The third annual International Drone Show Competition, initiated by Latvia-based SPH Engineering/Drone Show Software, expanded its categories this year to include Best Drone Show Storytelling and Best Simulation With The Integration Of Drones And Fireworks.
Entries from more than 31 countries submitted detailed plans and videos of their concepts and shows, and the winners, chosen from 51 finalists, were truly international, coming from the United Kingdom, Portugal, France, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, and the USA.
Drones shows are becoming an increasingly popular option as an alternative to fireworks in the United States, as this NPR story illustrates. Drone companies are offering environmental options, such as using solar panels to power the drones, and the risks of injuring audience members or starting wildfires are significantly lower than traditional firework displays.
Below is a glimpse of the work of three American companies that were recognized for their technical competence and artistry by the International Drone Show Competition.
Fort Worth, Texas-based Sky Elements Drone Shows won for Best Integrated Show: Fireworks & Drones, and won a special prize in the category Best Project Promoting Drone Show Service. Here is a taste of Sky Elements' work featuring 1001 drones.
US lighting installation and drone company Tom BetGeorge was awarded a special prize for Best Combination Of Music, Lighting Design & Drone Show. This recent video combines a holiday theme with Call of Duty.
Alexandria, Virginia-based Pixis Lighting won a special prize in the category Best Drone Show For A Celebrity. Check out this show from November for Paris Hilton in Santa Monica.
Complete list of international winners:
- 2 winners in the “Best drone show animation” category: Drone Show Animations team from Portugal & Diffuse x Titouan Malivoir from France,
- “Best drone show storytelling“ category winner: Celestial from the United Kingdom,
- 2 winners in the “Best drone show at the event” category: Kaohsiung City Government Bureau of Cultural Affairs from Taiwan & Andrei Golenev from the United Arab Emirates,
- “Best promotional drone show” category winner: Lumasky from the United Arab Emirates,
- “Best integrated show: Fireworks and Drones” category winner: Sky Elements from the United States of America.
Special prize winners:
- Pixis drones from the United States of America for the “Best drone show for the celebrity”
- Dutch Drone Shows from the Netherlands for the “Best show demonstrating the capabilities of small drone show fleets (50 drones)”
- Tom BetGeorge from the United States of America for the “Best combination of music, lighting design & drone show"
- Cyberdrone team from the United Arab Emirates for the “Best drone show for the anniversary”
- Teemu Eskola from Finland for the “Best drone show animation with eco concept”
- UMILES Drone Light Show from Spain for the “Best drone show broadcast live”
- Andrei Golenev from the United Arab Emirates for the “Best drone show combined with performing arts and historical memory”
- Sky Elements from the United States of America for the “Best project promoting drone show service”