THE MALTA TELEVISION AWARDS 2010
Rules & Regulations

1. Only programmes aired on local television stations and/or local cable networks and produced in the Maltese Islands by television broadcasters or television production companies/individuals whose base is in Malta will be eligible.
   
   
2. All programmes must have been broadcast between October 1st, 2008 and December 31st, 2009 to be eligible for entry. No repeated programmes aired during this period will be eligible. The judges will require seeing proof in the form of a published schedule for the transmission time and date.
   
   
3. Any fund-raising programmes are not eligible.
   
   
   Outstanding Commercial:
   
   
4. Eligibility - A commercial is eligible provided it is 30 to 60 seconds in length, and originally aired on television during the current eligibility year. Paid commercials, PSAs and promos are eligible.
   Entries cannot exceed 60 seconds.
   Who may submit – Any ad agency or production company may enter one version of its 30 – 60 second commercial. Five DVDs (not copy protected) are required at time of entry together with a brief, specifying target audience and product concept. There will be two statues awarded, one to the production company and one to the advertising agency.
   
   Submissions

1. Entries must be submitted on a fully completed Official Entry Form. Failure to comply will result in disqualification. In addition, each entry must include payment of the relevant entry fee.
   
   
2. Any one programme can only be submitted under one Main Category.
   
   
3. All submissions must be in DVD PAL format (5 copies).
   
   
4. From one to a maximum of 3 episodes may be submitted from a series.
   
   (note change in regulations, January 2010)
   
5. DVDs must be of acceptable quality for viewing, with correct audio and video reproduction. Unless otherwise noted, DVDs must be in the same form and content as originally broadcast, minus commercial breaks. Failure to provide a DVD will result in forfeiture of the opportunity to receive a nomination or win an Award.
   
   
6. DVDs will be sent to the judges ‘as-is’. To ensure audio and visual quality, please carefully review the DVDs before you submit them.
   
   
7. Composite entries may not be entered into the awards except for the following categories
   
   
   • Best News Presenter
   • Best Programme Presenter
   • Best Female Actor in a leading Role (Drama)
   • Best Male Actor in a leading Role (Drama)
   • Best Female Actor in a leading Role (Comedy)
   • Best Male Actor in a leading Role (Comedy)
   • Best Female Actor in a supporting Role (Drama)
   • Best Male Actor in a supporting Role (Drama)
   • Best Female Actor in a supporting Role (Comedy)
   • Best Male Actor in a supporting Role (Comedy)
   • Breakthrough/Upcoming Talent Award Best Editing
   • Best Cameraman
   • Best TV set Design Best Digital Effects
   • Best Special Visual Effects
8. Submitted programmes for all other categories must be complete, including credits, and entered as originally broadcast. Editing to remove commercial breaks is allowed. Any composite programmes will be disqualified.
   
   
9. For all the performance categories:
   
   • A maximum of a 5-minute composite may be submitted.
   • All selected items must be from the same programme/episodes that were aired within the awards’ qualifying period. All submissions using composite entries must also include, on the same DVD, a complete andunedited programme (aired within the qualifying period) featuring the submitted presenter/performer.
   • All copies of DVDs must be marked with Actor/Actress name and surname, character name and programme title.
     
     
10. Submissions for the following categories should be accompanied by:
    Best Director:
    DVD of 1 whole episode (5 copies)
    
    Best Editing:
    A 10 minute (maximum) composite on DVD(5 copies)
    
    Best Digital Effects:
    A maximum of 10 minutes on DVD (5 copies)
    
    Special Visual Effects:
    A maximum of 10 minutes on DVD (5 copies)
    
    Best Original Song:
    Typed lyrics (if applicable) and DVD of opening and/or end credits carrying the music (5 copies)
    
    Best Original Script:
    Typed short synopsis and entire script of any one episode from the series, same episode on DVD as broadcast (5 copies)
    
    Best Cameraman:
    A 10 minute (maximum) composite on DVD (5 copies) taken from the same programmes/episodes.
    
    TV Set Design:
    A 10 minute (maximum) composite on DVD (5copies)
    
    Best TV Commercial:
    5 DVD copies of the submitted commercial, ALL clearly marked with name of commercial.
    
    
11. Every entry should be individually submitted in an envelope clearly marked as follows :
    
    • Main Category – Programming or Performance or Technical & Creative
    • Name of Company/Person making the submission and contact number
    • Category in which the submission is being placed
    • DVDs ARE NOT to be presented in jewel boxes but either in plastic or paper DVD covers.
      5 COPIES of DVDs must be labelled as follows:
      
      • Programming – Name of Programme and name of category, for example, KIDS: Best Children’s Programme
      • Performance – (Actor) Name of Actor, Character Name, name of category and name of Drama or Comedy, for example, Jane Borg : Joyce : Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Comedy) + Programme/Series name. (News Presenter) Name of Presenter, name of category and TV Station, for example, Jane Borg : Best News Presenter + name of TV Station. (Breakthrouh Up-Coming Talent) name of performer, name of category and name of programme. Actors submitting under this category must mark their DVDs with details requested for (Actor in a leading or supporting role)
      • Technical & Creative – Name of company or individual/s whose work is being submitted, name of category and name of programme, for example, Joe Borg : Best Director + Name of Programme
      • TV Commercial – Name of Ad Agency, & Production House + name of commercial
        
        
12. Submissions received after the closing date for the Awards will not be accepted.
13. Deadline for the entries is Friday, January 15th, 2010 at 12 noon.
    
    
    • All submitted entry material will only be kept for one month following the announcement of the winners. The organisers will not be held responsible for any loss or damage of this material after this date.
    • Submission of entries and collection of materials will be at 12, Schembri Street, Hamrun HMR 1545.
14. An ‘Error and Omissions’ period of 7 days shall be allowed after all nominations have been announced.

Judging

1. The minimum number of judges required for each separate category is three.
2. No announcement of the winners will be made in advance of the Awards Ceremony. Short-listed programmes, performers and companies will be announced at the Nominations Night on Friday, February 12th, 2010.
3. The judges’ decision will be final.

Awards

1. On the Awards Night, trophies shall be presented to the winning nominees or their representative*.
2. Category A (Programming) trophies shall be presented to the Producer (s).
3. TV Commercial trophies shall be presented to the production company and to the advertising agency.

Rules for the protection of the Mermaid Statuette

1. The Mermaid statuette is the property of Mermaid Media Entertainment Ltd, reserves all rights.
2. The Mermaid statuette may not be reproduced or used in any commercial manner unless otherwise permitted by Mermaid Media Entertainment Ltd, it being understood that possession of the same is solely for the benefit of the recipient and the recipient’s heirs or successors in interest.
3. If a recipient or the recipient’s heir or successor in interest proposes to sell or otherwise dispose of the Mermaid statuette, such persons shall be obliged to return the statuette to Mermaid Media Entertainment Ltd, which will retain the same in storage in memory of the recipient.

*Representative’s name shall be advised to The Malta Television Awards organizers in good time.