The Third Coast Festival / Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Competition honours the best audio documentary and feature work produced around the world (in English). They seek stories that document a place, time, person, event, phenomenon, or issue. These include but are not limited to investigative reports, narrative stories, personal essays, and audio portraits. Entries must be 2-60 minutes in length, and must have been presented publicly on the radio, the internet, or in a gallery/museum setting between dates specified on the entry requirements page of the website. Winners receive monetary prizes of up to US$6,000, and their programmes will air nationally as part of the annual Third Coast Festival Broadcast.

Prizes are awarded for:

Best Documentary:

Gold: US$6,000

Silver: US$5,000

Bronze: US$4,000

Director's Choice: US$2,000

Honourable mentions (up to two): US$1,500

Best New Artist: US$2,000 - This award will be given to a producer who has been working in the audio field for less than two years.

Radio Impact: US$2,000 - This award will be given to a programme that has had a significant impact on an individual, group or community.

Best News Feature:US$2,000

Audio Luminary Award (Formerly known as the Lifetime Achievement Award)

This award is presented to a person who has not only left a profound mark on the audio field, but continues to be a source of new ideas and inspiration. As in previous years, a committee of producers/leaders in the field will join the Third Coast Festival staff in selecting the winner from a slate of nominations submitted by radio fans, producers, and other radio professionals worldwide.

Deadlines and entry fees vary. Please see the application information below and the website for specific details.

2009 entry fees and deadlines:
US$50 for entries uploaded on or before Midnight (PST) Friday, June 19.
US$30 for student entries uploaded on or before Friday, June 19.
US$70 for all entries uploaded Saturday, June 20 through Friday, July 10.

Click here for more information and access to uploading an entry.

Click here for more specific entry information and technical requirements.

Click here to download the nomination form in PDF format for the awards.

Click here to read about previous winners.

Third Coast International Festival website accessed on June 16 2009.