While 2023 Festival programming is continuing to evolve, you are enthusiastically encouraged to submit work to be judged by submitting recorded works for our online Hear Now Palooza!

1.     Two Levels for Entrants:

·     EMERGING – includes high school or college students and first-time entries by an individual or organization

·     ESTABLISHED – includes individuals or organizations that have entered more than three times in the past, prior award winners, and well “established” organizations or individuals.

2.     Entry fees:

 For each entry and for groups:  $50 for ‘Established” entrants

 $35 for “Emerging” entrants.

3.     Judging over 3 rounds:

*ROUND 1: The judging panel at this level will include three or four judges grouped to focus on one of 3 Major Classifications:  Audio Theatre; Audio Book; and Gaming Audio.

These Judges will listen to only five minute audio samples from entrants.  The rubric for this judging will be revised from methods used in the past. A numerical average will be calculated based on all of the judges’ evaluations.

(Additional First Round judges will be added if needed for any of the Three Major Classifications.)

*ROUND 2: The judging panels (for each of the three major classifications) at this level shall include approximately five to seven judges who will listen to longer audio samples from qualifying entrants. (None of these judges will have been involved in Round One judging.  And, additional Second Round judges will be added if needed for any of the Three Major Classifications.)

In the Second Round submissions should be limited to no longer than 30 minutes.  If an entry is a “series” of audio Theatre/podcast etc., the producer/organization shall submit a “sampling” of no more than a 30-minute entry, which may include edited selections at the digression of the producer, etc.  The rubric for this judging will also be revised from methods used in the past. A numerical average will be calculated based on all of the judges’ evaluations.

*ROUND 3:  A third level of “Expert” judges” for each of the three major classifications will be selected to judge the top two award categories.  Three to four “expert” judges will be selected for this level of judging. None of these “experts” shall have been involved in any judging for any of the previous “rounds.” These judges will evaluate the top two tiers of entries choosing those entrants that will be awarded at either the Platinum or Gold Award levels.  (Additional Third Round judges will be added if needed for any of the Three Major Classifications.)

At the beginning of the entry process, all judges will be announced for all three rounds of judging.

NOTE: After judging is complete, the award winners in each category will have their full-length production uploaded to the Winners’ Pages of the Hear Now Festival website (https://www.natf.org/landing-podcast-palooza/). Award winners will be allowed to upload a single episode or compilation with a total time of no more than 45 minutes. 

4.     The Audio Theatre Awards categories are:

·       Best Original Single Production

·       Best Original Series or Serial  

·       Best Script Writer

·       Best Producer  

·       Best Director

·       Best Actor  

·       Best Actress

·       Best Ensemble Cast Performance 

·       Best Non-Humanoid Performance 

·       Best Debut Vocal Performance 

·       Best Sound Design

·       Best Engineer

·       Excellence in Audio Accessibility 

The Audiobook Awards categories are:

·       Best Original Single Production

·       Best Original Series or Serial  

·       Best Writer

·       Best Producer  

·       Best Director

·       Best Actor  

·       Best Actress

·       Best Ensemble Cast Performance 

·       Best Non-Humanoid Performance 

·       Best Debut Vocal Performance 

·       Best Sound Design

·       Best Engineer

·       Best Original Music

·       Excellence in Audio Accessibility 

The Game Audio Awards categories are:

·       Best Game Audio Production

·       Best Script Writer

·       Best Director

·       Best Actor  

·       Best Actress

·       Best Ensemble Cast Performance 

·       Best Non-Humanoid Performance 

·       Best Debut Vocal Performance 

·       Best Sound Design

·       Best Engineer

·       Best Original Music

·       Excellence in Audio Accessibility 

Separate entries can be submitted for any of the above categories, with separate entry fees.

5.     Award Levels:

For both Emerging and Established Entrants:

§  Platinum

§  Gold

§  Silver

§  Bronze

§  Honorable Mention (For Emerging category only)