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Awards Overview

The HPA Awards are considered the standard-bearer for excellence and innovation in an industry embracing an expanding array of groundbreaking technologies and creativity. Bestowed at a gala celebration each November, the Awards honor creative achievement, outstanding artistry, lifetime achievement, and engineering excellence.

2019 Awards Schedule

  • Sept. 5, 2018 – Sept. 3, 2019 Period of Eligibility for Entries
  • April 15, 2019 – May 31, 2019 Submission Period – Engineering Excellence
  • May 13, 2019 – July 12, 2019 Submission Period – Creative Categories
  • June 10, 2019 Early Bird Entry Deadline
  • July 10, 2019 Intent to Enter Petition for Deadline
  • June 22, 2019 Engineering Excellence Judging Day
  • July 11, 2019 Engineering Winners Announced
  • August, 2019 Awards Gala Tickets Orders Open
  • August, 2019 Creative Judging Panels
  • September, 2019 Nominations Announced
  • November 21, 2019 Awards Gala Event

HPA Awards 2016

HPA Awards 2016 - Attendees

Awards Given

Creative Categories include Color Grading, Editing, Sound and Visual Effects in Film, Television and Commercials. Special Awards may also be presented, including Engineering Excellence, the HPA Judges Award for Creativity & Innovation, Charles S. Swartz Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Find Out More


About the Trophy

The HPA Award symbolizes freedom of expression, mastery of an artist’s craft, and groundbreaking creative and technological achievement. The award trophy, designed by the superlative design team at Autodesk, physically embodies these qualities, portraying the limitless possibilities of imagination, collaboration and technical ingenuity that break out of constraints to realize today’s most challenging visions.

HPA Awards Trophy


Event Details

November 21, 2019
Skirball Cultural Center
2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90049
7:00 pm Check-in and pre-show
8:00 pm Awards show

Get Directions

Skirball Cultural Center

Awards Categories

Creative Categories include Outstanding Color Grading, Editing, Sound and Visual Effects in Theatrical Features, Episodes or Non-Theatrical Features and Commercials. Special awards may also be presented, including Engineering Excellence, the HPA Judges Award for Creativity & Innovation, Charles S. Swartz Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.


Creative Categories

Outstanding Color Grading

Theatrical Feature:

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the color grading within an entire Feature Film for a theatrical release.

Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature:

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the color grading within an Episode (includes an episode of an Episodic Series, Pilot, Miniseries or Special) or Non-Theatrical Feature.

Commercial:

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the color grading within a Commercial. Infomercials, corporate IDs or marks and company logos are not eligible in this or any other category. Movie trailers are not eligible in this category.

Outstanding Editing

Theatrical Feature:

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the editing within an entire Feature Film for a theatrical release.

Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature (30 Minutes and Under):

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the editing within an Episode (includes an episode of an Episodic Series, Pilot, Miniseries or Special) or Non-Theatrical Feature with a running time of 30 minutes or less.

Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature (Over 30 Minutes):

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the editing within an Episode (includes an episode of an Episodic Series, Pilot, Miniseries or Special) or Non-Theatrical Feature, with a running time of 30 minutes or longer.

Outstanding Sound (Design, Editing, Mixing)

Theatrical Feature:

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the sound post production work within an entire Feature Film for a theatrical release.

Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature:

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the sound post production work within an Episode (includes an episode of an Episodic Series, Pilot, Miniseries or Special) or Non-Theatrical Feature.

Commercial:

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the sound post work within a Commercial. Infomercials, corporate IDs and marks or company logos are not eligible in this or any category. Movie trailers are not eligible in this category.

Outstanding Visual Effects

Theatrical Feature:

The HPA Awards recognizes that multiple visual effects production companies and hundreds of artisans can contribute to the overall visual effects within an entire Feature Film for a theatrical release. We seek to recognize and honor the contributions of these organizations and artisans. This award is to honor the outstanding achievement in visual effects in a sequence or sequences created by an artist or team of artists. Each facility or team may submit only one (1) entry per Feature Film. Title sequences are excluded from this category.

Episode (13 Episodes and Fewer) or Non-Theatrical Feature:

This award is to honor outstanding achievement in visual effects for an Episode (includes an episode of an Episodic Series, Pilot, Miniseries or Special), with a season consisting of 13 episodes or less, or a Non-Theatrical Feature. Multiple episodes of the same series are eligible provided that the individual episode and visual effects team are different. Title sequences are excluded from this category.

Episode (Over 13 Episodes):

This award is to honor outstanding achievement in visual effects for an Episode (includes an episode of an Episodic Series, Pilot, Miniseries or Special), with a season consisting of more than 13 episodes. Multiple episodes of the same series are eligible provided that the individual episode and visual effects team are different. Title sequences are excluded from this category.


Special Categories

Engineering Excellence

The Engineering Excellence Award is intended to showcase and reward inventors, manufacturers, vendors and/or peer production, post production, distribution, and/or archiving companies for their outstanding product. Valid entrants are a single ‘product’– i.e. hardware and/or software-based — but must represent a step forward for its industry beneficiaries. One award trophy will be presented per winning entry.

Charles S. Swartz Award

The Charles S. Swartz Award recognizes broad, impactful and lasting contributions that have advanced and/or provided some unique purpose to the larger media content ecosystem. The Award may be conferred on a person, group, or company that has made a significant artistic, technological, business or educational impact across diverse aspects of the media industry.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award may be awarded by the Hollywood Professional Association to an individual who, during his or her lifetime, is recognized for their service and commitment to the professional media content industry. The mission of this award is to give deserving and respectful recognition to specific individuals who have, with great service, dedicated their careers to the betterment of our industry.

Judges Award for Creativity and Innovation

The HPA Judges Award for Creativity and Innovation Award was conceived to recognize companies and individuals who have demonstrated excellence, whether in the development of workflow and process to support creative storytelling or in technical innovation. The Judges Award is chosen by a jury of experts and peers.

Entry Rules, Fees and Upload

Engineering Excellence Call for Entries

Submission Period
April 15, 2019 – May 31, 2019

Creative Categories
Call for Entries

Submission Period
May 13, 2019 – Extended to July 15, 2019

Submission Fees

Creative Entry Submissions

Early Bird Entries – Deadline: June 10, 2019
  • $150 per submission for HPA/SMPTE members
  • $180 per submission for non-members
  • To take advantage of “Early Bird” entry fees, all materials must be received by HPA Awards by the “Early Bird” Entry Deadline in the Schedule. (June 10, 2019)
Pricing as of June 11, 2019
  • $175 per submission for HPA/SMPTE members
  • $210 per submission for non-members.
  • HPA/SMPTE Corporate member companies may submit all entries from that company under the membership rate.
  • Individual members may use the member rate for entries where that individual is the Entrant.
Engineering Excellence Award Submission
  • $595 per submission
Payment Information
  • Payment may be made via credit card during the submission process, or by mailing in a check, or by ACH/EFT.
  • Payments made by check must be in US Funds only. Make check payable to: Hollywood Professional Association
  • In the case of EFT or ACH payments, HPA must receive the full amount of the entry fee in US Dollars. All transfer or  bank fees are the sender’s responsibility category.

Media Prep, Guidelines, DCP Delivery Address

Materials

See sections B and C of the Awards Entry Rules for full details (PDF)

  1. Pro Res HQ File Media Guidelines: For all categories other than Outstanding Color Grading – Theatrical Feature
    • Codec – Pro Res 422 HQ
    • Color Space – Rec 709, gamma 2.4
    • Resolution – 1920 x 1080
    • 23.98 fps
    • Viewing materials can be uploaded as part of the entry submission process at hpa.awardcore.com. See section D (page 21) for a complete walk through of the entry submission process.
  2. H.264 File Media Guidelines – Editing for Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature category ONLY:
    • 1920 x 1080P
    • H.264 High Profile
    • Chroma 4:2:0 or 4:2:2
    • BitRate 8 Mbs
  3. DCP Submission Guidelines
    • Submissions should be submitted as an unencrypted DCP file and delivered on a USB hard drive to:
      Deluxe Technicolor Digital Cinema
      Attn: Sharra Updike
      2233 North Ontario St. 3rd Floor
      Burbank, CA 91504
      C/O HPA Awards
      (818) 260.3871
      HPAAwards@bydeluxe.com
    • DCPs are due at Deluxe by the regular submission deadline of July 12. Please send a note to awards@HPAonline.com with your entry number, project title, shipping method and the date that your submission material was sent to Deluxe. If you will be requesting an extension to get your DCP to Deluxe, please note that entry materials must be received no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, July 19.
  4. Sound submission guidelines
    • Codec – Pro Res 422 HQ
      1. Submissions should be submitted on a Pro Res HQ file. The viewing material should include both the completed sound mix for judging and matching video.
      2. Audio – PCM
        1. 5.1 Sound – with the following track assignments.
          • Track 1 – Left
          • Track 2 – Right
          • Track 3 – Center
          • Track 4 – LFE
          • Track 5 – LS
          • Track 6 – RS
        2. Stereo
          • Track 1 – Left
          • Track 2 – Right
        3. Note: Stereo tracks should only be submitted when the original project was released in Stereo.

Category Submissions Chart

Category Submission Length
(Maximum of – not counting slates)
Making Of
(Maximum of)
Descriptive Material Viewing Material
1. Outstanding Color Grading – Theatrical Feature 5:00 of scenes in sequence as they appeared in the film N/A Required DCP via USB hard drive
2. Outstanding Color Grading – Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature 3:00 of scenes in sequence as they appeared in the episode N/A N/A Pro Res HQ file via online upload
3. Outstanding Color Grading – Commercial 1:00 continuous clip; for spots with 1:00 or less runtime, submit full project N/A N/A Pro Res HQ file via online upload
4. Outstanding Editing – Theatrical Feature N/A N/A N/A No viewing materials required
5. Outstanding Editing – Episode (30 Minutes and Under) or Non-Theatrical Feature FULL PROJECT N/A N/A H.264 file via online upload
6. Outstanding Editing – Episode (Over 30 Minutes) or Non-Theatrical Feature FULL PROJECT N/A N/A H.264 file via online upload
7. Outstanding Sound – Theatrical Feature 3:00 segment or series of scenes in sequence as they appeared in the film N/A N/A Pro Res HQ file via online upload
8. Outstanding Sound – Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature 3:00 segment or series of scenes in sequence as they appeared in the episode N/A N/A Pro Res HQ file via online upload
9. Outstanding Sound – Commercial 1:00 continuous clip; for spots with 1:00 or less runtime, submit full project N/A N/A Pro Res HQ file via online upload
10. Outstanding Visual Effects – Theatrical Feature 3:00 of scenes in sequence as they appeared in the film 3:30 N/A Pro Res HQ file via online upload
11. Outstanding Visual Effects – Episode (13 Episodes and Fewer) or Non-Theatrical Feature 2:00 of scenes in sequence as they appeared in the episode 2:00 N/A Pro Res HQ file via online upload
12. Outstanding Visual Effects – Episode (Over 13 Episodes) 2:00 of scenes in sequence as they appeared in the episode 2:00 N/A Pro Res HQ file via online upload

Awards Press Kit

Mission

To promote creative artistry in the field of post production, and recognize the achievement of talent, innovation and engineering excellence in the larger professional media content industry.


Awards Given

Creative Categories include Color Grading, Editing, Sound and Visual Effects in Film, Television and Commercials. Special awards may also be presented, including Engineering Excellence, the HPA Judges Award for Creativity & Innovation, Charles S. Swartz Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.


Attendees

The show attracts about 500 people and consistently sells out. Attendees are a broad mix of individuals in post production and the entertainment industry. This includes heads of the studios as well as executives, the top creative talent in post production, executives and management from post facilities, manufacturers of hardware and software, post supervisors, directors of photography, editors and representatives of the industry guilds, unions and professional associations, as well as individuals from the businesses that support post production.


About The Trophy

HPA Awards Trophy

The HPA Award symbolizes freedom of expression, mastery of an artist’s craft, and groundbreaking creative and technological achievement. The award trophy, designed by the superlative design team at Autodesk, physically embodies these qualities, portraying the limitless possibilities of imagination, collaboration and technical ingenuity that break out of constraints to realize today’s most challenging visions.

Show Date

November 21, 2019

Show Location

Skirball Cultural Center
2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90049

Press Contact

Chris Purse
chris@ignite.bz
818-980-3473

HPA Contact

Alicia Rock, Awards Coordinator
info@hpaawards.net
818-273-1482


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