I. General Provisions  

1. Purpose

   To ensure the professionalism, fairness, and artistic authority of the IIFSA film selection process, a two-tier judging system is established, comprising preliminary review (by IIFSA Members) and final expert review (by IIFSA Fellows) to collectively screen and evaluate submitted works.  

2. Scope of Application 

   This system applies to film festivals, film awards, academic research evaluations, and other related judging activities in the field of film art and science organized or co-organized by IIFSA.  

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 II. Judging Tiers and Responsibilities  

1.First Tier (Preliminary Review)

   - Judges: Composed of IIFSA Members (regular members) with foundational knowledge or industry experience in film-related fields.  

   - Responsibilities:

     - Conduct initial screening of submitted films or research papers, eliminating works that fail to meet basic requirements (e.g., formatting issues, off-topic content, technical deficiencies).  

     - Score or rate works based on judging criteria and recommend outstanding entries for final review (recommendation ratio determined in advance by the organizing committee).  

     - Submit written evaluations, focusing on fundamental aspects such as narrative structure, technical execution, and artistic innovation.  

   - Judging Method:

     - Each work is independently evaluated by at least 3 preliminary reviewers, with average scores determining rankings.  

     - In case of disputes, the organizing committee may intervene for resolution.  

2. Second Tier (Final Expert Review)  

   - Judges: Composed of IIFSA Fellows (academicians/fellows) with authoritative academic backgrounds or industry achievements in film science or art (e.g., renowned directors, screenwriters, scholars, technical experts).  

   - Responsibilities: 

     - Conduct final evaluations of works recommended by preliminary reviewers to determine award winners and rankings.  

     - Engage in in-depth discussions for controversial entries, requesting defenses or supplementary materials from creators if necessary.  

     - Assess advanced metrics such as artistic value, scientific contribution, and societal impact.  

     - Sign final evaluation reports to ensure fairness.  

   - Judging Method:

     - Expert panels deliberate collectively via in-person meetings or online discussions, requiring majority consensus.  

     - Final results must be signed by at least 5 Fellows and submitted to the IIFSA Presidium for record-keeping.  

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 III. Judging Criteria and Process  

1. Judging Criteria

   - Films: Narrative coherence, artistic innovation, technical proficiency (cinematography, sound, editing, etc.), cultural value, and societal impact.  

   - Academic Research:** Scholarly rigor, scientific contribution, methodological innovation, and practical applicability to the film industry.  

   - Both tiers follow unified criteria, with final review assigning higher weight to advanced indicators (e.g., historical significance, cross-cultural influence).  

2. Process

   - Stage 1: Submission → Eligibility review (by Secretariat) → Assignment to preliminary reviewers.  

   - Stage 2: Preliminary screening → Submission of shortlist → Optional public announcement of initial results.  

   - Stage 3: Final expert review → Results announcement → Appeal period (7 days) → Final release.  

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 IV. Recusal and Confidentiality  

1. Recusal Principle

   - Judges must declare and recuse themselves if conflicts of interest exist (e.g., collaborations, familial ties with creators).  

2. Confidentiality Requirements  

   - The entire judging process is strictly confidential; unauthorized disclosure of content, scores, or deliberations is prohibited.  

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 V. Oversight and Appeals  

1. Oversight Mechanism 

   - An independent oversight committee handles complaints regarding judging fairness.  

2. Appeal Process  

   - Appeals must be submitted in writing during the announcement period, with the oversight committee conducting reviews and providing responses.  

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 VI. Supplementary Provisions  

1. The IIFSA Council reserves the right to interpret this system.  

2. Amendments require a two-thirds majority vote in an IIFSA Fellows meeting.