All artists around the world, without distinction as to professional, amateur, independent, or commercial, are invited to submit their works. Eligible works are completed or released within a year before the deadline (5 September 2020 – 3 September 2021).
From each division, the jury committee will select winners of the Grand Prizes, Excellence Awards, Social Impact Award, New Face Awards, and U-18 Award. All awards including Special Achievement Awards and Jury Selections will be announced in March 2022. Each of the winners from the four divisions will receive a trophy and prize money up to 1,000,000 yen, and also win an opportunity to present their works at the Exhibition of Award-winning Works in Tokyo.
The Festival is accepting work to the following divisions:
- Art — Interactive art, media installations, video works, video installations, graphic art (including photographs), internet art, media performances, etc.
- Entertainment — Games (video games, online games, etc.), video/sound works, spatial representation (including special effects videos and directions, performances), products (products utilizing media technologies, R&D devices, etc.), websites, applications, etc.
- Animation — Animated feature films, animated short films (including opening videos, ending videos, etc.), animated TV series, videos for streaming, etc.
- Manga — Comics published in a book form, comics published in a magazine (including works still being serialized), comics published online (for computer or mobile devices), self-published comics, etc.
In addition to the four divisions there will be an open call for Festival Platform Award, which is an award given to brilliant new exhibition plan that utilize the characteristics of its facilities of organizations in liaison with the Japan Media Arts Festival.
About Japan Media Arts Festival
The Japan Media Arts Festival is a comprehensive festival of Media Arts (Media Geijutsu in Japanese) that honors outstanding works in its four divisions: Art, Entertainment, Animation, and Manga. The festival has awarded prizes to significant, creative works of artistic value since its establishment in 1997, and through its annual Exhibition of Award-winning Works, it has offered the public an opportunity to directly appreciate these celebrated works, and also to participate in related events such as symposia and artists’ lectures.
Last year, the 24nd Festival received 3,693 entries from 103 countries and regions around the world. Over the years, the festival has earned international recognition as one of the most prominent showcases in the field of “Media Arts” surveying the latest artistic expressions that continue to diversify in today’s ever-changing world.
Entries must be submitted online and submission is free of charge.
For more information about the festival, please visit the official website.
No Entry Fee!
It’s free to enter.