Eddie Categories | American Cinema Editors

ACE EDDIE AWARDS CATEGORIES & SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Eligibility Period for all Submissions – January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026

October 1, 2026 – Earlybird Submissions begin. Fee is $250 per title/episode
November 23, 2026 – Regular Submissions begin. Fee is $350 per title/episode
Monday, December 7, 2026 (5pm PT) – Submission for Nominations End

Digital Content is Now Eligible: Now in its second year, ACE has broadened eligibility across existing categories to include work released exclusively on YouTube. Reality, variety series, documentaries, etc. can now compete alongside traditional entries, judged by the same standards ACE applies to every submission.

New Category for Shorts: Also in its second year is the Best Edited Short category, which includes, narrative, documentary, animation, with a running time of 40 minutes and under.

Digital Content Submission Guidelines:

YouTube original submissions must have been posted for the first time during the 2026 calendar year
Editor must have onscreen credit
Must be on a verified/established channel

For All Categories: Please don’t submit the same title in more than one category. The ACE Blue Ribbon Committee that presides over television entries reserves the right to change a submission category as it sees fit. If a show title has more than 2 nominations in a single category it may be subject to review by the Blue Ribbon Committee.

1. Best Edited Feature Film (Drama, Theatrical)

This category is for films of all genres (including musicals) whose main intent is dramatic, that which is generally serious, emotional, tragic, epic or historic. This category is for feature films that have premiered and screened theatrically.

2. Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy, Theatrical)

This category is for films of all genres (including musicals) whose main intent is humorous and comedic, which is to make the audience laugh. This category is for feature films that have premiered and screened theatrically.

3. Best Edited Documentary Film

This category is for documentary films, theatrical and non-theatrical, that are a singular program and not part of a series.

4. Best Edited Animated Feature Film

This category is for animated feature-length films.

5. Best Edited Feature Film (Non-Theatrical)

This category is for Long-Form television programs such as: movies (made for television or digital streaming) with a running time of more than 60 minutes.

6. Best Edited Documentary SERIES

This category is for serialized documentaries, consisting of two or more episodes, based on an event, historical or current, not created for the sole purpose of the show’s creation. In other words, the creation of the show followed the event. Disqualifications for entry: meeting Reality Series parameters. Please do not submit reality TV programs in this category.

7. Best Edited Animated Series

This category is for animated series that have premiered on television or which are digitally streamed.

8. Best Edited Variety, News, Sketch Show or Special

This category recognizes two types of productions:

Segments/packages from live, line-cut shows (like those shot during a live broadcast).
Complete shows edited from isolated camera feeds.

This includes a wide range of content, such as late-night shows, filmed plays or concerts, variety shows, sketch series, and news specials. For a live, line-cut show, all segments/packages within the submitted episode will be considered in a single submission. Individual segments/packages are not eligible.

9. Best Edited Multi-Camera Comedy Series

This is a category for television or digitally streamed episodes of a multi-camera series.

10. Best Edited Single-Camera Comedy Series

This category is for television or digitally streamed episodes of any comedy series.

11. Best Edited Drama Series

This category is for television or digitally streamed episodes of any dramatic series.

12. Best Edited Limited Series

This category is for single episodes of miniseries (of any running time) that are part of a self-contained, limited-run. “Self-contained” is a limited show that has as clear beginning, middle and end of the story (ie: plays like a movie told over a limited number of episodes and is not serialized). A “limited run” is a miniseries that is not in its second season or more. Please only submit one episode per entry.

13. Best Edited Reality Series

This category is for series based on a premise conceived for the sole purpose of the show’s creation. In other words, the show was created for the event to happen.

14. Best Edited Short (NEW CATEGORY)

Short Submission Guidelines & Qualifications

Accepted Types: Narrative, documentary, animation

Length: Under 40 minutes

A short film may qualify through one of the following:

Film Festival Screening: The film must have been officially selected and screened, at a U.S. film festival with a formal selection process, during the qualifying period.
Television, Streaming, or Theatrical Run: Must have aired or premiered on TV, appeared on a streaming platform, or had a theatrical run during 2026.
Online Release: Original content posted for the first time during the qualifying period on a verified or established channel. Accepted platforms include reputable YouTube/Vimeo channels or an official curated Short Film Platform (for example, Short of the Week, Film Riot, or New Yorker Shorts). Personal or private accounts are not eligible.

Note: A film may submit only once. Films initially screened at a festival cannot submit a second time via a streaming platform in a different qualifying period.