Hi,
the rationale is the date when we want the final results to be in. We want to be able to send out the calendars by mid December - that means we need a design- and production cycle before that. Our estimate is that we need to start that by November 20. That also gives us a nice time frame to announce the results officially after collecting more info about the actual winners.
My estimate is that the international jury needs 3-4 weeks to come to a result based on all these high quality images from all these different cultures. Hence that we came to October 21, which leaves a few days leeway.
If it is totally unrealistic, we will have to put it later - but from our point of view the 21 would definitely fit in best. That leaves 3 weeks for your national jury to come to a result. Last year I think only one country didn't make the deadline of October 31, and that was because one specific judge didn't reply (and that combined with, as I understood it, nobody chasing the process at the first weeks).
Best,
Lodewijk
2012/8/8 Platonides
<platonides@gmail.com>
> * October 21: Deadline for submitting the 10 nominations for the
> international contest. This can be a private submission (with delayed
> publishing) and they do not have to be ordered. Being late for this deadline
> might result in having no nominations in the international contest - so make
> sure this is a realistic deadline for you.
Last year the deadline was on October 31, and several countries had
problems to get the results by that date. I don't think this year it
will be less problematic.
What was the rationale for cutting down the date? I wouldn't have moved it.
Regards