Call for entries: 2020 National Entertainment Awards in Sierra Leone

The awards were established by event company Lake Productions to celebrate the country’s culture, creative arts and tourism industries. Additionally, it aims to reflect the opinion of both industry professionals and the general public.

This year sees the introduction of new categories including Best Photographic Studio, Best Restaurant, Best Online Blogger and Best Sports Club of the Year.

“The team at the NEAs is determined to maintain consistency, integrity, professionalism and best international practices like are done at the BETs and the Grammys,” Lake Productions CEO Alhaji K Tarawally said at the launch of this year's edition. “Despite the challenges, we still continue to persevere from better to greater.”

How to enter

Nominations are open for films, music videos, comedy skits and documentaries.

Interested Sierra Leonean artists, filmmakers, comedians, actors or their representatives can download submission forms here.

Applications can be emailed to [email protected] or submitted via the Lake Productions’ website.

Alternatively, hard copies of the nomination forms will be available at the Sierra Leone Film Council, the Sierra Leone Musicians Union, the Music and Movie Marketers Union Sierra Leone, the International Theatre Institute, the Sierra Leone Promoters Union, Sierra Leone Pageantry, the Modelling and Producers Association, the Sierra Leone DJs Union, Union of Musical Performing Artists Sierra Leone, and the Sierra Leone Association of Comedians.

To be eligible for nomination, submitted works must have been released publicly between 1 October 2019 and 20 October 2020.

Terms

• Each entry may be submitted by only one individual or organisation (a registered record label/production company) and supported by a verified nomination entry by the company executive, producer or the director of the film, skit, or music video via Lake Productions’ website.
• Where there is a tie for the final selection process of nominee or awardee, the board of trustees will be factored in.
• If a film, music video, skit or documentary is a co-production, the entrant (producer/director) assumes full responsibility for notifying the other co-production partners of the entry. In the event of multiple entries for the same film, copyright ownership will determine which entry is accepted. The entrant (producer) is responsible for securing and clearing all rights.
• An electronic press kit (EPK) is required for submitted finalists who are shortlisted. The press kit, together with a high-resolution digital copies of works (MPEG4/h264 @1080p/10-25mbps or H264/MPEG) may be sent via WeTransfer.
• Alternatively, DVD, CD, pen drive or memory sticks containing submission materials may be delivered to the Lake Production office at 73 Siaka Stevens Street in
  Freetown on weekdays between 10am to 4pm GMT.
• Works geared towards fundraising or brand advertising are eligible for submission.
• This year’s nominations are only open to industry professionals and not the general public.

The deadline for submissions is 31 October.

For more information, send an email to [email protected].