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Jury Guide

Welcome to the jury panel of the MarsAI Film Festival! This guide will help you navigate the evaluation platform and provide meaningful feedback to filmmakers.

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Getting Started

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Accessing Your Dashboard

Once logged in with your jury credentials, you’ll see the Jury Home dashboard with three main folders:

Films to Vote

Films assigned to you that are awaiting your evaluation.

Films Voted

Films you’ve already evaluated, pending final approval.

Approved Films

Films that have been promoted to candidate or finalist status.
Each folder displays the number of films it contains. Click on any folder to view the films inside.

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Film Evaluation Workflow

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Viewing Assigned Films

When you open the “Films to Vote” folder, you’ll see:
1

Browse Films

Films are displayed as cards with:
  • Poster/thumbnail image
  • Film title
  • Duration and language
  • Awards badges (if any)
  • Second vote indicator (if applicable)
2

Select a Film

Click on any film card to open the detailed evaluation modal.
Films marked with a “Second Vote” badge require re-evaluation as they’ve been flagged for discussion.

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Film Details Modal

The evaluation modal is divided into sections:

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Left Panel: Film Information

  • Producer’s name and email
  • How they learned about the festival
  • Contact information for follow-up
  • Classification: 100% AI or Hybrid (Real + AI)
  • Methodology: Description of the creative process
  • AI Tools: Stack of AI technologies used (e.g., Runway ML, ElevenLabs)
  • Original language synopsis (French)
  • English translation
  • Both are limited to 300 characters for quick reading
  • Duration in seconds
  • Original language
  • Nationality
  • Current selection status

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Media Section

The film preview section includes:
  • Video Player: Watch the film directly in the platform
  • Fullscreen Mode: Click to watch in fullscreen for better evaluation
  • Subtitle Download: If available, download .srt subtitle files
  • YouTube Link: Alternative viewing option if provided
You must watch the entire film before you can submit your vote. The interface tracks when the video ends.

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Voting Process

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Voting Options

You can assign one of three ratings to each film:

Approved (Validé)

Vote: 3
The film meets festival standards and should advance to the next stage.

To Discuss (À discuter)

Vote: 2
The film has potential but requires further discussion with other jury members.

Rejected (Refusé)

Vote: 1
The film does not meet the festival’s selection criteria.

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Adding Your Feedback

1

Watch the Film

Watch the complete film. The system will enable voting once the video ends.If there’s no video file but a YouTube link, check the “I confirm I have watched the film” checkbox.
2

Select Your Vote

Choose one of the three rating options (Approved, To Discuss, or Rejected).
3

Write Your Comment

Provide constructive feedback in the comment field (required):
  • What worked well in the film
  • Areas for improvement
  • Technical observations
  • Creative insights
4

Submit Your Vote

Click “Submit Vote” to save your evaluation.
Your comments are valuable to filmmakers. Be specific and constructive in your feedback.

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Vote Confirmation

After submitting:
  • A green success message appears confirming your vote was saved
  • The film moves to your “Films Voted” folder
  • The film card shows a checkmark badge indicating you’ve voted

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Second Vote System

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What is a Second Vote?

When a film’s status changes to “To Discuss” (marked by multiple jury votes), it opens for a second round of voting:
Second votes allow you to revise your evaluation after seeing other jury members’ feedback or further deliberation.

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How to Cast a Second Vote

  1. Open a film marked with the “Second Vote Open” badge
  2. Review your previous vote in the “Vote History” section
  3. See how many times you’ve modified your vote
  4. Submit a new vote with updated feedback
Second votes are only available when the film’s status is “to_discuss”. If voting is closed, you’ll see a message indicating that second votes are not yet open.

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Vote History and Tracking

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Viewing Your Past Votes

For films you’ve already evaluated, the modal displays:

Current Vote

  • Your most recent rating (Approved/To Discuss/Rejected)
  • Your latest comment
  • Number of modifications

Vote History

  • All previous votes you submitted for this film
  • Timestamps and ratings for each vote
  • Comments from each evaluation round

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Vote Status Indicators

  • “Already Voted” badge: You’ve submitted a vote for this film
  • “Modified Nx” badge: Shows how many times you’ve updated your vote
  • “Second Vote Open” badge: You can revise your evaluation

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Collaborating with Other Jury Members

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Understanding Film Status

Films progress through different stages based on collective jury votes:
1

Assigned

Film is assigned to jury members for initial voting.
2

To Discuss

Multiple jury members flagged this film for further discussion.
3

Candidate

Film passed jury evaluation and is a candidate for awards.
4

Selected/Finalist

Film has been selected for the festival program or as a finalist.
When films enter “To Discuss” status, review other jury members’ feedback to inform your second vote.

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Organizing Your Work

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Using the Folder System

The three-folder system helps you prioritize:

Priority

Films to Vote
Start here - these films need your evaluation.

Monitor

Films Voted
Check for status updates or second vote opportunities.

Reference

Approved Films
Review finalist selections and award candidates.
Click the “Back” button at the top of any folder to return to the main dashboard and switch between folders.

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Award Promotion

For films in the second vote stage with high ratings:
If you’ve submitted a second vote and the film qualifies, you’ll see a “Promote to Candidate” button.What this does:
  • Marks the film as an award candidate
  • Moves it to a higher selection stage
  • Allows you to add an admin message explaining the promotion
This action is typically reserved for exceptional films that stand out in the second voting round.

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Best Practices for Jury Members

Evaluation Criteria

  • Artistic vision and creativity
  • Technical execution
  • Effective use of AI technology
  • Storytelling and narrative coherence
  • Originality and innovation

Providing Feedback

  • Be constructive and specific
  • Highlight both strengths and areas for improvement
  • Focus on the work, not the creator
  • Provide actionable suggestions when possible
Remember that your feedback helps filmmakers grow. Even rejected films benefit from thoughtful, constructive comments.

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Technical Tips

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Video Playback Issues

  • If the embedded player doesn’t work, use the “Open YouTube” link if available
  • Download subtitles for films in other languages
  • Use fullscreen mode for better evaluation of visual details

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Voting Requirements

  • Watching required: The vote button is disabled until you watch the film or confirm viewing
  • Comment required: You must provide written feedback with every vote
  • Rating required: You must select one of the three voting options
If you encounter technical issues preventing you from watching or voting on a film, contact the festival administrators.

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Getting Help

If you need assistance:
  • Check the status messages displayed at the top of the page
  • Review film metadata and producer contact information
  • Contact festival administrators for technical support
  • Consult with fellow jury members during discussion periods