RULES FOR THE AMPS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SOUND FOR A FEATURE FILM
1. FILM ELIGIBILITY:
(a). Any film that is released and exhibited in the UK in a given year will be eligible. The list will be drawn from the published titles that qualify for the year’s BAFTA Feature Film Awards
(b). The Award shall be in the form of five identical trophies for the same film, with appropriate inscriptions on the base.
2. PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR AWARD:
(a). One Head of Department from each discipline.
- * Production Sound Mixer
- * Supervising Dialogue/ADR Editor
- * Supervising Sound Editor or Sound Designer
- * Lead Re-recording Mixer
(b). The Production Sound Mixer may nominate a Key 1st Assistant Sound, who will also receive an Award.
3. AWARDS BALLOTS AND TIMETABLE:
(a). AMPS Council will annually agree a Secret Electronic Ballot system for all Awards voting.
(b). AMPS Council will annually agree an Awards Schedule Timetable to fit in with other Awards ceremonies and AMPS events.
(c). AMPS Council will annually appoint the AMPS Awards Group to organise the awards for the given year.
4. ADJUDICATION PANEL:
An Adjudication Panel will be freshly co-opted annually consisting of no fewer than three AMPS Full Members, on the conditions that:
- i. They are not eligible for an AMPS Sound Award in the current year.
- ii. They have made no artistic or creative contribution to the soundtracks of any of the eligible feature films in the current year.
- iii. They are not associated in any way with any individual or company that has made an artistic or creative contribution to any of the films on the eligible list for the current year.
- (b). This panel will conduct the ballots and associated business in strict confidentiality using the chosen Electronic Ballot system, and, in accordance with the Awards Scheduled Timetable, will also be responsible for:
- i. As soon as the Nomination ballot is closed – verification of the four HODs and the Key 1st Assistant Sound for each of the Nominate titles.
- ii. as soon as the Final Ballot is closed - verification of the crew members wligible for Certificates of Merit
NOTES ON VERIFYING PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR AWARD:
On-screen credits are used to determine eligibility. In the event of a dispute about eligibility, the Adjudication Panel may consult the Film’s Producer or Director or other source, in confidence, for clarification.
In the event the Supervising Dialogue/ADR Editor is not identified in the credits, the advice of the Re-recording Mixer may be sought.
The Supervising Sound Editor or Sound Designer, shall be deemed the key person responsible for supervising the preparation of the Sound Fx.
The Lead Re-recording Mixer shall be deemed the person responsible for the dialogue in the final mix.
The Key 1st Assistant Sound may be found to be credited as Boom Operator.
The Adjudication Panel may call upon assistance from the Film Awards Group and Council in the verification processes.
5. NOMINATION SELECTION:
An Awards Committee of no fewer than twenty-one members will be co-opted annually by the AMPS Awards Group, subject to the conditions that they are AMPS Full Members, and also film voting members of BAFTA and/or AMPAS and/or CAS, and are invited to screenings and receive screening copies of eligible films.
6. NOMINATION BALLOT:
(a). An electronic secret ballot will be conducted among the Awards Committee members, who will have up to 5 votes each.
(b). The five film titles that achieve the most votes under the ballot rules will be declared Nominated.
(c). The Adjudication Panel will verify the eligibility of the HODs and the Key 1st Assistant Sound for the Nominated Films in strict confidence.
(d). Nominated Films will be announced in accordance with the Awards Schedule Timetable.
(e). The Nominees will each receive a Nomination Certificate.
7. BALLOT FOR AWARD:
(a). On the date specified in the Awards Schedule Timetable, a secret electronic ballot will open among all those AMPS Members entitled to vote according to the general Constitution Rules current at that time, including the Awards Committee, to choose the winner from the five Nominated Films. Members will have one vote each. The film title with the most votes will be declared winner.
(b). In the event of a tie, the film that received the most votes in the Nomination Ballot will be declared the winner.
(c). The winning film will be announced on the date specified in the Awards Schedule Timetable.
8. CERTIFICATES OF MERIT:
Certificates of Merit may be presented to crew members of the winning film who have creatively contributed to the winning soundtrack. The HODs will be asked to suggest such crew members with a brief submission outlining their contributions. HODs will also be asked to provide relevant contact details. The suggested list of crew members will be verified by the Adjudication Panel. The Certificates may be in a form such as:
‘Certificate of Merit in recognition of your contribution to the AMPS Award 20xx winning soundtrack – title’….
9. PRESENTATIONS:
The nominees and winners will be presented with their Certificates and Awards at an AMPS event to be determined.
10. GENERAL:
(a). Awards rules may be changed annually by agreement of the Awards Committee and Council.
(b). The AMPS Fellow Members may be consulted for advice in the event of any disputes.
(c). In exceptional circumstances, where more than one candidate for a particular category can be established and verified as having equal creative input, additional supervising crew members may be honoured.
DOWNLOAD FEATURE FILM RULESAmended December 2018
