Each year, projects developed by Side Academy students are evaluated by an international jury of The Rookies, composed of high-profile professionals from leading VFX, Animation, Fashion Design, Videogames and Motion Graphics studios.

The judges include supervisors, lead artists, and senior artists from companies such as Weta FX, Framestore, Industrial Light & Magic, Blizzard, Playstation Studios, and Hugo Boss, who bring their experience to bear in evaluating submissions in the various categories.
This direct confrontation with industry standards allows students to measure themselves against real professional criteria and gain international exposure.