High School students in grades 10 – 12, attending classes in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are invited to enter their work in the 2016 Media Arts and Design (MAD) Festival competition. West Liberty University students will compete in a separate competition. The awards ceremony will take place on the morning of Friday, April 8th, in College Hall. All category winners will be acknowledged during the MAD Festival. By entering the festival competition you are giving your permission for West Liberty University to display your entries on this website and in a live presentation at the awards ceremony on April 8th at West Liberty University.
Entries will be received online from February 10 – March 11.
NOTE: Since this is an educational festival with a public viewing and online delivery, all accepted entries will be limited to a PG type rating. Excessive or gratuitous violence, language, sexual material, or other questionable content may be restricted from the competition at the discretion of the jurors and/or festival coordinators.
Here are the categories for the 2016 festival.
Short Film – Fictional stories written and produced by the student (or group of no more than 3 students). May be shot as film or video and include actors and production elements associated with contemporary storytelling. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING FORMAT CHANGE: Your video must be output to one of the following web friendly formats: AVI, MOV, WMV, MP4, MPEG. Maximum file size is 300 mb. Compress your file if necessary to keep it under the 300 mb limit. When entering your piece in the competition you will have the option to upload it directly or link to a youtube account containing the video.
Digital Imaging – Original art created using digital processes. This can include collage, vector graphics, photography, and scanned objects or textures. If found works are used, the piece should be transformative of original content. Upload the image in the .jpg or .png file format. 20 mb max file size.
Electronic Music – Original compositions, up to 5 minutes in length. Can include original instrumentation, sampled sounds, midi sounds, or mashups of two or more pre-recorded songs, as long as such works are transformative of original content. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING FORMAT CHANGE: Your audio file must be exported in a .mp4 or .mov video file format. This may require that you first import the audio file into a video editor and then export the file as a AVI, MOV, WMV, MP4, or MPEG. 300 mb max file size. You may also first upload your file to youtube and then link to the file when entering it in the competition. Your piece will be judged solely on the audio content, so there is no need to accompany the audio track with stills or motion graphics.
Animation – Original animated project. May include stop motion projects, vector animations, cartoons. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING FORMAT CHANGE: Your video must be output to one of the following web friendly formats: AVI, MOV, WMV, MP4, MPEG. Maximum file size is 300 mb. Compress your file if necessary to keep it under the 300 mb limit. When entering your piece in the competition you will have the option to upload it directly or link to a youtube account containing the video.
Illustration – Original illustration using digital and/or traditional techniques. Limited to completely original works (no collages of other artwork – those works belong in the Digital Imaging category). Upload the image in the .jpg or .png file format. 20 mb max file size.
Mixed Media – Original static mixed media piece. May include a range of materials, from found object assemblage, to a variety of traditional or non-traditional media. Upload the image in the .jpg or .png file format. 20 mb max file size.
Multimedia – Original dynamic multimedia piece. Should be composed of a variety of media, which may include video, animation, photography, sound, illustration, and type. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING FORMAT CHANGE: Your video must be output to one of the following web friendly formats: AVI, MOV, WMV, MP4, MPEG. Maximum file size is 300 mb. Compress your file if necessary to keep it under the 300 mb limit. When entering your piece in the competition you will have the option to upload it directly or link to a youtube account containing the video.
Interactive – Web Design, Mobile Apps, Interactive Music Applications, Games, or Interactive storytelling. Original coding and graphics required. Judged on originality, navigation, and content. Must be accessible online and easily playable in a standard web browser. For the competition you will provide a URL link to your project.
Graphic Design – The visual communication of ideas to convey a message, primarily through the display of typography and/or images. Upload the image in the .jpg or .png file format. 20 mb max file size.
Audio Documentary – Non-fiction audio stories recorded and produced by one or two students. Subjects could include an interesting place, an event, an individual, or an organization – for the purpose of documenting a historical record. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING FORMAT CHANGE: Your audio file must be exported in a .mp4 or .mov video file format. This may require that you first import the audio file into a video editor and then export the file as a AVI, MOV, WMV, MP4, or MPEG. 300 mb max file size. You may also first upload your file to youtube and then link to the file when entering it in the competition. Your piece will be judged solely on the audio content, so there is no need to accompany the audio track with stills or motion graphics.
Video Documentary – Non-fiction video stories recorded and produced by up to three students. Subjects could include an interesting place, an event, an individual, or an organization – for the purpose of documenting a historical record. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING FORMAT CHANGE: Your video must be output to one of the following web friendly formats: AVI, MOV, WMV, MP4, MPEG. Maximum file size is 300 mb. Compress your file if necessary to keep it under the 300 mb limit. When entering your piece in the competition you will have the option to upload it directly or link to a youtube account containing the video.