The American Historical Association
Announces
The John E. O'Connor Film Award
for 2014
Please Note: The O’Connor Award is being reviewed and will not be offered in 2013.
In recognition of his exceptional role as a pioneer in both teaching and research regarding film and history, the American Historical Association has established this award in honor of John E. O'Connor, New Jersey Institute of Technology. The honorific award seeks to recognize outstanding interpretations of history through the medium of film or video. The award is presented in the form of a certificate.
It is difficult to formulate a precise description of an outstanding historical film or video. Nevertheless, the following are among the essential elements:
1. Stimulation of Thought: The production should arouse interest in its subject, encourage viewers to ask questions about historical interpretations, and interest viewers in seeking additional insights through reading.
2. Imaginative Use of the Media: Films and videos may provide unique perspectives on the past using techniques that are different from those employed by the author of a book. The production should reflect such imaginative use of the medium.
3. Effective Presentation of Information and Ideas: The production should organize and communicate information and concepts in ways that effectively educate the viewers. It should make a contribution in its own right to the public's and students' understanding of history.
4. Sensitivity to Modern Scholarship: The film or video should reflect an understanding of new trends in research regarding the subject under study and address some of the important questions raised in this scholarship.
5. Accuracy: The film or video should depict the past accurately. Details such as language, clothing, and furniture are less important than how a film or video presents the larger picture of life and times portrayed therein.
Nominating Procedures
1. The committee may seek nominations, solicit film and video entries, or receive nominations from filmmakers, historians, and others.
2. No film company, producer, or director can submit more than one film or video.
3. Films and videos, or series of films and videos, longer than two hours are not eligible.
4. Films and videos must have a copyright or first broadcast during the year of eligibility. Films and videos can be submitted only once.
5. Please forward submissions in DVD format.
6. Entries will not be returned.
One copy of each entry must be sent to each of the following committee members.
Contact information for judges and a submission data collection form
will be posted by March 30.
Please Note: The O’Connor Award is being reviewed and will not be offered in 2013.
IMPORTANT! EACH ENTRY MUST BE CLEARLY LABELED "O'Connor Award Entry."
For questions, please contact the Book Prize Administrator, or write to the AHA at the following address (please note that prize entries are not mailed to the AHA; rather, to committee members):
American Historical Association, 400 A St., SE Washington, D.C. 20003-3889
