SUNSATIONAL awards

The Florida Festivals and Events Association’s mission is to promote and strengthen the festival, event and fair industry in Florida through education, networking, dissemination of information, and the cultivation of high standards for the industry.

We strongly feel that we do this through the FFEA SUNsational Awards Program, which recognizes its member’s innovation, individuality and creative collaboration.  SUNsational Award applications are available in January each year and awards are announced and distributed at the Annual Convention and Tradeshow during an evening dinner and social. Application details and a link to apply online are all below.

Budget Categories

Events of all sizes are encouraged to submit entries. You will be judged among your peers in the same event budget category so you are competing with festivals with similar budgets. There are three event budget categories:
  • $24,999 and under
  • $25,000  - $149,999
  • $150,000 and over

Please submit each entry in one of these event budget categories. Budgets should include the entire budget for the event that you are entering, including all in-kind services.
 

Award Categories & Judging Criteria

Printed Materials - Is the item’s message informative, clear, concise, compelling enough to engage the audience, easy to understand, possess exceptional design features and is it original?
  *  Brochure
  *  Magazine Display Ad
  *  Miscellaneous Printed Piece (bound and not bound) - Examples of miscellaneous printed materials include, but are not limited to, invitations, tickets, postcards, direct mail pieces,annual reports, and magazines. Enter brochures in the Brochure Category.
  *  Newspaper Special Section
  *  Poster
 
Outdoor Advertisement - Is the message informative, clear, concise, compelling enough to engage the audience, easy to read, have visual impact, and original?
Examples of outdoor advertising include, but are not limited to, over-the-street signage, street pole banners, bus signs, vehicle wraps/signs, sidewalk signage, billboards, trash can wraps, etc.
 
Partnership (sponsorship, community, or educational) - Does the partnership serve a purpose or objective, involve and benefit all partners, produce measurable results and is it an original idea?

Photo (black/white or color) - Does the photo have original and exceptional composition, use of light and color, and evoke an emotion or leave an impression?

Program or Event Within an Existing Event - Does the program or event serve a purpose or objective, provide added value for the existing event and is it an original idea?

Promotional Item - Is the promotional item original, have visual impact, and serve a purpose for its target market? Examples of promotional items include, but not limited to, souvenirs, collared shirts, hats, mugs, pins, and recognition items.  Enter tee-shirts in the Tee-Shirt Category.

Tee-Shirt - Does the tee-shirt display good use of design and originality? Collared shirts should be entered under Promotional Items.
 
Broadcast Media – Is the message informative, clear, concise, compelling enough to engage the audience, original, and have impact?
  *  Radio Ad or PSA
  *  Television Ad or PSA
 
Online - Is the website/page informative, clear, concise, compelling enough to engage the audience, easy to navigate, have visual impact and does it possess exceptional design features and display originality?
  *  Social Media Marketing - Examples of social media marketing include, but are not limited to FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, webcasts, blogs, podcasts, Flickr, Pinterest, Linked In, GooglePlus, etc.  
  *  Website
  *Mobile Event App (iPhone/Android)

Five FAQ

1.    Where can I see the entries that were submitted? - All entries will be displayed at the convention and trade show – July 31- August 2 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs, FL.

2.    When will winners be announced? - Winners will be announced at the 18th Annual Convention and Trade Show Awards Dinner, Thursday, August 1st. Winners will be presented with an award to display. 

3.    Do I have to present to win? - Although we encourage you to attend the Convention and Tradeshow, you do not have to be present to win a SUNsational Award. 

4.    How can I view the winning entries? - A PowerPoint of all winning entries will be placed on the FFEA website. 

5.    Will press releases, on winning entries, be distributed? - Press releases, explaining the award and the competition, will be written and distributed to your local media sources and throughout the state.  We encourage you to send out press releases to your media contacts as well. 

Rules & Policies

  1. Only FFEA members are eligible to submit entries.
  2. You may submit multiple entries in each award categories.
  3. Entries must be submitted digitally and an original piece of each entry should be mailed to the FFEA Office for display during the Convention & Tradeshow.  
  4. Entries must have been produced and/or utilized between July 5, 2012 and July 5, 2013.
  5. Please pay close attention to the submission requirements. If submission requirements are not met, your entry may not be judged.
  6. All entries become the property of FFEA.FFEA assumes no liability for items lost, taken, or damaged.
  7. All entries must be submitted by July 13, 2013.
  8. All entries must include payment at time of submission.

Judging

Entries are judged by professionals in their fields of radio, television, photography, website development, promotions, graphics, advertising, public relations, marketing, social media, and special event production.

The FFEA Media Awards entries are judged through a point system based on the criteria listed for each category.

Three SUNsational Awards will be given in each award category; a best in category award and two runner-up awards, unless, in the opinion of the judges, no award is merited. The judges reserve the right to give multiple awards in a category if scores are tied.

Cost

The entry fee for each entry is $25.

 

CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2012 AWARD WINNERS