2023 CICAF “Golden Monkey King Awards” Contest has opened its Call for Entries for the 19th edition.  Participation is  open for cartoon and animation lovers from all over the world, with no limit to the number of entries that a participant can send, and totally free of charge.

Rules and Regulations

2023 The 19^th CICAF “Golden Monkey King Awards” Contest

I.  MISSION

A top brand builder for CICAF, “Golden Monkey King Awards” stands for a contest prestigious to all cartoonists and animated program makers and their enthusiasts worldwide, in which all entries and artworks to manifest a good future and destiny of human beings, as decent, orchestrated, and particularly out of original thinking, are encouraged and celebrated. We wish the Awards as an event to bring more people an access to comic and animated features, make the business a gold mine, find more young artists, and steer the way for the whole industry in China to a transformative, upgrade and sustainable development. Entries we consider shortlisted will be recommended to pitch at the session for matchmaking & networking.

II. SPONSORSHIP

Host: China Media Group

Undertaker：CICAF Executive Committee

Organizer: Hangzhou China International Cartoon and Animation Festival Exhibition Co., Ltd

III. MEET WITH THE JUDGES

Organization Framework: CICAF Executive Committee sets up an Awards Committee to review the submitted works independently. Under the Committee, there is the Secretariat to perform all duties specifically as required.

Panel of Judges: There are two panels of judges under the Awards Committee responsible for the preliminary and the final round of the contest. Jury members are experts that selected from academic, press, publication and ACG industrial institutions home and abroad.

Notes：Any member of the jury who has cooperative relationship with the author(s) of the entries, either directly or indirectly, shall waive the rights from the judging process in case of conflicts of interest. The Awards Committee reserves the rights to leave an award vacancy or cut the number of winners for an award if necessary.

IV.TIME & VENUE

Online Submission: Now -- May 29, 2023

Final Assessment: June 2023

Award Ceremony: June 20, 2023

Venue: Hangzhou, China 

Register: https://jhj.cicaf.com/en/user/register

Log in: https://jhj.cicaf.com/en/user/login 

V. AWARDS & PRIZES

The 2022 “Golden Monkey King” Awards are classified into two major categories for overseas entries: the General Award and the Promising Award. The setting of General Award-Animated Feature Film is to be confirmed, Please pay attention to www.cicaf.com for the final result shortly. 

VI. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The General Award

Entries that have not been submitted as the same category to the previous “Golden Monkey King” Awards shall be allowed to participate in the 2023 Awards, other requirements are:

1. Animated Feature Film: Overseas entries obtaining the Screening License issued by National Radio and Television Administration before May 9, 2023; or

2. Animated Series: Domestic entries obtaining the “Domestic Animated Series Distribution License”, “Network Drama Distribution License” or “Online Record Number” by/before May 9, 2023; and entries of imported or joint venture production have been approved for public screening in China; or

3. Animated Short Film: Entries (domestic & overseas) produced by animation companies and studios, animation freelancers, or school/college teachers and professors; or

4. Comics: Entries (domestic and overseas) will have been officially published by/before May 9, 2023, as separate publication or network serial.  

The Promising Award

Entries that have not been submitted as the same category to the previous “Golden Monkey King” Awards shall be allowed to participate in the 2023 Awards, other requirements are:

1. Animated Short Film: Entries (domestic and overseas) produced by school/college students; or

2. Comics: Entries (domestic and overseas) have not been officially published as separate publication, or contracted already but have not been published online. 

VII. WHAT TO SUBMIT

Please register on the “Golden Monkey King” Awards official website: https://jhj.cicaf.com/en/user/register and sign in here: https://jhj.cicaf.com/en/user/login,  then, upload documents as required.

(A) The General Award

1．Animated Feature Film

①Upload the complete version of the entry in MP4 format  (better with subtitles in both Chinese and English).
②Upload a 30-second trailer in MP4 format.
③Upload a printed copy of the Film Screening License of China.
④Upload a photo or self-portrait of the director, together with three screen-shots and one or two posters of the entry (60cm*80cm) in JPG format.

2．Animated Series

① Upload two episodes or more in MP4 format (better with subtitles in both Chinese and English).

② Upload a 30-second trailer in MP4 format.

③ Upload a printed copy of the “Domestic Animated Series Distribution License” or any related documentary evidence that certifies the entry’s screening via local media in China. Upload platform screen-shots and “Network Drama Distribution License” or “Online Record Number” if broadcast online.  

④ Upload a photo or self-portrait of the director , together with three screen-shots and one or two posters of the entry (60cm*80cm) in JPG format.

3．Animated Short Film

① Upload the complete version of the entry in MP4 format.

② Upload a 30-second trailer in MP4 format.

③ Upload a photo or self-portrait of the director , together with three screen-shots and one or two posters of the entry (60cm*80cm) in JPG format.

4．Comics

① Upload a digital copy of the entry (as a separate publication) or online comic strip in PDF format, multiple comics with coherent segments (watermark allowed).

② Upload the ISBN screen-shots or screen-shots of serialized info from formal new media platforms for online comic strip. 

③ Upload a photo or self-portrait of the author, together with three screen-shots and one or two posters of the entry (60cm*80cm) in JPG format.

(B) The Promising Award

1．Animated Short Film

① Upload the complete version of the entry in MP4 format.

② Upload a 30-second trailer in MP4 format.

③ Upload a photo or self-portrait of the director , together with three screen-shots and one or two posters of the entry (60cm*80cm) in JPG format.

2．Comics

① Upload a digital copy of the entry or online comic strip in PDF format, multiple comics with coherent segments (watermark allowed).

② Upload the complete version of the script.

③ Upload a photo or self-portrait of the author, together with three screen-shots and one or two posters of the entry (60cm*80cm) in JPG format.

VIII. TERMS & CONDITIONS

All entries shall abide by the following rules:

1. The entry shall be exempt from any pornographic, violent and bloody scenario or anything to insult religions.

2. Each contestant shall either hold the permanent and complete copyright of the entry worldwide or be authorized by the copyright owner in a written form. Meanwhile, it is a must for each contestant to sign and upload a Copyright Statement together with a Copyright Registration Certificate (if have) at the time of registration, otherwise the registration will be invalid. Each contestant will be disqualified from the Awards and bear full legal consequences thereof in the event of plagiarism, unauthorized use, or infringement of the legitimate rights and interests of any third party (including but not limited to copyright, portrait rights, reputation rights, etc.).  

3. Entries that have not been submitted as the same category to the previous “Golden Monkey King” Awards shall be allowed to participate in the 2022 Awards.

4. No commercial advertisements entries.

5. Signing up for the “Golden Monkey King” Awards shall be deemed as the recognition of leaving permanently free use of the entries worldwide to CICAF host, undertaker, and organizer according to the agreements as follow: 

① For publicity and promotion use, CICAF and Awards reserve the right to permanently free use or license the third party to use the entries in the occasions of “Golden Monkey King” Awards Official Website, Award Ceremony, and on-site/online/offline including but not limited to entry’s full version, title, clip or trailer, poster, director’s photo or self-portrait, and screen-shot, etc.

② For publicity and promotion use, CICAF and Awards reserve the rights to permanently free use the recorded videos containing contestants’ name, voice and portrait, etc. And also reserve the rights to make and edit the relevant videos of the contestants according to actual needs. 

6. Contestants shall guarantee the contact info (including e-mail, mobile phone, wechat, post address, etc.) submitted during registration is all correct. Any info, notice and other materials related to the Awards entries sent by CICAF to contestants through the aforementioned contact info shall be deemed to have been effectively delivered. In case of any change in the above, please notify CICAF in writing within 3 days from the date of such change, otherwise, the original contact sending shall still be deemed to have been effectively delivered. Any risks arising according to the fail receiving shall be borne by the contestants.    

IX. WHAT’S FOR SHORTLISTED NOMINEES

 Nominees will be invited by the Awards Committee to attend CICAF 2023 with courtesy as below:

1. On-site promotion for nominated works during the whole festival period.

2. Be invited to pitch the nominated works in a networking & matchmaking session in order to meet with more investors and partners.

3. Two-night accommodation for each nomination, including two contestants (share one standard room), meals, and other privileges in Hangzhou.

4. Two VIP badges. 

5. An album of Award-winning collections. 

6. The names of nominees (company/school/individuals) shall subject to the registration form. The Organizing Committee will not accept any modifications or supplements. Any disputes arising therefrom shall be borne by the contestants themselves. 

X. AWARD CEREMONY & PRESENTATION

1．The “Golden Monkey King” Awards will be presented during CICAF 2023.

2. Judges and nominees will be invited.

3. Prize winners who are unable to attend the Award Ceremony may authorize someone else to receive the award on their behalf. In this case, a written power of attorney and a copy of ID card or passport of the prize winner(s) shall be submitted to the Awards Committee in advance.                

4. The Organizing Committee will contact all prize winners in no longer than three weeks after the Award Ceremony or CICAF 2023. All prize money abovementioned is pre-tax and the relevant taxes shall be covered personally by award winners. Prize trophy and certificate being collected beyond 2 months shall be canceled as a waiver from the prize winners.

5. Any lost of the certificate or trophy will not been replaced by the Organizing Committee.  

XI. LEGAL STATEMENT

All issues regarding the 19^th CICAF “Golden Monkey King” Awards will be carried out strictly in line with the Rules and Regulations specified above. All contestants shall be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted these rules once their entries were signed up. The legality of the entries must be ensured by their authors, producers, publishers and other relevant agencies, yet the Awards Committee shall be exempt from all legal disputes arising from the entries but in no relation with the “Golden Monkey King Awards”. Chinese version shall prevail in case of any conflict or dispute arising from the bilingual translation versions, and the rules shall take effect upon the date when they are released. We reserve the right for final explanation.

“Golden Monkey King” Awards Committee, CICAF

April, 2023