The nature of this problem is somewhat complex, therefore I’m compelled to provide enough detail to prevent a lot of back-and-forth. However, for those who are familiar with the awards tiers at a wide variety of IMDb-qualified awards events, and are equally familiar with the history of the award submission process, I’ll state the bottom line up-front.
BOTTOM LINE: I’m unable to change the award names of 5 of my awards, which were converted to nominations a couple years ago when the award submission process changed. Specifically, the “Award” dropbox is inaccessible when in the correction process, to alter a previously established award.
Also, I’m unable to add two new awards because (it appears) they are identified with numerical identifiers in their names verses any other name-design (e.g. 2nd Place Jury Award versus Silver Jury Award). For some reason there appears to be an administrator ideology in play where 2nd or 3rd place awards, etc. are arbitrated as nominations for awards if named as such, but Silver or Bronze awards, etc. are perfectly acceptable awards – despite this being a matter of name only. Fests name their prizes as they wish.
Full scope and detail:
BACKGROUND:
There are numerous IMDb-qualified Awards events that provide awards to multiple winners (a common placement system) in multiple categories. These unique awards may have a variety of names such as:
-Platinum Remi (1st), Gold Remi (2nd), Silver Remi (3rd), and Bronze Remi (4th) [see WorldFest Houston]
-Grand Prize (1st), Special Marquee (2nd), Silver Prize (3rd), Bronze Prize (4th) (American Movie Awards)
-Best of Show (1st), Diamond Award (2nd), Platinum Award (3rd), Gold Award (4th), Silver Award (5th), Bronze Award (6th), Honorable Mention (7th) [International Independent Film Festival]
-1st Place Award (1st), 2nd Place Award (2nd), 3rd Place Award (3rd), 4th Place Award (4th), 5th Place Award (5th) [Glendale, Indie Gathering, Bare Bones, and tens, if not hundreds of others]
Consider that these stated awards/award winners are then followed by honorable mentions (in some cases), and then the (non-winning) finalists/nominees. To be clear, this post is not concerned with semi-finalists, quarter finalists, 2nd-rounders, or official selections, etc.
AWARD SUBMISSIONS – PAST and PRESENT:
PAST: In the former IMDb award submission process, a filmmaker selected the placement of the award he or she actually Won in the “Rank” dropdown box. Likewise, if he or she was a finalist/nominee, he or she simply selected “Nominated (nom).”
PRESENT: Although the rank dropdown list has not changed, the process to submit Wins has. Awardees are now expected to select 1st place in the rank dropdown, for ANY win, with the notion that the name of the award appropriately addresses its uniqueness (Silver Award, 4th Place Festival Prize, Diamond Award, 2nd Place Jury Prize, Honorable Mention, etc.).
THE PROBLEMS:
1).. Since the change in award submissions (a couple years ago), ALL previously submitted awards not entered under the 1st-place-only methodology have defaulted to nominations, instantly creating an inaccurate record of many filmmakers’ actual wins versus their actual nominations (5 of my wins are still portrayed as noms). Not only does this misrepresent many filmmakers’ winnings, award names submitted prior to the change are unable to be altered, so they cannot be resubmitted via the new methodology. The reason for this is the "Award" dropdown for previously accepted awards is literally inactive.
2) It appears the 1st-place-only submission methodology applies to awards not identified with numeric identifiers, such as “3rd Place Award,” however a 5th Place award that may happen to be named “Bronze Prize” is completely acceptable (??). I don’t understand this rationale or why the policing of such award names is held with this degree of bias and concern.
I’ve had a series of wins at festivals this year and all wins with non-numeric names have been accepted on IMDb and all with numerical names have not. One award with a numerical name has been submitted repeatedly since July 7th (7 times). This is for a 4th Place Indie Gathering Award, for which I was emailed a congratulatory note on my Win, provided a link to verify my Win on the event’s 2018 Award Winners page, received an award certificate that boldly states “Winner,” and provided Winner laurels. http://theindiegathering.com/2018.html (Best Script: Short-Drama "June Block Hero").
I would be equally bothered if the reverse were true (noms portrayed as a wins), as it is a legitimate interest for one to present an accurate record of his or her account.
Posted 2 years ago
Michelle, Official Rep
Hello Michelle,
Thank you for taking the time to understand and address my concerns. I have a few follow-up points if you don't mind that I'd like to bounce off of you:
1. "2nd Place Bonehead Award," for example, is the name of an actual award, just as well as Silver whatever prize. I don't see IMDb recognizing this award's name as an award name, but instead IMdb focuses on the placement implied in the name and thereby disproves it as being an award. Considering the revised submission process, one should be able to select Winner under Rank, and submit "2rd Place Bonehead Award" under Award, just as well as one would for any other award. Is this not true?
Here is a good example why awards need to be discussed at IMDb. Below is a second place award.
1. There is no question this is an award and the filmmaker is a winner - it is hardware
2. The award is named on the fest website simply as "2nd Place," not silver medal/prize etc..
3. The literal award is a silver medal (light in the photo shows off-color).
4. The award name on the actual award is "Best Short Dramedy."
The issue: As the filmmaker who wants to be as as accurate and honest as possible, as should IMDb as the record-keeping authority on film, I am unable to list this win by name, as designated by the awarding authority: "2nd Place Bonehead Award." However, I could legitimately name it as silver medal, or silver award, etc. because that is what it literally is, although not named that way by the awarding authority. Finally, as presented by the awarding authority, the hardware clearly states "Best Short Dramedy Screenplay," which taken at face value implies first place, which has legitimacy and is completely false at the same time.
http://barebonesfilmfest00.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2018awardsannouncement.pdf
2. I understand that some festivals may list placements behind a single winner without the intent of considering them as winners - as you've implied, possible finishers but not awardees. In my situation, with Bare Bones and The Indie Gathering, etc. these places are awards. As I detailed in the OP I have been sent Winning congratulations, with a Winning medal or certificate, and Winner's laurels in every case (see attachments). As far as Bare Bones, I have actual medals for two of the awards currently being presented as nominations.
3. Numerous fests, take Indie Gathering for example, list award winners, then the honorable mentions, then the finalists. According to IMDb logic (as I understand it), a winner of a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th place award, etc. will be identified as a nominee and those who didn't finish as high, yet earned the lower distinction "honorable mention," will be presented in the database as winners. This defies ranking logic.
4. On every filmmaker's profile, award information is simply presented as "X wins & X nominations." Lets compare hypothetical filmmakers Y and Z, who have competed in the same festival for 5 years. Filmmaker Y wins 2 x second place prizes and 3 third place prizes. Filmmaker Z earns 5 honorable mentions. Filmmaker Y's profile displays 0 wins & 5 nominations while Filmmaker Z's profile displays 5 wins & 0 nominations. This misleads those who trust in IMDb information.The lower distinction (Z) is conveyed as a 5-time winner while the much-higher award-winnner (Y) is portrayed as not having earned any distinction other than making it to the final tier of competition. Some festivals, such as Beverly Hills Film festival, have up to 150 nominees in the screenplay category, which is distinctly different than winning the second place prize.
Thank you for taking the time to understand and address my concerns. I have a few follow-up points if you don't mind that I'd like to bounce off of you:
1. "2nd Place Bonehead Award," for example, is the name of an actual award, just as well as Silver whatever prize. I don't see IMDb recognizing this award's name as an award name, but instead IMdb focuses on the placement implied in the name and thereby disproves it as being an award. Considering the revised submission process, one should be able to select Winner under Rank, and submit "2rd Place Bonehead Award" under Award, just as well as one would for any other award. Is this not true?
Here is a good example why awards need to be discussed at IMDb. Below is a second place award.
1. There is no question this is an award and the filmmaker is a winner - it is hardware
2. The award is named on the fest website simply as "2nd Place," not silver medal/prize etc..
3. The literal award is a silver medal (light in the photo shows off-color).
4. The award name on the actual award is "Best Short Dramedy."
The issue: As the filmmaker who wants to be as as accurate and honest as possible, as should IMDb as the record-keeping authority on film, I am unable to list this win by name, as designated by the awarding authority: "2nd Place Bonehead Award." However, I could legitimately name it as silver medal, or silver award, etc. because that is what it literally is, although not named that way by the awarding authority. Finally, as presented by the awarding authority, the hardware clearly states "Best Short Dramedy Screenplay," which taken at face value implies first place, which has legitimacy and is completely false at the same time.
http://barebonesfilmfest00.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2018awardsannouncement.pdf
2. I understand that some festivals may list placements behind a single winner without the intent of considering them as winners - as you've implied, possible finishers but not awardees. In my situation, with Bare Bones and The Indie Gathering, etc. these places are awards. As I detailed in the OP I have been sent Winning congratulations, with a Winning medal or certificate, and Winner's laurels in every case (see attachments). As far as Bare Bones, I have actual medals for two of the awards currently being presented as nominations.
3. Numerous fests, take Indie Gathering for example, list award winners, then the honorable mentions, then the finalists. According to IMDb logic (as I understand it), a winner of a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th place award, etc. will be identified as a nominee and those who didn't finish as high, yet earned the lower distinction "honorable mention," will be presented in the database as winners. This defies ranking logic.
4. On every filmmaker's profile, award information is simply presented as "X wins & X nominations." Lets compare hypothetical filmmakers Y and Z, who have competed in the same festival for 5 years. Filmmaker Y wins 2 x second place prizes and 3 third place prizes. Filmmaker Z earns 5 honorable mentions. Filmmaker Y's profile displays 0 wins & 5 nominations while Filmmaker Z's profile displays 5 wins & 0 nominations. This misleads those who trust in IMDb information.The lower distinction (Z) is conveyed as a 5-time winner while the much-higher award-winnner (Y) is portrayed as not having earned any distinction other than making it to the final tier of competition. Some festivals, such as Beverly Hills Film festival, have up to 150 nominees in the screenplay category, which is distinctly different than winning the second place prize.
(Edited)
Michelle, Official Rep
