2024
Visible Spectrum Awards - 2024
The SASC wishes to recognise the highest levels of excellence in Cinematography currently active in our industry. We also remember and pay tribute to all those excellent film technicians who have gone before us and played a pivotal role in the growth of our industry.
The 2024 SASC Visible Spectrum Awards – VSA are dedicated to the vision of the founder members of the SASC and to the current South African cinematographers who are carving a name for themselves both locally and abroad.
We celebrate and salute our filmmakers, past present and future.
We fervently support our tenacious professionals who ensure a commitment to producing the highest quality cinematography and look forward to the work of all the young up and coming Cinematographers who are making names for themselves in this highly competitive industry. The brave talent meeting the challenges of ever-changing technology, demanding creative energy and the constant shifting of “cutting-edge”.
The SASC salutes you all and is committed to taking the lead as a stable and solid support platform into the future, encouraging the highest quality of work, promoting the needs of the Cinematographer and celebrating the excellence that shines through.
These awards celebrate and acknowledge the very best work produced by South African
Cinematographers. This is an opportunity for Cinematographers to show off their craft, innovation and personalised styles, and to see how these rates with their peers. A chance to promote talent with the decision-makers of the South African Film and Television industry.
Share with us the glamour and honour as we celebrate the very best work produced by South African Cinematographers at the
2024 SASC Visible Spectrum Awards.
Entries will start in February culminating with the Announcement on
July 6th 2024, and will be a full online virtual event.
TERMS and CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
- The Competition is open to all cinematographers including NON SASC members. (Please note: We invite and welcome Production Companies, Crew and Advertising Agencies and Film Schools to enter the work of their best cinematographers.)
- The entrant must ensure that permission has been received by the Producers or Client for all material entered.
- All details and names must be accurate, as these will be used as the source documents for the certificates and press releases. The entrant must carefully check details before entry.
- As these awards cover 4 years of programme-making (Due to COVID restrictions) Only four (4) entries may be submitted for a person in any of the award categories over the 4-year period. Note: If for example in category “X” you had 3 programmes in 2020, 4 in 2021, 5 in 2022 and 6 in 2023, you would have to select your best 4 for the entire period.
- If the judges consider an entry has been entered into an unsuitable category, they may re-categorise the entry.
- Only material completed between February 2020 and December 2023, and not previously submitted to the Visible Spectrum awards, is eligible.
- By entering, the entrant acknowledges that they have obtained clearance for the SASC to copy the material or excerpts thereof, to be screened for any possible publicity purposes.
- The entrant assumes full responsibility for the technical quality of the material entered.
- Each entry must be completed in full and submitted via the online entry form on the SASC Website (Visible Spectrum Awards – Entries 2024)
- As this year’s Awards programme will be facilitated via Digital media and the Internet the actual programme being entered must be digitally made available to the SASC via one of these options:
- Upload the programme via the upload options supplied in the entry form of EACH CATEGORY. Any files up to 4GB can use this drag-and-drop option.
- Supply a link to media options such as: YouTube, Vimeo etc
INDEMNITY
The SASC accepts no liability for any licensing or copyright of material within an entry. By entering the competition, the entrant accepts full responsibility for all material submitted and holds the SASC blameless and indemnifies the SASC in any and all law suites, fees, or other settlements, which might arise out of any violation of any copyright laws.
ACCEPTANCE OF THE RULES
By submitting an entry, the entrant agrees to accept and abide by all rules as herein defined, as well as the decisions of the SASC Committee and judging panel.
SASC BOARD OF GOVERNORS
The SASC Board, which is selected and sanctioned by all members of the SASC, has complete authority over all aspects of the award presentations. Any decision made by the SASC is final and binding.
JUDGING
The SASC committee selects the judges. They will consist of recognised specialists within the Film and Television industry and may include (but will not be limited to) Marketing specialists, Creative Directors and others. The SASC committee appoints a chairman of the judges. Any judge having a direct or indirect interest in a programme will be requested to declare such interest and will not be allowed to score that entry.
The decision of the judges will be final and binding.
The judges have the discretion to give or withhold any awards.
CLOSING DATES & REGISTRATION
THERE IS NO ENTRY CHARGE IN ANY CATEGORY
Entry forms are available from the SASC website at www.sasc.co.za
Final closing date for entries will be the 20th of May 2024.
NO ENTRY WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE CLOSING DATE
CATEGORIES
A letter must accompany your nomination to the judges stating in no more than fifty words why the candidate for category 11, has been nominated. The judging panel may also nominate candidates during the selection process. Previous nominees may be submitted, and previous winners may not be selected again in this category
- BEST STUDENT PRODUCTION, CERTIFICATE AWARD
This category is for best cinematography submitted by a student
- BEST SASO PRODUCTION, CERTIFICATE AWARD
This category is for best cinematography by a specialist camera operator. This pertains to any camera operation, and includes special camera rigs, Steadicam, cranes, drones, aerial and underwater rigs.
- MUSIC VIDEO – VISIBLE SPECTRUM AWARD
This category is for cinematography on music videos
- DOCUMENTARY Corporate – VISIBLE SPECTRUM AWARD
This category is for cinematography on corporate, market or other general documentaries
- WILDLIFE DOCUMENTARY – VISIBLE SPECTRUM AWARD
This category is for cinematography on all programmes where the primary subject is wildlife
- SHORT FILM – VISIBLE SPECTRUM AWARD
This category is for cinematography on any Short Film production no longer than 50 minutes in duration
- TV DRAMA – VISIBLE SPECTRUM AWARD
This category is for cinematography on any Drama series or a one-off program. In the case of a series, an entrant may only enter one episode
- COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION – ‘PRODUCT’
VISIBLE SPECTRUM AWARD
This category is for cinematography on any Commercial production
- COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION – ‘CORPORATE’ VISIBLE SPECTRUM AWARD
This category is for cinematography on any Commercial production
- FEATURE – VISIBLE SPECTRUM AWARD
This category is for cinematography on a feature production
11. THE STEWART FARNELL LIFE TIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARD
This award is to be given annually to a senior Cinematographer who has excelled in his or her craft during the course of years. Has been publicly recognised for their professional skill and has been a leader in extending their skills to help develop the skills and careers of others in the industry. This Lifetime Achievement award is only open to members in the field of Cinematography
THE AWARDS
Please note that categories 1 and 2 are Tribute Awards and therefore, are not eligible for an SASC Visible Spectrum Award.
Each of these categories have their own Awards and Certificates reflecting the nature of the respective awards.
Certificate Award Categories:
No. 1. The Student Cinematography Award
No. 2. The SASO Camera Operator Award
There will be up to 3 finalists and 1 award winner per category
Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, & 10 – The Visible Spectrum Award
There may be up to 3 certificates per category, which may be Gold, Silver or Bronze
No. 11. The STEWART FARNELL Award
There will be one winner, chosen by the judging panel.
A floating trophy and a certificate will be awarded to the recipient
The Visible Spectrum Award will only be awarded at the Judge’s discretion
All winners will be acknowledged on our website and social media pages
F A Q's
F A Q’s:
“How much is the entry fee for each category?”
There is no entry fee at all
“Is it only open to SASC members?”
No, it is open to all Cinematographers
“Do I have to enter category #11?”
No, only if you wish to nominate a person based on his/her contribution to our industry
“What dates are we allowed to enter from?”
Productions completed between February 2020 to December 2023
“When is the closing date for entries?”
The closing date is the 20th of May 2024 – No entries will be accepted after that date
“Can I enter more than one category?”
Yes, you can enter more than one category, only 3 programs per category
“If I win a VSA can I become a member of the SASC”
Yes, but only with the Board of Governors approval