General Info


RICE: Rewards Imagined by Community of Editors

RICE is a community feedback event made by editors, for editors.
The categories & the videos that apply to them are decided through voting during the event by the participants.
That means the only people who vote, review, and judge entries are the editors who submitted something to it.

You must be a verified member of the server to participate in RICE.
If you are not already in the server, you can click here to join.

The Basics

  • RICE is an annual event with the same dates every year. Video submissions open in January with a deadline of 1 February. The event is completed in the first week of March.
  • Meant for BentoVid regulars, not the general public (although there is no membership age requirement)
  • Takes place on Discord
  • Blind submission and review
  • Use any medium as a source (live-action, animation, etc.)
  • Up to 2 video submissions accepted
  • Video duration must be between 0:30 and 5:30
  • Submitted videos must be SFW
  • Everyone encouraged to review all submissions (feedback and/or constructive criticism)
  • Award categories decided by peers after seeing all the videos for that year
Can I submit my RICE videos to other contests before RICE is over?

Your video cannot be unblinded before 4 March.
This means your video cannot be shown outside RICE with your editor name attached to it before 4 march.

  • If the contest lists finalists or winners online with only the video titles or only the editor names (but not "video title by editor name") then you are good to go.
  • If the contest awards show happens on 4 March or later, you are good to go.
  • If the contest is small/local/obscure and doesn't list your videos (even with your name attached) in a place easily findable by other RICE participants, then use your best judgement.

The spirit of the blind rule is to prevent other RICE participants from knowing you made your submitted videos. If you are reasonably sure other participants won't be able to see that info before 4 March, then go ahead and submit to the other contest.

Part of the advantage of being an event designed for server regulars is the allowance for flexibility in this matter. Use your best judgement and submit in good faith.

2025 Umami

Folklore & the Paranormal

Legends, fables, cryptids, supernatural phenomena, traditions, & myths

The Umami is the theme for that year's RICE.
It is changed every year and is announced at the end of the previous year's RICE Awards video.

Participation in the theme is optional, but it is the only (genre-related) category announced before the event starts.

New for 2025

(Click to reveal)

Spectators
To give more opportunities for videos to gain feedback, server members can sign up (inside Discord) to become a RICE spectator.
Spectators do not submit videos and they cannot vote.
However, they have full access to Kollab and the RICE discord channels (including voice chats).

Closed captions (soft subtitles) while streaming on Kollab
You may optionally upload a separate SRT or VTT file with your video submission for streaming-supported closed captions.
(See technical considerations.)

Official "extras" support
In prior years, some files get thrown in an "extras" folder. They can be (but are not limited to) alternate versions of video files, side-by-side comparisons, or word documents with detailed source credits.
In 2025, we'll see if officially accepting these additional materials during the submission process supports the feedback goals of RICE.

If you have extra material you believe would help people understand your editing process and give you better feedback, include those files with your video submissions.
The extra materials must still follow the submission rules and retain your anonymity.
Extras are not guaranteed to be viewed by participants and are not eligible for awards.
They are entirely optional to include.

Submit Intent to Participate &/or CW requests (optional)
To sign up as a spectator, press the button in #rice-news

The submission form opens at 12:00am EST (05:00 UTC) January 1, 2025.
All submissions must be received by 12:00pm noon EST (17:00 UTC) on February 1, 2025.
Submit to RICE

If you have any questions, please DM @standardquip (Vars) on Discord.