Details

Published: 19 December 2023

The Best Regional TV Programmes and Skills

CIRCOM Regional is delighted to announce the category winners in the Prix CIRCOM Regional 2024.

It has been a very successful year for the BBC and Omrop Fryslân. BBC Yorkshire won three categories, BBC South-East won one, while Omrop Fryslân won one category and was commended in two.

This year, 23 countries are represented. We are pleased that some countries have significantly increased the number of entries. The Netherlands stands out with 19 entries (4 last year) and Finland with 13 (only 4 in 2023).

The judges were pleased to see an increase in the number of entries in the Young Onscreen Talent category. As usual, the highest number of entries was in the Documentary category. There was a change in the News Programme Category in 2024 – CIRCOM member stations were asked to enter their News Programme only of 1 February 2024. This new rule has proved very successful and the judges appreciated the opportunity of a view around Europe which perhaps only CIRCOM could provide.

The judging of Prix CIRCOM 2024 was hosted by BBC Midlands in Birmingham, from 8th to 11th April. 14 production and broadcast professionals with substantial experience of making or commissioning programmes watched 180 entries submitted in 11 categories.
The full Jury Report detailing comments from the judges on all of the entries and the President's Report on the competition can be found HERE.

The Grand Prix 2024 winner, announced at the Gala awards ceremony in Poznań, Poland on 23th May 2024, at the 40th CIRCOM Annual Conference, is Wind Music (Blaasmuzyk) from Omrop Fryslân in The Netherlands!. Read more...

The list of category winners and commended is:

DIGITAL MULTIMEDIA
sponsor ORF Austria 

Winner:
My day in the ER (Päiväni päivystyksessä), Yle, Finland

Commended:
Stuck (Itsatsita), EITB Basque Country, Spain

 

DOCUMENTARY
sponsor RTÉ Ireland 

Winner:
Where it hurts most (Allà on fa més mal), CCMA Catalonia, Spain

Commended:
The Roma, the great silence (Tsiganes, le grand silence), France 3 Occitanie, France

ENTERTAINMENT AND DRAMA
sponsors RTP Portugal and TVG Galicia

Winner:
The Conqueror of the End of the World (El Conquistador del Fin del Mundo), EITB Basque Country, Spain

Commended:
Bartele Bûse - Miss Lize's Comb (Bartele Bûse - De kaam fan Juffer Lize), Omrop Fryslân, The Netherlands

 

INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
sponsor Council of Europe

Winner:
Milking It: Dairy's Dirty Secret, RTÉ, Ireand

Commended:
The taxi rapes (Taxivåldtäkterna), SVT Stockholm/Lokal, Sweden

 

MINORITIES IN SOCIETY
sponsor France Télévisions

Winner:
A cero.5 (A cero.5), TVG Galicia, Spain

Commended:
Telenotícies (TV News) special edition: persons with intellectual disability as guest editors and anchors (Edició especial 'Telenotícies': persones amb discapacitat intel·lectual com a redactors i presentadors convidats), CCMA Catalonia, Spain

 

MOST ORIGINAL AND INNOVATIVE
sponsor NRK Norway

Winner:
Tricked (Lurt), NRK Trøndelag, Norway

Commended:
PRESENT ('Here Now!') (PRESENT ('Hier Nu!')), Omrop Fryslân, The Netherlands

 

MUSIC AND ARTS
sponsor TG4 Ireland

Winner:
Wind Music (Blaasmuzyk / Blaasmuziek), Omrop Fryslân, The Netherlands

Commended:
Kolibri,until 2023 and Still Going (Kolibri, do 2023 i dalje), RTS, Serbia

 

NEWS PROGRAMME
sponsor RPO The Netherlands

Winner:
BBC Look North, BBC Yorkshire, UK

Commended:
News Finland (Uutis-Suomi), Yle, Finland

 

NEWS REPORT
sponsor EITB Basque Country, Spain

Winner:
Car Meets: Car, Crowds and Cops, BBC South-East (Tunbridge Wells), UK

Commended:
When disabilities become abilities (Dizabilitati transformate in abilitati), TVR Cluj, Romania

 

VIDEO JOURNALISM
sponsor BBC UK

Winner:
James Vincent, BBC Yorkshire, UK

Commended:
Jøte Toftaker, NRK Trøndelag, Norway

 

YOUNG ONSCREEN TALENT
sponsor TVR Romania

Winner:
Jacob Tomlinson, BBC Yorkshire, UK

There is no Commended in this category

The winning stations receive a trophy, 1000 euros as well as travel to and accommodation at the awards ceremony. The Grand Prix winner receives a further 2000 euros in cash and another trophy.

The Judges were:
Paulina Ibek (TVP Kraków, Poland), Claudia Schubert (ORF, Landestudio Niederösterreich, Austria), Pilar Rodriguez Losada (CRTVG, Galicia, Spain), Marina Ramos (RTP, Portugal), Olivier Brumelot (FTV, FR3 Pays de la Loire, France), Charlotte Ervik (NRK Møre og Romsdol, Norway), Theodora Fairley (BBC Yorkshire, UK), Brighid Breathnach (TG4, Ireland), Allard Berends(RPO Omroep Flevoland, The Netherlands), Péter Keresztes (TVR Timisoara, Romania), Gorka Garcia (EITB, Basque Country, Spain), Aki Karjalainen (Yle, Finland), Susanna Johansson (SVT Nyheter Dalarna, Sweden), Margaret Cameron (MG Alba, Scotland, UK) and David Lowen (CIRCOM Regional).

 

 

Details

Published: 18 December 2023

List of information you need to provide when entering Prix 2024, depending on the category

For categories:
Documentary, Entertainment and Drama, Investigative Journalism, Minorities in Society, Most Original and Innovative, Music and Arts, News Report

Applying person*:
Name: 
Address:
Telephone:
Mobile:
E-mail:

Contact for entry*:
Name:
Telephone:
mobile:
E-mail:

Who collects the trophy**:

Original title:
Title in English:
Director:
Producer:
Date of first  transmission: (must be between between 25/03/2023 and 22/03/2024)
Running time: (please provide complete running time, it is necessary to plan the time for judging)
TV channel:

* the "Applying person" and "Contact for entry" can (but don't have to) be the same
** „Who collects the trophy“ is the person who will, in case of winning a prize, be at the prize giving ceremony. Please make sure you have al the permissions you need from your broadcaster and from your national coordinator. In the case of any dispute over the right to enter, the CIRCOM co-ordinator's view will be taken into account.

 

For Category News Programme

Information you have to provide are same as the above, but have in mind that you are asked to enter your News Programme ONLY of 1 February 2024. News delivered on any other day is not acceptable. Check the Rules of Entry >>

 

For category Digital Multimedia

Applying person*:
Name: 
Address:
Telephone:
Mobile:
E-mail:

Contact for entry*:
Name:
Telephone:
mobile:
E-mail:

Who collects the trophy**:

Original title:
Title in English:
Date when the entry was published for the first time (must be between 25/03/2023 and 22/03/2024)

* the "Applying person" and "Contact for entry" can (but don't have to) be the same
** „Who collects the trophy“ is the person who will, in case of winning a prize, be at the prize giving ceremony. Please make sure you have al the permissions you need from your broadcaster and from your national coordinator. In the case of any dispute over the right to enter, the CIRCOM co-ordinator's view will be taken into account.

 

For category Video Journalism

Please note:  you will fill-in ONE form for one VJ and upload THREE reports made by that VJ under the same ID number (ID number will be emailed to you when you fill-in and submit the form)

Applying person*:
Name: 
Address:
Telephone:
Mobile:
E-mail:

Contact for entry*:
Name:
Telephone:
mobile:
E-mail:

Who collects the trophy**:

Name of the VJ:
Director:
Producer:
Date of first transmission: (must be between between 25/03/2023 and 22/03/2024)
TV channel:

* the "Applying person" and "Contact for entry" can (but don't have to) be the same
** „Who collects the trophy“ is the person who will, in case of winning a prize, be at the prize giving ceremony. Please make sure you have al the permissions you need from your broadcaster and from your national coordinator. In the case of any dispute over the right to enter, the CIRCOM co-ordinator's view will be taken into account.

 

For category Young Onscreen Talent

Applying person*:
Name: 
Address:
Telephone:
Mobile:
E-mail:

Contact for entry*:
Name:
Telephone:
mobile:
E-mail:

Who collects the trophy**:

Name of the Young Onscreen Talent:
Date of birth:
Station of Employment:
TV channel:

* the "Applying person" and "Contact for entry" can (but don't have to) be the same
** „Who collects the trophy“ is the person who will, in case of winning a prize, be at the prize giving ceremony. Please make sure you have al the permissions you need from your broadcaster and from your national coordinator. In the case of any dispute over the right to enter, the CIRCOM co-ordinator's view will be taken into account.

 

Video upload instructions

The video is to be submitted through the Prix online application. You will receive detailed instructions by email when you submit your entry form. Each video, including those in English, must have full subtitling in English sufficient for the judges to be able to understand what is being said. Subtitles have to be burnt in the video file (.ts format is not acceptable) OR sent in separate .srt file.

Please upload files up to MAX 10GB in size, quality of up to 5 Mbps, resolution 720p (1280 x 720) - broadcast quality is NOT needed for judging purposes.
The required video codec is H.264.

You can also upload additional materials, like images or .doc/.pdf presentations of your programme - please make sure that all the files are clearly marked with your ID number!. 

VLC Media Player will be used for viewing the videos during judging, so you may want to check your video in VLC player before upload (VLC is a free open source cross-platform multimedia player - http://www.videolan.org/vlc/)

Please MARK CLEARLY your video file, using your entry's ID, category, station, programme title or VJ/Rising star name in the name of the file - see examples:

ID2024055_documentary_RTE_Sign.mp4
ID2024097_video-journalism_EITB_Jose_Muron.m2p
ID2024132_entertainment_TVR_Sing_now.mov

Note for VIDEO JOURNALISM category: upload all THREE reports (as required in Prix Rules for the category) under the same ID number - as three separate files or as one file, whatever is more convenient for you, but mark each file with your ID number!.

 

Details

Published: 19 December 2023

To enter the Prix CIRCOM you have to register, fill in the entry form with requested information and upload your video. Here is how to do it in a few a easy steps:

 

STEP 1 - Check the Rules 

BEFORE you start filling in the Entry form, read the Rules of Entry carefully and check the list of information you have to provide and video upload specifications - bare in mind that, once submitted, your entry form and information in it can't be updated.

 

STEP 2 - Register

Go to https://prix.circom-regional.eu

Register / create an account in the right hand menu (see image below)
*note: accounts created last year are NOT valid - please create a new account

 

 

You will receive an verification link to the e-mail address you have entered when registering. Verify your email address by clicking on the verification link, after which - for security reasons - your account will be activated by system administrator. You will receive confirmation when your account is activated, after that you can log in.

 

STEP 3 - Log in

Log in on https://prix.circom-regional.eu (Login Form in the RIGHT hand menu) - once you're logged in, follow the link to Prix CIRCOM ENTRY FORM in the centre of the page

 

STEP 4 - Fill in the entry form

- Read carefully and accept the Rules (see image below):

 

 

- Select your country (see image below):

 

- Select your station (see image below):

 

- Select a category you are submitting your programme to (see image below):
- if the category is already taken by another programme from your station it will not be listed
(according to the Rules of entry, Rule 2.)

 

- Provide all necessary information (see image below):

- CLICK HERE for the list of information you have to provide - do it BEFORE you start filling in the Entry form (once submitted your information can't be updated)
- the "Applying person" and "Contact for entry" can - but don't have to - be the same
- „Who collects the trophy“ is the person who will, in case of winning a prize, be at the prize giving ceremony
- please make sure you have all the permissions you need from your broadcaster and from your national coordinator. In the case of any dispute over the right to enter, the CIRCOM co-ordinator's view will be taken into account
- note for VIDEO JOURNALISM category:  you will fill-in ONE form for one VJ and upload THREE reports made by that VJ under the same ID number (ID number will be emailed to you when you fill-in and submit the form)

 

Your entry is submitted (see image below):

 

 

STEP 5 - Upload your video

When you submit your entry form, you will receive by e-mail a confirmation of your entry with your ID number and instructions on how to upload video file.
Deadline for upload is Friday March 24th 2023. You will upload video to the Prix online application - in a browser go to https://prix.circom-regional.eu/, log in with the same account you created for filling in the entry form and go to "Video upload" in the Main Menu on the right side - see image below.

Upload files up to MAX 10GB in size, quality of up to 5 Mbps, resolution 720p (1280 x 720) - broadcast quality is NOT needed for judging purposes.
The required video codec is H.264. No other codecs can be accepted.
Preferred container foramts are .mp4 and .mov
Make sure your video is subtitled in English throughout, as requested by Prix CIRCOM Rules of Entry, rule No 8.
Subtitles have to be burnt-in the video file (.ts format is not acceptable) OR sent in separate .srt file.

If there is some reason why you cannot deliver in required H.264 video codec, or you have difficulties uploading, alert Tonja Stojanac - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. -  in advance.

You need to identify your video with its unique entry number, category, your station and video title (or VJ/Young onscreen talent name) - see examples:

ID2024055_documentary_RTE_Sign.mp4
ID2024097_video-journalism_EITB_Jose_Muron.mp4
ID2024132_entertainment_TVR_Sing_now.mov

Failing to do this wastes much time and can result in your entry being lost and not judged. Please remember we have to deal with up to 200 entries in a relatively short period.

You can also upload additional materials, like images or .doc/.pdf presentations of your programme - please make sure that all the files are clearly marked with your ID number!. 

If you will upload more then one file, upload them one by one.

 

Questions about or problems relating to the web-based entry form, video delivery, or other technical issues to Tonja Stojanac at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Questions about the Rules of Entry only to Mojca Recek at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

 

Details

Published: 18 December 2023

How to win a Prix CIRCOM award... well, maybe

There are no easy answers on how to maximise your chances of winning an award. These few words are offered by David Lowen as President and Chair of the Judges over many years. You can also watch a webinar with Prix judges and previous winners giving insights into how to win the Prix CIRCOM. 

Neither David nor CIRCOM Regional can be held responsible if you enter and fail having followed these suggestions. That is because the criteria and sometimes categories change every year, judges change every year, tastes change every year and the competing programmes change every year. No two years are ever identical. No guidance can ensure success.

However...

Remember this is a Prix for regions
The whole purpose of this competition is to demonstrate the strength of content creation and media delivery from and in the regions and in small states. Judges are certain to favour subject matter which comes from or promotes regional characteristics. It may be created for a national or international market but that is acceptable when it brings fine credit to a regional production created mainly by regionally-based skills. Check Award Criteria for All Categories.

Read the Rules carefully
You need to make sure your entry is valid. You would be surprised how many entrants fail to read the Rules of Entry carefully. In particular, check the requirements for each category. Also, it is pointless, as several have, to seek to enter a programme wholly or partly without subtitles. The rules on subtitling are clear and are there because it is impossible for judges to speak every language in Europe: we have to create a common language. Nor does it help to enter but say that rights issues prevent any agreement to transmission by CIRCOM members should you be a winner. Check first that rights, especially international delivery, are available as required by the Rules of Entry. Check first that rights are available as required by the Rules of Entry.

Pick your category carefully
The toughest category is probably “Documentary”. The judges probably see 20 programmes which are of superb standard. Your chances of winning in this category may be less than in other categories. Check out the possibility of entering instead in other categories, even if your programme is in documentary form. 

Read the judges’ reports
Every year, a very substantial document is produced in which the judges’ comments on each programme are set out. They give superb clues on what the judges are looking for, what impresses them and even what annoys them. Also, every year, the chair of each category makes comments about the range of programmes submitted. These also give very strong indicators of weaknesses in submitted programmes and hopes for the following year. About half the judges from last year’s judging will attend the following year, so their views could still be influential. The Jury Report is made available in printed form at the conference and also on the CIRCOM website. Past reports are available here.

 

Try a new category
Categories usually take a little time to be noticed by entrants, so attract fewer entries in the first year especially. Keep your eyes open for changes in categories and be among the first to enter. For instance, a few years ago we added Drama to Entertainment and Arts to Music: it has taken a while for entrants to notice. More recently, we added a Digital Multimedia category and this is worthy of consideration. This year (2024), the News Programme category is changed so that it requires a news programme delivered on 1 February 2024. It will be little use to realise this when considering entries in March if no evidence of it remains. Plan now and make sure you can enter, when others forget. There are fresh opportunities here. Spot them before others do.

 

Good story in a bad programme?
You can still win with a short piece of high quality hidden in a weak programme. For instance, News Report requires a maximum of 5 minutes – and it encourages direct delivery by streaming. It may not be within an excellent News Programme – but it may be an award-winning single report. And two entries are permitted in the News Report category, so there’s double the chance of winning.

 

Great professional skills
Don’t forget the opportunities presented by Young Onscreen Talent and Video Journalism. These skills-based categories are independent of the programme in which they occur. It is also highly encouraging for staff to know their skills are recognised by their employers. These categories have been low on entries in recent years and present a major opportunity for glory and reward.

 

Great moment in a boring programme?
The Most Original and Innovative category asks only for a moment of inspiration or evidence of innovation behind the camera. This does not have to be sustained throughout the programme, so the judges can be flexible and encouraging.

 

Trust in youth
The Young Onscreen Talent category is a great opportunity to parade talent and encourage young on-screen talent. In recent years, the entries have been fewer than hoped – so the category offers a great chance of giving you a winning chance. Take it and enter! What’s more, you can have not one but TWO entries in this category for every regional station.

 

Avoid travelogues
These may make popular and easy viewing in your region: they also promote your region's culture and beauty. But the judges usually demand something more challenging as a category winner. The travelogues may have beautiful scenery and the station may be very proud of its region – but this is not enough: they can look like just promotional videos for tourist authorities. Good characters may improve such programmes but the quality of storytelling is often missing.

 

Avoid re-fighting old battles
Like travelogues, history programmes can be a core part of regional television as a region’s history is explored in the tensions (and often atrocities) of the past. However, there are many of these programmes presented to the judges and they often fail to be distinctive. They can make interesting historical reflections and essential regional viewing - but do not often produce winners.

 

Add helpful background information
The judges do read the supporting information carefully. This offers a great chance to argue the case for your programme. You can explain why it is significant in your station’s history or output; or why it was so difficult to produce; or the impact it had; or even other awards it has won.

 

Consider how you came to choose your content
The criteria now require a station to make clear how content can be “bottom up” and not just “top down”. If you are proud of how your audience involves itself in stimulating your content and news stories, make this clear – and the judges will take note.

 

Show how flexible you are in reaching your audience
Judges are looking for how widely regional stations distribute content and what opportunities there are for interactivity. If one of your possible entries demonstrates this well, do enter. Again the judges will notice.

 

Double your chances of winning
Three categories offer TWO chances of winning rather than one for each regional station: News Report, Video Journalism and Young Onscreen Talent. These are all short-form so this limits translation and subtitling costs. There is no need now to make hard choices on what or whom to enter: Enter both!

 

If you have a query, ask
Once the competition is launched, no further advice can be given on how to win. But the President Mojca Recek - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - will, however, explain any rules which you do not understand.