Every film submitted to Southern Shorts Awards is evaluated by three industry professionals using our comprehensive 10-criteria scoring system.
Scoring Criteria
Each film is judged on the following 10 criteria, with each criterion scored on a scale of 1-10:
- Overall Quality 1-10
- Originality 1-10
- Screenplay 1-10
- Direction 1-10
- Acting 1-10
- Cinematography 1-10
- Sound Design 1-10
- Editing 1-10
- Music 1-10
- Production Design 1-10
Award Levels
Based on your composite score from all three judges, films are eligible for the following awards:
| Score Range | Film Award | Individual Score | Individual Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70-79 | Award of Merit | 7.0 | Award of Merit |
| 80-89 | Award of Excellence | 8.0 | Award of Excellence |
| 90-95 | Award of Distinction | 9.0 | Award of Distinction |
| 96-100 | The Orson Award | 9.6+ | Master of the Craft |
Our Judges
All Southern Shorts Awards judges are industry professionals with:
- IMDb credits or equivalent professional experience
- Extensive background in film/video production
- Experience in various aspects of filmmaking
- Commitment to fair and constructive evaluation
What You Receive
Every filmmaker receives detailed scoresheets from all three judges, showing exactly where your film excelled and where it can improve. This level of feedback is unmatched in the festival circuit.