TORRANCE, Calif. — F&I and Showroom is now accepting entries for the IAS-sponsored F&Idol video contest. The deadline to submit is Aug. 20.

This year’s contest will be broken up into two parts, with the second phase launching at Industry Summit 2014, scheduled for Sept. 8-10 at the Paris Las Vegas. Categories and contest rules remain unchanged from last year’s competition.

“This year, we’ll be recognizing the five category winners at Industry Summit, but we will not be announcing the overall winner,” said David Gesualdo, publisher of F&I and Showroom magazine. “Instead, we’re asking category winners to reshoot their winning entries at Industry Summit. We’ll then post those videos online for readers of the magazine to vote on the overall winner. That individual will be announced in the magazine’s November issue.”

As in past years, participants will be asked to submit five-minute videos showing them working with a customer in a staged transaction. The videos, which can be recorded using an iPhone, Android phone, webcam or any other video-recording device, must also show contestants handling at least two objections. Only one video can be submitted for each F&I product category, and contestants must be able to attend this year’s Industry Summit.

This year’s categories include F&I Products for Leasing, Vehicle Service Contract, Tire and Wheel, Key Replacement and an open category. The latter allows participants to submit a video of them selling a product of their choosing.

An internal panel of judges will begin reviewing the videos later this month. Points will be awarded for transition statement and overall flow; customer rapport and engagement; product disclosure; product knowledge, personal stories and testimonials; and objection handling.

Category winners will be announced prior to Industry Summit and recognized during a special ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 4:30 p.m. They will also receive their $1,000 cash prize for winning their category, as well as airfare and a two-night state at the Paris Las Vegas.

The magazine will then launch the second phase of the contest, which will have the five category winners vying for the $2,500 grand prize. The winner will be announced and profiled in the November 2014 issue of F&I and Showroom magazine.

To upload a video or to read contest rules, go to www.fandidol.com.