The Third Coast Festival seeks to expand upon traditional expectations of audio documentary work. In this spirit we offer the following guidelines:

We're looking for stories that document a place, time, person, event, phenomenon or issue. These include but are not limited to: investigative reports, narrative stories, personal essays and audio portraits. We're interested in work with a social mission and stories that entertain. Musical and historical documentaries are welcome. Profiles and cultural snapshots are welcome. Intimate stories and narrative field recordings are welcome.

Please contact us with any questions about eligibility.

• Entries must range between 2 and 60 minutes in length with the exception of the Best News Feature, which has a time limit of 10 minutes. 


• Entries must have been produced and presented publicly for the first time on the radio, the Internet or in a gallery/museum between July 1, 2006 and July 18, 2008.


• Entries must be produced in English.


• Work featured at www.thirdcoastfestival.org or on Re:sound is eligible for entry into the competition.


• Each producer must sign the release and license agreement on the entry form, which provides the Third Coast Festival with broadcast and Internet rights to present entries in their entirety between October 1, 2008 and October 1, 2009.
  

Additional guidelines:

• Entries should consist of an individual documentary or feature:
• Each documentary in a series is a separate entry.
• Each feature within a program that presents multiple pieces is a separate entry.
  


• Podcast entries:
• Podcast entries must have been originally presented as podcasts, rather than as radio programs.
• Each episode from a podcast is a separate entry.

IMPORTANT DATES:

• Call for entries announced – Wednesday, May 7


• Early deadline for entries – postmarked on or before Friday, June 27


• Late deadline for entries – postmarked Saturday June 28 through Friday, July 18


• Deadline for ALA nominations – Friday, July 18


• Winners notified – early September


• Awards Ceremony – Saturday, October 11 (held during the TCF Conference)