Electronic Theater

• Advertising: Commissioned short films that tell a narrative story on behalf of a brand or entity
• Feature / Television Visual Effects: Applies to works that are either trailers, clips (snippets), and / or assembled breakdown reels from full-length feature live action films and / or television series/programs
• Feature / Television Animated: Applies to works that are either trailers, clips (snippets), and / or assembled breakdown reels from full-length feature animated films and / or television series/programs
• Short Films: An original film with a runtime of 10 minutes or less
• Cinematics: Selections from larger works, such as games, that are developed and presented as short films
• Real-Time Graphics: Short films, feature films, or visual effects reels that showcase graphics created via the use of real-time rendering software
• Visualization (Data-Driven): Applies to imagery created based on research of domain scientists, including 3D data from a supercomputer simulation or numerical model; generally rendered as real-time or pre-rendered computer graphics transformed from or driven by large scientific data
• Visualization (Conceptual Animation): Applies to imagery created in collaboration with and from the knowledge of domain scientists, employing digital tools and methods rather than large computations
• Simulation: Utilizing the mathematical description, or model, of a real system in the form of computer imagery to represent the dynamic responses of one system by the behavior of another system

We continually receive productive and constructive feedback from our submitters. Based on recent recommendations, we’re excited to the following improvements to the SIGGRAPH 2024 Electronic Theater submission process:

• Whether you are a Submitter and/or Creator, you no longer require a ORCID to submit to the Electronic Theater.
• We’ve also streamlined the submission process, eliminating the need for a 2-second audio/visual Pop Cue and Slate.

19 March 2024, 22:00 UTC/GMT
Electronic Theater Stage 1 submissions due

Early May 2024
Electronic Theater Stage 2 submissions are notified of the Jury Review outcome

28 July–1 August 2024
SIGGRAPH 2024
Colorado Convention Center
Denver, Colorado

The submission process is broken up into two key milestones, which are collectively referred to as a Stage 1 Submission.

When you submit to the Electronic Theater, your submission must meet both mandatory requirements of:

• Milestone 1: key information pertaining to the creator(s), the project, and various associated details, are provided via the SIGGRAPH Submission Portal. The portal is powered by and referred to as the Linklings platform.
• Milestone 2: essential usage authorization is granted to ACM SIGGRAPH via an eSign document known as the ACM Rights Management Form
  • Please note that the ACM Rights Management Form is a unique document, tailored specifically for each submission. It is auto-generated ONLY AFTER the Submitter clicks “Mark as Complete” on Linklings (Milestone 1). At which point, only the individual listed as “Distributor/Contact” on Linklings will receive an email containing the link to download the personalized ACM Rights Management Form.
  • It is the Submitter’s responsibility to ensure that this Distributor/Contact is aware of this process, and should look for an email sent from rightsreview@acm.org, within 24-48 hours after the completion of Milestone 1. If you cannot locate this email in your Inbox, please check your filters and/or SPAM.
  • Otherwise contact caf-s2024@siggraph.org for further assistance.

A Stage 1 Submission is deemed valid and eligible for review by our Jury, as long as they meet the criteria listed in the following section. Following the Jury Review process, the accepted submissions move into the final phase, and become known as Stage 2 Submissions.

All Stage 2 Submissions are assembled into a showreel, and presented during the SIGGRAPH 2024 Electronic Theater showcase in Denver, CO.

Next we’ll discuss what makes a submission eligible for Jury Review.

A “Valid Submission” is one that meets ALL of the following criteria:

• That the project must have been completed after last year’s Electronic Theater submission deadline (21 March 2023).
• A valid, accurate, and “Complete” Linklings submission data.
• A signed ACM Rights Management Form granting usage rights.
• A video of your project, which meets the requisite Electronic Theater submission technical specification criteria. Please review the “Specifications” section below.
• That all items listed above must be received no later than 19 March 2024 22:00 UTC/GMT. Unfortunately, we cannot grant extensions.

By comparison, an “Invalid Submission” is missing one, or more, of the items listed above.

In the next section, we will guide you through the simple steps to get your submission started.

Building a desirable future through computer graphics and interactive techniques starts with your contributions to SIGGRAPH 2024. We are excited to have you submit your work for consideration.

5 Simple Steps to Submit to the Electronic Theater:

• Step 1: Visit the SIGGRAPH Submission Portal, powered by Linklings to Sign-up/Login, then from the “Make a New Submission” tab, click on the “Electronic Theater” link.
• Step 2: Provide all requested information regarding the project, contact information for the Submitter and Creator(s), etc…
  • Tip: If you need to gather or finalize the required details, you can use the “Save as Draft” button to store your progress.
  • If you’d like to familiarize yourself with the information you will need to provide, please review this Sample Stage 1 Submission form.
• Step 3: Once you have entered all information into the Linklings form, press the “Mark as Complete” button.
• Step 4: Once your video meets the technical specification requirements, follow the instructions for uploading your video to your “My Submissions” page on Linklings.

At this point, your ACM Rights Management Form will be auto-generated. The link to access the form will be emailed to the individual listed as Distributor/Contact on the Linklings submission form.

• Step 5: Once you receive and review the ACM Rights Management Form, you must sign and submit
  • To familiarize yourself with the information you will need to provide, please review this Sample of the ACM Rights Management Form.

Congratulations, you have successfully completed your entire Stage 1 submission process!

Our submission team will now collect and review all of your forms/data to ensure that your entire submission is satisfactory, prior to Jury review.

ACM Rights Management Form
The ACM Rights Management Form defines the manner in which the material you have submitted will be used, if accepted. It also allows you the opportunity to grant or deny specific uses of the material and its presentation before, during, and after the conference.

Applicant information must include a full name, an affiliation, and a unique email address. Please note, the use of generic “festivals@…” or repeated email addresses within the same submission ARE NOT permitted and will be disqualified from consideration.

Examples of usage are:

• your representative image and text may be used for promotional purposes, such as a preview / trailer of accepted content. As such this promotional content MAY include a portion of your video
• additional virtual screenings opportunities are available after the SIGGRAPH 2024 Electronic Theater showcase in Denver, CO, if interested

Please refer to your ACM Rights Management Form for additional details.

Length
A maximum length of 10 minutes may be submitted; however, the Electronic Theater reserves the right to show only excerpts of selected works at the jury’s discretion.

File Size
10 GB maximum file size.

Credits
The sum total of end titles and credits should be no longer than 7 seconds.

Video Codecs

• Apple ProRes 422
• DNxHD
• H. 264

Video Wrappers

• QuickTime
• MP4

Please note that DCP format WILL NOT be accepted.

Video Resolutions

• 1080p (1920 x 1080p) preferred
• Following Jury acceptance during Stage 2, you will be asked if you prefer to re-submit at 4K (3840 × 2160) resolution

Frame Rate

• 23.97, 24, 29.97, 30, 59.94, or 60 fps

Audio Configurations

• Number of audio tracks accepted is [0,1,2,4,5,6,8,10,12]
• Levels should be normalized for -23 LUFS (+/- 0.5)

Color Space

• Rec 709

Entry Review & Festival Jury
All submitted entries are evaluated by a dual review process that involves individuals from various communities focused on technical, creative, production, and more.

The first review team is involved in pre-selection and will review and rank all entries as they come in. Pre-selected submissions will then move on to the Festival Jury. The Festival Jury is composed of industry peers in senior positions. These jurors review and rank all entries that pass pre-selection.

Submitters will be informed by email of the status of their submissions only after the Festival Jury makes its final decisions. All Submitters will be notified of their status by early May 2024. The Festival Jury also selects the recipients of the three festival awards: Best in Show, Jury’s Choice, and Best Student Project.

The Electronic Theater reserves the right to place submissions in a different category if deemed appropriate by the festival subcommittee or jury. Stay tuned for the reveal of your 2024 jurors.

Notification
All Electronic Theater Submitters will be notified by email of the status of their submission(s) in early May 2024.

After Acceptance
The time between the Electronic Theater Jury meeting and the SIGGRAPH 2024 conference is very short, and a lot of work gets processed behind the scenes. If your work is selected, you will be expected to reply promptly to any request for information or clarification from the Electronic Theater subcommittee. It is unlikely that we will need to contact you regarding your work after your notification, but please plan to be available via email in case a need arises.

Presenter Recognition
Contributor attendance is not required, but we encourage you to attend in person, and experience this special celebration event alongside your peers.

One contributor per accepted piece receives 50% off any registration category, plus one complimentary virtual, and in-person Electronic Theater ticket if not already part of the registration selected.

Registration level needed to attend this program:

• For Full Conference registrants, an Electronic Theater ticket is included with registration
• For all other registration levels you are required to purchase a ticket.

I have submitted my work to the most recent SIGGRAPH Asia Computer Animation Festival. Is it OK if I submit the same work to the SIGGRAPH 2024 Electronic Theater?
Yes. You can submit the same work to SIGGRAPH 2024, as long as it was released after 21 March 2023. We are independent festivals with separate juries and acceptance procedures.

Do submissions to the Electronic Theater have to be 3D animations?
Absolutely not. We generally feature works where the computer was essential to the creation of the work, but there is no specific requirement that it be 3D. All forms of computer animation are eligible, including but not limited to: 3D computer animation, 2D animation, visual effects and live action, real-time video game play, data visualizations, simulations, scientific illustrations, and digitally manipulated imagery and video. If you have computer-generated work within a larger piece, we request that you call our attention specifically to the portion where computer-generation was used.

How many works can I submit to the SIGGRAPH 2024 Electronic Theater?
There is no limit. You may submit as many as you like, but ensure you complete a separate submission form for each work. However, note that the Electronic Theater values diversity in its content. We receive a high volume of quality submissions for this short program, so occasionally, high-quality works are not selected simply due to overrepresentation from one company/individual/category/etc.

Is there a submission fee for submitting to the SIGGRAPH 2024 Electronic Theater?
No. You only need to complete the online submission process.

Can I submit the same piece to both the Festival Electronic Theater and to Talks or the Art Gallery, or any other SIGGRAPH 2024 programs?
You are welcome to submit pieces to the Electronic Theater as well as to submit related work to other programs. Each submission requires a separate online form, however, and each program has varying deadlines and requirements. You can review all submission deadlines here.

I have an art animation (abstract or experimental). Should I submit it to the Art Gallery or the Electronic Theater?
All animation submissions should be submitted to the Electronic Theater.

Where do I send my submission materials?
All works must be submitted via the SIGGRAPH 2024 online submission platform, powered by Linklings. The platform provides Submitters easy access to the submission system, eliminates time-consuming shipping and mailing, and provides an efficient procedure for reviewing submitted work.

Can I enter my work through Withoutabox?
The Electronic Theater does not accept submissions through Withoutabox. All works must be submitted via the SIGGRAPH 2024 online submission platform, powered by Linklings.

When is the submission deadline for the Electronic Theater?
Online submission forms and accompanying uploads must be completed no later than 19 March 2024 22:00 UTC/GMT for the Electronic Theater. Submissions received after either deadline WILL NOT be reviewed. Click here for an online time zone converter to use.

I will not be able to finish my project by the submission deadline. Is it possible for me to submit “work in progress” for review?
No. The SIGGRAPH 2024 Electronic Theater reviews only finished projects. The file/project you upload at the time of entry is what will be shown at SIGGRAPH 2024, if your work is accepted. If you have questions or would like to make a case for an exception, please email caf-s2024@siggraph.org.

We are an art school, and are planning to submit several student works as one submission. Is this OK?
No. Each piece must be uploaded separately to the online submission system along with its own completed and signed submission form. Each piece is judged individually, on its own merit.

I am a student, and there is no Student Projects category. Where should I enter my work?
All student work should be submitted under the category that most closely describes it (e.g., animation or visual effects). Make sure to select the “Student Project” checkbox as you fill out the form, so that your work may be considered not only for the Best in Show award and Jury’s Choice prizes, but also for the Best Student Project prize.

What file formats are acceptable for submission?
See the “Specifications” guidelines above for file format details.

What criteria will the jury use to select works?
Jurors are expected to select the highest quality works from among those submitted. Each juror takes into consideration the technical aspects of the piece, the visual interest, and, for story-based projects, the storytelling. However, the jury’s primary criterion is to select the projects which it feels will collectively form the strongest overall showcase.

What is the difference between the juried program and the curated program?
The juried program presents work selected by the jury, representative of the best computer-generated content from a global perspective.

The curated program is used to round out the final show with invite-only special presentations, as deemed by the Electronic Theater Director and Committee.

Why must the credits be no more than seven seconds?
To maintain the pace of the Electronic Theater showcase, for the sake of our participants, the SIGGRAPH conference policy requires that all credit sections for accepted submissions must be seven seconds or less.

My animation makes use of commercially recorded music. Is that OK?
You are responsible for securing the necessary permissions and licenses for audio material that is contained in your work. If your music was not created originally for your content, or if you are using another person’s music, you must obtain the necessary permissions or required licenses. SIGGRAPH will not purchase these rights for you and reserves the right to remove any submission from the showcase (live or virtual) if they are found to violate any copyright agreements.

If my work is selected for the Electronic Theater, will SIGGRAPH 2024 pay for my accommodation and/or travel expenses?
No. You are responsible for your registration.

Why are the technical requirements so specific?
The technical requirements are very specific to make the submission process more streamlined for you. We have carefully selected codecs and resolution formats that are easily accessible to all, and that offer the highest quality and reduce data loss, when possible. Our aim is to provide you with a streamlined post and DI process. This ensures that the material you send us, if accepted, will look amazing on the big screen!

I am having trouble uploading my files. What can I do?
If you have problems uploading your files to the SIGGRAPH 2024 online submission system, your server may be behind a firewall that doesn’t allow HTTPS connections. If you are submitting from a corporate or institutional network, ask your information technology department to assist you in completing your submission. If you have any questions about uploading files, review “Uploading Files” in the Submissions FAQ. If you do not find the answer to your question there, feel free to contact the Computer Animation Festival Electronic Theater subcommittee at caf-s2024@siggraph.org.