Griffiniskaja Laul

Griffiniskaja Laul (English: 'Griffin Song') is a semi-regular music competition organised by Griffin public broadcaster Griffiniskaja Televisioon (GTV). It also determines the country's representative for the Waiting List Song Contest and Nation Song Contest. The contest was introduced for the 196 edition of the WLSC. Since its introduction, the competition has been one of the most popular television programmes in Griffin Empire; it is also broadcast on radio and the Internet. Latest contest averaged 20 million viewers, and almost 90% share.

Origins
Following a successful return to the WLSC, the Griffin public broadcaster decided to introduce a competition modeled on the WLSC and NSC  that would be the Griffin national music festival in which the historical regions of the empire would compete for the title of best song. Griffiniskaja Laul was conceived from the beginning as a festival that would not be held every year, but every few years with its winner representing the Griffin Empire in the current competition, be it WLSC or NSC. This rule was deviated from only once – the second edition was held a year after the first. The festival is extremely successful in terms of music charts, viewership and media coverage. The contestants are usually well-known Griffin music stars, and the songs are signed by some of the best songwriters and composers.

Participation
Many songs and performers have entered the festival since its debut. Although songwriters living outside Griffin Empire were at first not allowed to enter, fifth contest marked the first time foreign songwriters could submit entries, provided that they collaborated with a Griffin songwriter. To be eligible, songwriters and performers must be at least sixteen years of age on the day of the first WLSC or NSC. The festival is limited to a single night hosted in a large music or sport venue in a bigger city in a hosting principality. The number of contestants is always seven – one for each principality that is competing. The contest is a music event of popular local acts, but the competition has played host to performers from outside the country as well. Its participants have also represented and unsuccessfully tried to represent, other countries at WLSC and NSC. The impact that the competition makes on the Griffin charts means an artist need not win the competition to earn significant domestic record sales. The songs from the first festival made up the entire top seven on the domestic singles chart.

Selection of contestants
Each regional branch of GTV is in charge of selecting the representatives and songs for their principalities. Internal selection is the most common, but some mini-festivals and regional finals are not foreign phenomena such as the VSF in Pzyerüyölkeä. Usually about 3000 songs are entered in the first phase of the competition, usually the most in Foreõsvdetrre and the least in Färzas - Lætingmaa.

The deadline for submission is in September and songs can be in any language. In the pre-selection, song length is limited to three minutes and twenty seconds; songs must be shortened to three minutes if they reach the final seven and qualifying songs may also be remixed.

Hosting
Preparations for the next contest typically begin following the conclusion of the previous contest. At the winner's press conference following the grand final. A host city is chosen by both the national and local broadcasters, which should meet certain criteria set out in the contest's rules. The host venue must be able to accommodate at least 10,000 spectators, space for a press centre for 1,500 journalists, and location must also have hotel accommodation available for at least 2,000 delegates, journalists and spectators. For these reasons, the contest is typically, but not always, held in a major city. In recent years, bid processes have become a common occurrence, with a number of cities in the host principality applying to host the contest.

The contest has been hosted in a variety of different venues, from medium music arenas to large stadiums. The largest venue to host the contest is NÝTarrenaa in Nýtdainsk, which held the second contest and was attended by almost 50,000 spectators. The smallest contest host is Arkea-arrenaa in Pyetsit, Westersund (then Eestimadnait) with a capacity of 11,300 seats.

The hotel and press facilities in the vicinity of the venue, and in particular the accommodation costs for the visiting delegations, journalists and fans, are typically an important consideration when choosing a host city. The contest organizers and city officials have in the past had to negotiate rates with hotel owners ahead of the contest.

The contest is considered to be a huge honour and a unique opportunity for promoting the host principality and the country as a whole as a tourist destination.

Presenters
The contest is invariably compered by one or rarely more presenters, who welcome viewers to the show and guide the voting process, as well to introduce the public with the performers through few interviews from "green room". The host is usually well-known actor or singer, and occasionally they have competed at the contest themselves. It is common for the main host to be from the host principality, but it is not a rule. Notable examples are Foreosvdetrish musicians Jüri Pootsmann and Alfie Templeman that hosted the contests in Sletterimaa and Eestimadnait (today Westersund) respectively.

During the Griffiniskaja Laul year, it is common for Griffin broadcaster to reveal the hosts with a glamorous photoshoots that are posted on social media as well throughout the major cities in the country as part of the contest promotion. Other performances are usually featured alongside the competing songs, with one or more interval acts typically performing following the last competing song and before the presentation of the votes. It is expected from a presenter to take part in at least one performance in the evening, usually in some kind of medley.

It is rare for previous winners to host the show and it has happened only on one occasion up to date. Jüri Pootsmann and Alfie Templeman are the only hosts that hosted more than one edition of the competition.

Voting
Each principality gives 1,5,8 10 and 12 points to their favorite songs via televoting. It is forbidden to vote to ones own principality. A number og Natian countries are invited to join the show as international juries. These nations gave points in the same way as Griffin televoting.

International juries' votes determine Griffin representative at the Waiting List Song Contest or Nation Song Contest. Both juries and televoting combined determine the overall winner of the festival.

It is common to hear different dialects of the Griffin language as well as its older versions during the presentation of the votes.

International broadcast
The festival itself is very well covered by foreign media, especially media related to WLSC and NSC. There are a large number of countries that broadcast the competition live, and being a member of the jury is a huge honour. All neighboring countries, as well as members of the jury, broadcast the competition live on their state broadcasters. Solentoya holds the jury membership record of eight consecutive editions.

Winners
There have been 9 winners up to now with the most successful one being Eastlandic singer Liis Lemsalu. The first winner came from Sletterimaa, and collected 100 points.