Release Requirements
Submissions must be commercially and/or publicly released to qualify. This includes, but is not limited to, theatrical distribution and broadcasting, network and cable television broadcasting, mainstream streaming platforms, video on demand services, and/or home entertainment distribution. Advertising, Trailer and Video Game submissions released online will also qualify.

​

Film Category submissions must adhere to nomination guidelines outlined in the Spirit Awards & Academy Awards. See links below:
Academy Awards
Spirit Awards 

​​

Eligibility Periods

All submissions must have an initial commercial release during the calendar year of 2025  with the exception of Television and Docuseries as outlined below:

Television
All television submissions must have had at least 50% of the nominated season air within the established eligibility period of November 1, 2024 through October 31, 2025. Series with exactly 50% of the season airing within the eligibility period, may be eligible for either GMS Awards qualifying year, however that season may only be submitted once for consideration. We encourage you to submit at the time you feel is best for your project. 

 

Docuseries

All documentary series submissions must have had at least 50% of the nominated season air within the established eligibility period of the 2025 calendar year. Series with exactly 50% of the season airing within the eligibility period, may be eligible for either GMS Awards qualifying year, however that season may only be submitted once for consideration. We encourage you to submit at the time you feel is best for your project. 

 

For the Best Song Written and/or Recorded for Television category, songs from Television Series must meet the Television eligibility guidelines, while songs from Documentary Series must meet the Docuseries eligibility guidelines.​​

​

 

Qualifying Credits

All Nominees must have performed in the role of Music Supervisor as defined by the Guild of Music Supervisors here. For Film, Television, and Documentary categories, the Nominees must receive on-screen credit as Music Supervisor, unless special circumstances are approved by the Awards Committee. For Video Games categories, Music Supervisor or Audio Director credits qualify. More than one Music Supervisor can be nominated for the same project if co-supervision circumstances are confirmed to qualify more than one Music Supervisor. In-house Music Supervisors who are not accorded on-screen credit for a project, that also does not have a credited Music Supervisor, may submit for consideration. Credits that DO NOT qualify for nomination include: Executive Music Producer, Associate Music Supervisor, Assistant Music Supervisor, Music Director, Music Coordinator, Music Clearance, and Music Licensing (amongst others).

​​

Mandatory Submissions and Screening Materials

A submission form (via Submittable) and applicable audiovisual screening materials (via Vision Media) are required for award consideration. Projects that are not properly submitted in their entirety will not be considered. If there is difficulty providing the required materials or assets in the necessary timeline, please contact admin@guildofmusicsupervisors.com 

​

Screener Upload Site

A screener of your submitted project will need to be uploaded in its entirety to our partner screening portal, Vision Media. Third party links will not be accepted. For Television and Documentary series, a minimum of two (2) representative episodes will need to be uploaded. Video Game submissions may continue submitting media assets that best depicts your work on the game soundtrack via the Submittable form. 

 

You only need to upload a screener once even if it is in consideration for multiple categories (i.e. both Best Music Supervision in Major Budget Films and Best Song Written and/or Recorded for a Film). The Vision Media portal will open for screener uploads on October 6, 2025. 

 

You are invited to upload your screener before your submission form is completed, provided the titles are identically listed on both the submission form and the screener upload. Many productions and distributors are familiar with Vision Media and can upload the screener directly to the portal on behalf of the Music Supervisor.

 

To upload your screener, please login with the username/password below. Please do not use your personal Vision Media login:

 

URL: https://guildofmusicsupervisors.visiondigital.io

Username: gms-submissions

Password (case sensitive): GMS2026Submissions

 

Confirmation text will appear on the screen once your screener has successfully uploaded. Please keep your browser open until the confirmation text appears.

 

Tech Specs for Screener: 

• Container: MP4 

• Video Type: H.264 

• Size/Ratio: 1920x1080 (16:9), 1280x720 (16:9), 1280 x 960 (4:3) 

• Video Bitrate: 3136kbps (low motion e.g. news desk reporter) or 5928kbps (high motion e.g. sport) 

• Audio Type: AAC 

• Audio Sample Frequency: 44.1kHz 
  
   

Submission Fees and Deadlines

All submission forms received before November 15, 2025 will be charged a fee of $50 USD. Submission forms received between November 15, 2025 and November 26, 2025 will be charged a fee of $100 USD. Submission forms will no longer be accepted after 11:59pm PST on November 26, 2025.

​

Audiovisual screening materials should be provided at the time of project submission. They may even be provided prior to completion of submission form, but must be received by no later than 11:59pm PST on December 5, 2025 to be considered.

​

Submission Payment

Payment can be made via credit card or PayPal via Submittable for the required submission fees. For individual submissions, you can pay directly on the Submittable platform as you complete the form submission.

 

If you would prefer to pay in bulk for multiple submissions, please select “Multiple Submissions” in the payment option section of Submittable and then provide the contact information associated with each payment. 

 

Once you are prepared to issue payment for the multiple submissions, go to the Multiple Submission Payment Form found here where you can complete payment via credit card or PayPal, or request an invoice be issued. You will be required to provide the full title and GMS Awards category for each project submission associated with the payment.

Note: In order to receive the $50 USD (per submission) fee, you must complete both the submission form(s) AND payment(s) by November 14, 2025. Payment for any submissions received on or after November 15, 2025 will be charged the $100 USD (per submission) fee. No exceptions will be made. GMS Awards submissions will NOT be considered if payment is not received by December 5, 2025.

​

Nominee Screening Portal

GMS Awards nominated titles will be required to participate in the Nominee Screener Program which allows voters to watch nominees in our secure digital screening room, powered by Vision Media. If the feature film has not yet been distributed as a screener by Vision Media, the cost to participate is $3,000 USD per title. For additional information on the Nominee Screener Program, please contact admin@guildofmusicsupervisors.com

​​

Submission Limit

Individuals are limited to up to three (3) submissions per award category.

​

Membership

Music Supervisors are NOT required to be members of the Guild of Music Supervisors in order to submit projects or be nominated.

​

Guild of Music Supervisors Members are the official voting body that determines the winners for the GMS Awards. To join the Guild of Music Supervisors please visit www.guildofmusicsupervisors.com/join

​

Final Decision-Making Authority

All decisions related to the final eligibility of nominees and any other interpretation of any awards related rules, regulations, and eligibility of submissions will be at the sole discretion of the Guild of Music Supervisors Awards Committee. 

 

Award Recipients

Up to three (3) award statues will be presented with each category, additional award statues will be available for purchase to qualifying recipients.

​

Recusal​

In an effort to uphold the highest standards of transparency and integrity, Craft Committee members are required to recuse themselves from discussing and voting on their own projects (if applicable).​