How to Enter the 2021 TC/RHDF Competition
Looking for something else? Go back to the 2021 Call for Entries landing page. Ready to send in your work? Enter now.
Overview of Entry Process
We've streamlined our Competition entry form to be as straightforward as possible while also capturing a comprehensive picture of your entry. To ensure the smoothest possible process, we strongly recommend that you prepare your materials in full before beginning the entry form. Below, we've outlined everything you'll need to read, consider, and gather before you fill out the entry form & send in your best.
Please keep the following in mind while preparing your entries:
- Once you've begun to fill out the entry form, you won't be able to save and return to the form at a later date.
- While there is no limit to the number of entries one organization/entity/show/individual can make to our Competition, our entry form only allows for the submission of up to 5 entries at once; you'll need to fill out a new form for every subsequent 5 entries.
- After you’ve gathered your materials in full, please expect the submission process to take upwards of 10 minutes to complete for each piece of work you’re entering.
If you have any questions as you go, please check out our General FAQ , or see each individual category page (below) for category-specific FAQs.
Questions? Email competition@thirdcoastfestival.org
Review the Categories
Please be sure to review the complete eligibility and entry requirements for each of the categories you are entering:
- Best Documentary
- Best Serialized Story
- Best Documentary: Short
- Best New Artist
- Best Documentary: Non-English Language
- Impact
- Audio Unbound
- Best News Feature
Note: Each piece entered into the Third Coast/RHDF Competition will be considered for the Directors' Choice category, regardless of length or language.
Find Your (Collectively Priced) Rate
You may want to familiarize yourself with the 2021 Entry Fees (Collective Pricing) before diving into the process. The entry form will also guide you through considerations for identifying the rate(s) that are right for you.
Note: Early Bird entry fees apply only through the early deadline of March 30th, and baseline fees will increase after that For the cheapest rates, enter before the early deadline.
Basic Entry Checklist
Below, we've listed the essential information needed for each entry. Some categories require "Additional Materials." For complete, category-specific information about eligibility and all required materials, please see the 2021 Categories page.
Basic Contact Information
- We ask that you designate one person on your team as the point person for your entry for the duration of the 2021 Competition process. If you are submitting an entry on behalf of someone else, please make sure that the point person for your entry is prepared to answer any follow-up questions Third Coast may have.
General eligibility:
- All entries should have been produced and available publicly for the first time on radio, podcast, internet, or in a public setting (including but not limited to a theater, gallery, museum, classroom, etc) between February 1, 2019 and May 11. The only exception to this is for the Audio Unbound category: we are currently accepting entries that have been produced and available publicly for the first time between February 1, 2017 and May 11, 2021.
Audio File
- If applicable, please remove any host ledes or introductions; the audio portion of your entry should consist only of the actual story.
- If applicable, please remove any ads before and in the middle of your entry. (Ads or promos that appear in the final credits are fine.)
- Each entry should be exported as an audio file(s) in the .mp3 format. (.wav files are also accepted, but .mp3 is preferred) If possible, we ask that each audio file is under 100mb in size.
Written Materials
- Each entry should include a text summary (125 words maximum).
- Each entry should include a text summary of any explicit language, preferably with time codes for each instance.
- Each entry should include a text summary of any content warnings for your piece, with time codes when applicable.
- Each entry should include a comprehensive credits list.
- Optional, but strongly recommended: a transcript of your entry.
- For entries in primarily a non-English language : Entries not in English should include a translated transcript according to the guidelines here.
Category-Specific Materials
- For Impact entries only: Statement of Impact (3000 characters maximum). See Impact category for details.
- For Audio Unbound entries only: Audio Unbound Artist's Statement Statement (3000 characters maximum) and assemble any additional materials beyond the audio file(s) to accompany your piece (photos, documentation, etc.) See Audio Unbound category for details.
- For Best New Artist entries only: New Artist Introduction. (3000 characters max). See Best New Artist category for details.
Optional Materials
- We're interested in learning more about you in order to make our Competition more accessible. The entry form will prompt you with the option to tell us about the demographics of your production team, as well as the intentions and process behind your work.
Ready to enter? Click here to access our entry form .
Still have questions? Email us directly: competition@thirdcoastfestival.org.