Comic Creator Championship by Indian Comics Association [Free; Online; Open to All; Cash Prizes Worth Rs. 1 Lakh]: Submit by Oct 31!

Submit your entry for the Comic Creator Championship by Indian Comics Association by October 31, 2024. It is free, online and has exciting cash prizes!

About the Championship

The Comic Creator Championship, one of the 25 competitions hosted under the WAVES summit, promises to be a game-changer for India’s comic book industry. The competition will unfold across three stages and feature two categories—Amateur and Professional—providing a unique platform for emerging and established creators to showcase their talents on a global scale. 

In a landmark move, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) has joined forces with the Indian Comics Association (ICA) to spearhead the first-ever Comic Creator Championship, a centerpiece event at the upcoming World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES). This collaboration marks the first significant partnership among Indian comic book publishers in over three decades, setting the stage for a new era in India’s creative industry.

Competition Details

Phase 1: Foundation

• All entrants will participate in this initial phase.
• Create 2 mandatory pages based on one of the 8 themes.
• An optional cover page can be submitted, but it will not affect selection chances.

Phase 2: Development

• Only 100 entrants selected from Phase 1 will move on to this phase.
• Build upon your initial concept by creating 3-4 additional pages.
• –Further develop your narrative, characters, and artwork.

Phase 3: Conclusion

• Only 25 entrants selected from Phase 2 will advance to this final phase.
• Conclude your story with 3-4 final pages.
• Refine your artwork, ensuring a polished and engaging comic.

By following this selection process, we aim to identify talented creators who can craft compelling comics within the given themes and guidelines. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask through email or WhatsApp, as listed in our contact details.

The final output will be a coherent story of minimum 8 pages and maximum 10 pages, with or without a cover page, depending on the participant’s initial choice. This will showcase their ability to craft a compelling narrative, develop engaging characters, and produce polished artwork.

Themes

The Individual / Team has to select one of the themes:

• Horror Comedy: Combine humor and horror to create a unique and captivating comic.
• Era of Gen-Z India: Explore the lives, struggles, and experiences of India’s Gen-Z through relatable and engaging storytelling.
• India in Space: Create a thrilling comic set in space, inspired by India’s space program and the wonders of the cosmos.
• Folktales Reimagined: Retell ancient Indian folktales with a modern spin, blending tradition and innovation.
• Sport Legends: Share inspiring stories of India’s sports heroes and iconic moments in a dynamic and engaging way.
• Science Fiction: Explore the unknown, the fantastical, and the speculative through thrilling sci-fi stories that transport readers to new worlds and ideas.
• Indian Tourism: Showcase India’s diverse cultures, landscapes, and heritage sites through visually stunning and informative comics.
• Indian Armed Forces: Honor the bravery and sacrifices of India’s armed forces through respectful and engaging storytelling.

How to Apply?

To Apply to the Comics Creator Championship:

Step 1: Registration

• Ensure you have read and understood the competition’s Rules, Guidelines, and Terms & Conditions (T&C)
• You’ll need a valid Gmail ID and other required details, including contract information
• Go to the “Apply Here” section of our website Click Here
• Click on the “Registration Link” and fill out the registration form

Step 2: Confirmation

• After registration, you’ll receive a confirmation email
• You are now registered for the event, but remember to submit your work as per Step 3

Step 3: Submission

• Prepare your comics work according to the competition’s guidelines
• When ready, submit your work through our website:
• Go to the “Apply Here” section of our website Click Here
• Click on the “Submission Link” and fill out the submission form

Important:

• Registration alone does not guarantee entry into the contest; work submission is mandatory
• Only registered participants who submit their work using the submission link will be eligible for the contest
• Ensure you submit your work before the deadline: October 31, 2024

Rules

Comics Creator Championship is open to both amateur and professional participants.

Category Definition:

Amateur: Participants who have never published a comic (either self or through a third party) in digital or physical format. A few comic strips or pages (but not long series) posted on personal social media for hobby purposes are not counted as professional work unless a substantial reader base follows them. Also, an amateur participant could be someone who is not making a living or income from creating art or comics.

Professional: Participants who have at least one or more comic-related works published in digital or physical format through any means. Suppose an artist works on commission for others or has a substantial fan following on social channels due to his art; then, in that case, such an artist will also fall in the professional category.Also, aprofessional participant could be someone who is making a living or income from creating art or comics.

Please note that:

Participants have to self-certify themselves and can be disqualified for providing wrong information.

Participants can apply in a team of two people maximum. This is done to allow a writer and an illustrator to work jointly on comics. However, any category of artists can form a team of two.

There is no age limit in both amateur and professional categories.

Individual / Team Participation

Participants can apply in a team of two people maximum. This is done to allow a writer and an illustrator to work jointly on comics. However, any category of artists can form a team of two. If a team wins, the prize money will be, by default, divided between the two members.

Art Style

The Comics Creator Championship accepts a wide range of art styles and mediums, including:

• Color and black & white (B&W) artwork
• Manga and non-manga styles
• Inked and non-inked artwork
• Digital artwork created using software or apps
• Traditional paper-based artwork

Please note that AI-generated artwork is not accepted. The Championship is designed to showcase original creative skills and talents, and all other art styles and mediums are fair game, so feel free to experiment and express yourself!

Format

To apply, please submit your work through the “Apply Here” section of our website in Vertical Page Format (9.5 Inch x 6.5 Inch) as Hi-Res JPG files (up to 5 MB), with each page uploaded separately. Please note that uploading a cover is optional at this stage.

Prizes

The Prizes in both the categories are as follows:

Professional Category

• Top 5 entries will be published in a comic anthology by WAVES
• Each winning participant/team will receive:
• Cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000
• Opportunity to represent India at a prestigious event (subject to WAVES’ discretion)

Amateur Category

• Top 5 entries will be published in a comic anthology by WAVES
• Each winning participant/team will receive:
• Cash prize of Rs. 60,000

Additional Prizes

• Top 100 participants selected for Phase 2 will receive a Digital Certificate of Appreciation
• Top 25 participants selected for Phase 3 will receive a Goodie Bag

Guidelines

General Guidelines

• The Comics Creator Championship is open to Indian citizens only.
• Participants must self-certify their eligibility and provide accurate information. Wrong information may lead to disqualification.
• There is no age limit for participation, but minors require guardian’s permission.
• ICA members and their related individuals are not eligible to participate.

Content Guidelines

• Prohibited themes or elements include: Violence, Explicit content, Hate speech, Discrimination
• Participants must ensure cultural sensitivity and representation in their work.

Originality and PlagiarismGuidelines

• All work must be original and created specifically for the championship.
• Plagiarism will result in disqualification.

Format Guidelines

• Participants must apply through the Filmfreeway portal.
• Submissions must be in Vertical Page Format (9.5 Inch x 6.5 Inch).
• Files must be Hi-Res JPG, with each page uploaded separately.

Intellectual Property Guidelines

• The copyright of the work developed during the competition will rest with WAVES.
• Winners will have no creative say or copyright in the published book.

Participation Guidelines

• Participants can submit their entries individually or in teams of up to 2 members.
• One individual can only apply once in a single category (either as an individual or team).

Prize Guidelines

• Prize money will be awarded as specified, but WAVES reserves the right to change the prize to an equivalent value.
• For minor participants, prize money will be given to the parent/guardian.
• If a team wins, the prize money will be divided equally between the two members.
• There is no ranking among the top 5 winners.

AdditionalGuidelines

• Selected artists may be required to create a final cover for the book.
• Winners will be announced on the WAVES website and social media channels.

CommunicationGuidelines

• WAVES will communicate with participants via email.
• Participants are responsible for ensuring their email address is accurate and up-to-date.

Amendments to Rules Guidelines

• WAVES reserves the right to modify or update these rules at any time.
• Participants will be notified of any changes via email.

How to Register?

Interested participants can register through this link.

Deadline

The deadline for submission is October 31, 2024.

Contact

Email : comicscreatorchampionship(at)gmail(dot)com

Click here to view the official notification of the Comic Creator Championship by Indian Comics Association.

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