BOOK REVIEW &
BOOK TRAILER CONTEST

The American Center in Moscow is excited to announce the 2022 Book Review and Book Trailer Contest. Join this contest to share your love of books by American authors, to apply your skills to creating a digital media product, and to help others discover amazing stories to read.

We invite readers aged 18 and older living in Russia to enter one or both of the two contest tracks:

Track #1: create an original book review in the form of a podcast (audio) of a book/story by an American author from the American Center’s in Moscow’s eBook Library;

Track #2: create an original book trailer (video) for a book / story by an American author from the American Center’s in Moscow’s eBook Library.

For inspiration and additional help, entrants will be able to join training sessions on storytelling concepts and audio and video recording and editing.

The contest timeline: February 1, 2022 — March 15, 2022, the last day to submit your entries — March 15, 2022 23:59 MSK. Winners will be announced in April 2022.

Winners will be awarded prizes; best reviews and trailers will be featured on social media pages of the American Center in Moscow.

For full details, please make sure to check all guidelines below.

CONTEST GUIDELINES

WHO CAN TAKE PART

The contest is open to entrants aged 18 and older residing in the Russian Federation.

Entrants can work individually or in a group of no more than two.

CONTEST TRACKS

Entrants can select to take part in one OR both contest tracks:

Track #1: create an original book review in the form of a podcast (audio) of a book / story by an American author from AMC’s eBook Library;

Track #2: create an original book trailer (video) for a book / story by an American author from AMC’s eBook Library.

It means that entrants can submit an entry of only a book review podcast or a book trailer, or they can submit both a book review podcast and a book trailer.

If an entrant is taking part in both contest tracks, the books they are creating a review podcast on and a book trailer for should be different, that is they cannot create a book review podcast and a book trailer based on the same book.

Only one submission per track from one entrant is allowed, that is one entrant can only submit one book review podcast and/or one book trailer. If more than one entry per track is submitted, only the first entry will be judged.

WHAT BOOKS CAN BE REVIEWED

Book reviews and trailers must represent a book/story by an American author that is available in the American Center’s eBook Library (https://amc.overdrive.com/) in English. The book/story can be of any genre and any length.

The library features books by international authors, so it is the entrant’s responsibility to check that the book they select is indeed written by an American author. Entries based on books by non-American authors will be disqualified. Entries based on books not available in the American Center’s eBook Library will be disqualified.

Where to find these books

Entrants who are not registered in the American Center in Moscow’s eBook Library, they can do so here: https://amc.ru/en/learn/ebook-libraryen/ (click on the «Sign up» button). The library is free.

Please note that the library resources are only available to people currently residing in the Russian Federation. Please allow up to seven business days to receive access to the American Center in Moscow’s eBook Library.

WHERE TO FIND THESE BOOKS

TRACK #1: BOOK REVIEWS

Where to find these books

TRACK #2: BOOK TRAILERS

TRAINING SESSIONS

ABOUT TRAINING

Three training sessions will be held for potential entrants during that submission period of the contest. One training session will help participants better understand what a book review and trailer is and how to create one. The other two training sessions will equip participants with basic skills of audio and video recording and editing necessary for creating a contest entry. For dates of the training sessions, please check the American Center in Moscow’s calendar of events.

The training sessions are free and available to the general public. All sessions will be held online on Zoom. These sessions may be useful in creating your contest entries, however, attending the sessions is not a prerequisite for taking part in the contest.

Session 1: How to Create Podcast Content / Storytelling for Audio and Video Content / How to connect your speaking voice with listeners for more impact.
Session 2: Editing a Podcast.
Session 3: Editing a Video.

HOW THE WINNERS WILL BE SELECTED

Contest entries in both contest tracks will be judged on their originality, creativity, language, and expression.

Up to three winning entries will be selected by the American Center and guest judges. The winners will be announced in April 2022 on the American Center in Moscow’s social media pages. Notification and instructions for the prizes will be sent to the email addresses provided in the potential prize winners’ entry forms. Each finalist is responsible for monitoring their email for prize notification and/or other communications related to this contest.

The American Center reserves the right to choose one winning entry by popular vote, conducted via the American Center’s social media pages. The American Center reserves the right to also pick a few Honorable Mentions—the final number will depend on the number of entries received.

The winners will be awarded prizes and their works will be published in the American Center in Moscow’s social media pages.

DISCLAIMERS

The American Center in Moscow reserves the right to terminate, suspend or amend the Contest, without notice, and for any reason.

Regardless of how many entries you submit, you can win only one prize. By entering the contest, you certify that your entry is your own original creation. Entries that are plagiarized will be disqualified from the contest.

All decisions as to winners are made by the American Center in Moscow and guest judges; all decisions are final.

Entrants who are not registered in the American Center in Moscow’s eBook Library, they can do so here: https://amc.ru/en/learn/ebook-libraryen/ (click on the «Sign up» button). The library is free.

Привет!
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BOOK REVIEW & BOOK TRAILER CONTEST