are not impressed by volumes of work. Please enter your best work only.
Closing date for entry is 1st Sept 2023.
Best New Director is a Delegate Award, chosen by the audience at Kinsale. The overall entries will be pre-judged by our Best New judges to create a 'Shortlist' for our Delegates to judge in Kinsale. .
Irish companies/individuals may enter work into both Ireland and International categories. These are two separate competitions.
We do not operate 'Best In Show' practice. If the creative standard has not been met then an award may not be given.
The decisions made by the jury are their personal subjective opinions and for reasons of confidentiality we do not provide further comment on individual entries.
The Shortlists will be published on our website by 15th September.
The winners of Best New: DOP, Editor, Colourist, Sound Designer & Music Composer will be revealed on Saturday 30th September in Kinsale.
You grant us permission, if requested, to use a still image (of your choice) for publicity purposes on our website and social media pages
All best new entrants must be under the age of 30 as of the 1st Sept 2023, but The Sharks reserve the right to show fexibility if an entrant is a few minutes/hours/days/weeks/months past our deadline.'

Young Shark Competition

We open for entries 1st May 2023.
We close for entries on 1st July 2023.
Shortlist will be published 15th July 2023.
The winner is announced 1st August 2023.
Entrants must be under age of 26 at 31st December 23.
You can be employed, un-employed or studying.
By entering your work you grant us permission to use your entry for publicity purposes, regardless of whether the entry wins.
The entries will be judged by a senior Creative Director from a major Network advertising agency.
We reserve the right not to make any award if the creative standard has not been met.
The decision made by the Creative Director is his/her personal subjective opinion and for reasons of confidentiality we do not provide further comment on individual entries.
By entering your work, you grant us permission, free of charge, to execute the winning idea into a finished piece of work that may be used to promote The Kinsale Shark Awards in any media.
Your entry should be sent to info@kinsalesharks.com and clearly marked Young Shark entry 2023
A selection of entries will be published on The Shark Awards website and the winning entry will be announced
The winner will receive the coveted Young Shark Award trophy which will be sent via courier to the recipient and the winning piece will be promoted on Social Media and in a global newsletter.

Production Company of the Year

Entrants must achieve at least three different Films at Shortlist (1), Bronze (3 points), Silver (5 points), Gold (7) or Grand Prix level (15) At least one film MUST be Gold. (cutdowns, re-edits don't count). In the event of a draw shortlisted entries will be counted (1).
Only work entered into the Advertising sections can be considered. Short Film/Branded Content & Music Video Prod Co has its own award.
New Director awards do not count.
Companies with multiple offices in different countries count as one.
We will only count 1 company in a co-production arrangement - the lead company who holds the contract, unless it is a joint live action-animation venture. This should be declared on the entry form.
Work entered by other *entrants cannot be counted.
Production Companies gain points in the Advertising sections and Advertising Craft Categories (if named as the entrant)
If the production company is responsible for the script then Best Writing will be included.

Post Production/VFX/Animation Company of the Year

Entrants must achieve at least three different Films at Shortlist (1), Bronze (3 points), Silver (5 points), Gold (7 points), Grand Prix (15 points). At least one film MUST be Gold. In the event of a draw shortlisted entries will be counted (1).

Post Production Companies gain points in the following Craft Categories (if named as the *Entrant): Colour Grading, Post Production, Title Sequence, VFX & Animation
New Director awards do not count.
Companies with multiple offices in different countries count as one.
Work entered by other *Entrants cannot be counted.
The Editing category may be included for Ireland ONLY.

Edit House of the Year

Entrants must achieve at least 3 different Films at Shortlist (1), Bronze (3), Silver (5), Gold (7), At least one film MUST be Gold.(cutdowns, re-edits don't count). In the event of a draw shortlisted entries will be counted (1).
Edit Houses gain points only in the Film Craft Category 'Editing' & 'Editing of Stock Footage' (if named as the *Entrant)
Best New Editor awards do not count.
Companies with multiple offices in different countries count as one.
Work entered by other *Entrants cannot be counted.

Music Production Company of the Year

Entrants must achieve at least 3 different Films at Shortlist (1), Bronze (3), Silver (5), Gold (7) At least one film MUST be Gold (cutdowns, re-edits don't count). In the event of a draw shortlisted entries will be counted (1).
Music Companies gain points in the following Craft Categories (if named as the *Entrant): Best Original Music & Best Re-Record of Licensed Music(radio & tv)
Companies with multiple offices in different countries count as one.
Work entered by other *Entrants cannot be counted.

Sound Design Production Company of the Year

Entrants must achieve at least 3 different Films at Shortlist (1), Bronze (3), Silver (5), Gold (7), At least one film MUST be Gold.(cutdowns, re-edits don't count). In the event of a draw shortlisted entries will be counted (1).
Sound Production Companies gain points in the following Craft Categories (if named as the *Entrant): Best Sound Design, Best Original Music & Best Re-Record of Licensed Music (radio & tv)
Companies with multiple offices in different countries count as one.
Work entered by other *Entrants cannot be counted.
Best New Sound Designer does not count.

PLEASE TAKE CARE WHEN ENTERING WORK - INTERNATIONAL or IRELAND
Definition of Irish: work that is originated in Ireland and used commercially in Ireland

Duplicate Trophies

Duplicate Shark Head trophies are only issued on merit.
For example, a music company is not entitled is not entitled to a copy of an award given for editing.

Trophy Cost = £275+ delivery + VAT (if applicable).