Student Interactive Multimedia & Emerging Technologies Competition

Please read this information carefully, as our categories and entry requirements have changed

The Student Interactive Multimedia and Emerging Technologies Competition recognizes excellence in content creation and visual storytelling that demonstrates creativity and innovation in interactive, multimedia and emerging technology. 

“Interactive” refers to content that involves active participation by the intended audience, allowing the user to have some control over the engagement experience. Examples may include but are not limited to websites, kiosks, mobile apps, fixed media, or other projects.

“Multimedia” refers to content that incorporates two or more different types of media to accomplish a communication goal. Examples may include but are not limited to breaking news, feature or sports reporting, expansive social media campaigns, or other projects.

“Emerging Technologies” may include but are not limited to virtual, augmented or mixed reality; games; transmedia; geo apps; or other projects that employ emerging technologies and delivery systems in significant ways. Examples may include but are not limited to virtual or augmented reality, 360-degree imagery, games, apps, transmedia, or other projects.

The genre of the content accepted in this competition is not restricted. Examples of content may include but are not limited to news, strategic communication, sports, narratives, promotional or marketing content, religious, documentary, games and entertainment, simulations, or other content.

The intention of this competition is to review and reward student work. The categories are intended for students who are authors and/or hands-on producers of projects; projects utilizing professionals, or professional in-house or external production entities to create content may not enter this competition. All categories in this competition are intended for projects created by students without the involvement of faculty, except as logistical support. If faculty had the primary production role, the projects should be submitted to the mixed category of the faculty competition. If faculty were involved in the entry, please pay careful attention to the portion of the entry form requesting information about the contributions of faculty and provide detail about their role in the entry description.

If you are uncertain if your entry is appropriate for this competition, please don’t hesitate to contact the chair or vice chair of this competition.

Competition Categories:

Multimedia Storytelling – This category accepts entries of any stand-alone or embedded visual story incorporating multiple media, delivered via any interactive platform(s), including fixed media, in an innovative, interactive way. Media content, such as text, audio, video, graphics, photos and/or animation, would likely be part of these entries. Entries in this category may be published on a website or app that is or is not owned by the entrant, one that is based on a template, or stories delivered via single or multiple posts on social media platforms. The most successful entries incorporate more than 2 types of media content. Entries comprised primarily of audio content or video content without other media or significant interaction should be entered in the Festival of Media Arts Audio or Video competitions, or competitions related to the genre of the piece, even if the entry originally premiered on an interactive platform. Examples of entries in this category include but are not limited to: news stories incorporating text, video, photos and audio; photo essays incorporating digital photos, user navigation, text, and animated captions; social media stories or campaigns including text, videos, graphics, and interactive polls; audio or video podcasts incorporating art and interactive graphics; and, documentaries incorporating text, video and interactive infographics. Any story that may be difficult to locate online, such as social media, or that requires the use of specialty hardware or software, may require the entrant to create materials to showcase the work, as detailed in the competition submission requirements.

Website – This category accepts entries of any website or microsite developed to deliver interactive content serving a specific community, client, topic or need. Entries in this category may be template/theme based only if significant and effective modifications have been made to the aesthetic and interactive components of the template/theme. It is recommended that template-based entries include screenshots of the original template and other relevant information to illustrate customization. Responsive websites should be entered in this category. Videos and other multimedia elements contained within an entry will be judged, but only with regard to their contribution to the entire presentation.

Interactive Reality – This category accepts entries that create immersive, interactive realities, including but not limited to virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, or 360 photo/video production. This category may be appropriate for an entry utilizing mobile and wearable technology if the technology is required to provide functionality. Content created for wearable technology that does not provide an immersive or interactive sense of reality is likely better suited to the Mobile/Apps category of this competition. Any entry that may be difficult to locate, view, or that requires the use of specialty hardware or software may require the entrant to create materials to showcase the work, as detailed in the competition submission requirements.

Mobile/Apps – This category accepts entries that have been created exclusively for a mobile device or located in an out-of-home situation. In addition to phones and tablets, mobile devices might include wearable technology such as watches or glasses, or placed-based technology, like kiosks, displays, simulators, or a combination of technologies. Responsive websites intended to be viewed in a mobile browser, rather than a stand-alone app, should be entered in the Website category of this competition. Apps or other mobile development projects that create an immersive or altered sense of reality may be better suited to the Interactive Reality category. Any entry that may be difficult to locate, view, or that requires the use of specialty hardware or software may require the entrant to create materials to showcase the work, as detailed in the competition submission requirements.

Emerging Media & Technology – This category is suitable for any developing technology and/or media innovation that doesn’t fit the categories above. This includes but is not limited to games, transmedia, fixed media menu systems, interactive graphics or other projects that employ emerging technologies, media and delivery systems in significant, innovative ways. Any entry that may be difficult to locate, view, or that requires the use of specialty hardware or software may require the entrant to create materials to showcase the work, as detailed in the competition submission requirements.

If you are uncertain which category is appropriate for your entry, please don’t hesitate to contact the chair or vice chair of this competition.

Submission Requirements:

Submissions should not be changed, except for required content updates, between December 15, 2022, and February 15, 2023.

Projects previously submitted to this competition may not enter the competition again, even if the project has been revised and still falls within the required dates of completion. Ongoing projects with continually changing content, such as a current news website, are not impacted by this rule.

Please read the BEA Festival of Media Arts Student Competition Rules to verify that your entry meets all eligibility requirements for submission.

To ensure an effective blind review process, labels and the content of the work itself should not contain any information that points to the identity of its author(s), wherever possible.

The entrant must provide instructions if a special plug-in is required for viewing, if specific browser/platforms are required, or if there are any other specific hardware, software, or geographic requirements and settings necessary for the operation of the entry. Please include this information in the entry description field of the entry form.

It is recommended that any submission that might not be easily evaluated by IMET judges also include an online video, website or other such material showcasing the project in use, including interactive elements, screenshots and other relevant information. In the entry description field of the entry form, the entrant must state that this additional content represents the entry but isn’t the entry itself. Additionally, the entrant must upload a signed statement from a sponsoring faculty member or university administrator attesting to the functionality of the entry. Please don’t hesitate to contact the chair of the IMET competition if you have questions or need clarification about this recommendation.

DVD entries will be considered in the IMET Festival competition if they contain an original interface design with significant additional material and interactivity. DVDs created primarily as a means to deliver a video program should be entered in the video competition. Likewise, non-interactive videos delivered on the web should also be entered in the video competition.

Fixed media entries that cannot be submitted to the online competition portal, must be submitted on CD, DVD or USB flash drive. Fixed media must be clearly labeled with only the title of the entry (as listed on the entry form). To ensure an effective blind review process, labels should not contain any information that points to the identity of its author(s).

Submission Requirements: Submissions should not be changed, except for required content updates, between December 15, 2022, and February 15, 2023.

Send four (4) copies of your fixed media project to:

Todd O’Neill

706 Shawnee Drive

Murfreesboro, TN 37130

Mailed entries should be postmarked by December 8, 2022, and must be received by the student IMET Competition Chair by December 15, 2022. Entries received by mail will not be returned.

Web-based submissions that are unavailable online or other programs that cannot be opened or viewed by judges will be disqualified. Every effort will be made to give awards in every category, within the overall acceptance rate of the competition; awards may not be given in a particular category if the judges feel the entries do not reach the level of award-winning work in a juried competition. The competition judges will make the final determination.

Please read the Student Competition Rules to verify that your entry meets all eligibility requirements for submission.