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READ THE FOLLOWING CLOSELY

• Submissions Open: 12/4/24

• Submissions Close: 2/14/2025 at 11:59 PM MST (US Time Zone)

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Prize

• 1st Place: $50 honorarium + I Am Root Merch

• Winner’s video and runner-ups will be featured across I Am Root’s social media.

• Additional entries may also be recognized and published.

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Topic

• The focus is the future, start by channeling a memory from the past that has played a role in getting you started on the path you're headed. Then consider how that memory impacts the actions that you take today. How does that make you feel? What do you plan to do about it?

[Video Submission + Transcript required]

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Entry Fee

• Standard Entry: $5

• Additional Entries: $5 per submission

• All entrants will receive 15% off any purchase from the I Am Root Website.

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Eligibility

• Age: You must be 18 years or older to enter (or have your parent's permission).

• Language: We welcome poetry in any language, as long as non-English videos are accompanied by subtitles.

• Previous Publication: Videos that have been previously published elsewhere are eligible, with the understanding that any selected video may need to be taken down from other locations on the internet.

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Rules

• Video Length: 1-5 minutes

• File Size: Must not exceed 1GB (if emailed)

• Submission Format: Videos must be submitted using the submission manager on this page. Most common video file types are accepted. Please send us a download link OR YouTube Link (upload your video as unlisted).

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• Rights: You MUST own the complete, transferable rights to ALL elements of the submission, including text, audio, video, and images. These videos will be uploaded to our IAMROOT Co YouTube Channel during the voting period.

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• Collaborative Poems: Collaborative poems are fine!

• Video Quantity: Only one video per submission. Multiple submissions are OK.

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Note: Submissions that do not meet these rules may be disqualified.

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Contest Process

• Judges:

  • Members of the I Am Root, Poetry.Hype, and Rooted Minds staff, along with a carefully selected group of artists and judges, will pre-screen and approve submissions for public voting.

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• Voting:

  • Voting will be conducted on Instagram and Facebook, calculating:

    • 1 point for likes

    • 2 points for comments

    • 3 points for reshares

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• Notices:

  • You will be notified of your submission status as the contest progresses via email to the address you used to make your submission.

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• Timeline:

  • The duration of judging will depend on the number of entries received. Updates will be posted on our social media.

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Some Tips & Suggestions

• Contact Email: Ensure the email address and name you use for your submission are accurate, as they will be used to contact you.

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• Video Quality: While video and audio quality will be considered, the quality of the poem and performance will carry more weight.

  • Tip: If you’re filming on a smartphone, do it in a well-lit, quiet environment. Turn your phone horizontal for better framing.

  • Tip: For live performance videos (e.g., open mics), ensure the audio is clear and background noise is minimal.