View New 2019 Showmanship Award Categories
Click Here to View the 2018 Showmanship Award Winners
Click Here to View the 2017 Canadian Production Spotlight Honourees

ShowCanada Awards

• Please send submissions to:
  80 St. Leonards Ave.
  Toronto, ON M4N 1k3

PLEASE NOTE:

Applicants can only win in one category. Multiple promotions may be submitted in various categories by the same applicant but if the applicant places first, second or third in one category, they will be ineligible to win placement in any other categories.

QUALIFYING DATES:

Submissions for 2018 Showmanship Awards must be received prior to February 27, 2018 for consideration and must focus on films that opened between January 1st, 2016 and December 31st, 2017.

BLOCKBUSTER AWARD

This category awards promotion of big-budget productions with large promotion budgets and extensive studio support Often these films are called “Project Pictures”, although they may not be designated as such. They will always have distributor-initiated Manager Contests and premium items for in-theatre promotional use.

Also included in this category are ‘blockbuster’ films with no Manager Contest or major premium/prizing incentives offered by the distributor. These movies, while judged within the BLOCKBUSTER category, will be looked at separately and consideration given to the extra initiative and creativity displayed by the Manager in his or her promotion. 2017’s winners in this category were Ghostbusters and Star Wars: Rogue One.

EUGENE AMODEO SHOWMANSHIP AWARD

This award is given for a theatre-initiated promotion and usually for a smaller production or an independent film with limited studio support (no prizing or contests, etc.). Last year’s winners in this category were Trolls and Secret Life of Pets.

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT AWARD

This prize is awarded for year-round and/or seasonal efforts by a specific theatre with respect to multiple events that interact with and build audiences for that location. It could include charitable events, efforts to grow the overall customer base and special theatre activities. Alternative programming events (i.e. Opera, WWE, NHL) i.e. increased ticket sales and attendance, media coverage, etc. would also qualify for consideration.

These efforts could include a movie or movies (film circuit, seasonal programming, French Canadian films on Sunday, etc.), but will always seek to increase attendance and build audiences for the theatre.

CONCESSIONS AWARD

This promotion can be for a film-related concession promotion or for a featured (new or special) concession item. Preliminary plans, photos, evidence of success and relevancy to any movie tie-in are required components that need to be documented.

BEST PROMOTION FOR A CANADIAN FILM – ENGLISH

Promoting an English Canadian film can be challenging but also very rewarding. Most distributors are very interested in theatre support; they will work with you and possibly provide additional materials. Last year’s winner was Film Series: Numb.

BEST PROMOTION FOR A CANADIAN FILM – FRENCH

Home-grown Quebec films can perform very strongly. In-theatre promotions are considered a necessary part of a successful French Canadian film launch and you will find distributors generally very cooperative. Nitro Rush was the winner in 2017.

PRESENTATION FORMAT:

All promotions must be submitted in an attractive and compact format. Over-sized packages are eye-catching but rarely arrive in their original condition, and since the submissions ‘travel’ and are reviewed by several groups of people they must be both concise and durable.

First and foremost, each submission must be very clearly labelled with the name of the promoters, the name of the theatre, and the circuit and the category in which it is intended to be entered.

Please ensure that the label and/or submission form is securely fastened to the project (ideally on the inside front cover of the binder) so the identifier doesn’t get misplaced.

In addition, please attach securely and individually label any additional pieces as these tend to get separated from the main body of work, and without label, they will not be part of the consideration. Also, please include a checklist of what the submission should contain.

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS:

Please make sure that your submission also includes 30 – 90 seconds of footage that can include interviews with staff, some coverage of your theatre and your promotion. This material will be used in a “sizzle reel” to be showed at the awards dinner should your entry win.

COMPONENTS REQUIRED FOR A COMPLETE PROMOTION

The following information outlines the judging criteria and weight assigned to each element.

LOBBY AND IN-THEATRE PROMOTION

Includes decorations (lobby displays and off-site poster placements), costumes, concessions, promotions, pre-release activities and opening weekend events at the theatre. 30%

RETAIL AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Includes local merchant bounce-back partnerships, national and local retail tie-ins, as well as participating in mall promotions. If there is a national partnership out of the US and it isn’t applicable in Canada, the theatre should discuss alternative Canadian partnership potentials with the distributor. 20%

Community interaction including charitable benefits, parade participation, local contests, etc . 20%

MEDIA

Includes both promotional and ‘earned media’ in  TV (national, cable and local), radio (commercial or university/college), newspapers (national, local daily, alternative, community), website and flyers. Must include verification of positioning and ‘book’ rate of media (total $ value versus prizing and/or $ supplied) . 10%

INITIATIVE, TEAMWORK AND CREATIVITY

Includes evidence of original content, unique activities and creative submission presentation. 20%

______ 100%

ELIGIBLE ENTRANTS:

The promotional contests are open to all theatre level personnel including District Supervisors, Managers and Assistant Managers from all circuits and independent theatres across Canada.

AWARDS:

The first, second and third place winners of the six Showmanship Award categories will receive a free trip to ShowCanada including airfare, hotel and convention registration. In addition, first place winners receive $500; second-prize winners receive $250; and third-prize winners in each category will receive $150.

Honourable Mentions receive $75 each.

The prize-winning promotions will be on display at ShowCanada. Winners should pick up their winning entries at ShowCanada.

* Please note that the Judging Committee reserves the right to change entries from one category to another as it deems appropriate.

Submissions will not be shipped back.

Please send submissions to:
80 St. Leonards Ave.
Toronto, ON M4N 1k3

For more information, please contact:
NURIA BRONFMAN
Tel.: (416) 434-7431
E-mail: Nuria_bronfman@rogers.com

Click Here to Download the 2018 Entry Form