Entries open for Nikon Film and Photo Contest

Theme 

• The theme for the Nikon Film and Photo Contest is “Inspire”

Categories

• Short Film Competition:
  • Super-Short Film Category
    • Entry format: 20-to 40-second-long video
    • Any filming equipment can be used
    • If any language other than English is used in the work, English subtitles are required (Not required if English is language used)
  • 5-Minute Film Category
    • Entry format: 3-to 5-minute-long video
    • Any filming equipment can be used
    • If any language other than English is used in the work, English subtitles are required (Not required if English is language used)
• Photo Competition
  • Single Photo Category
    • Entry format: single photo
    • Any photography equipment can be used
  • Photo Story Category
    • Entry format: photo story (2-5 photos)
    • Any photography equipment can be used

Award Information

• Grand Prize: Prize money of 500,000 yen and Z8, NIKKOR Z lens
• Excellence Award: Z6IIl, NIKKOR Z lens and video accessories
• Special Encouragement Award: Zfc, NIKKOR Z lens and video accessories
• General Public Award: Z50, NIKKOR Z lens

Eligibility Criteria

• The contest is open to all professional and amateur photographers/filmmakers, regardless of age, gender, or nationality.
• If you are under the age of 18, you must obtain parental consent before entering. Any entrants under the age of 18 will be deemed to have obtained parental consent before entering.
• There is no entry fee for the contest. However, entrants are responsible for any Internet connection charges or other costs associated with entering.
• You may submit a single entry as a group, but in that case, the entry must be made in the name of a representative. If the entry wins an award, you will be asked for the names of the collaborators, and the award will be given to multiple people.
• You may not enter under a nickname. Please enter using your real name.
• The contest is not open to employees of Nikon Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Organizer”), Nikon group companies, or organizations involved in running the Nikon Film and Photo Contest. companies, or organizations involved in running the Nikon Film and Photo Contest.

Judging Criteria

• After the submission period ends, entries will be judged, and the works that make it to the final round will be published on this website (scheduled for June 2025). After that, the final round of judging will be held to determine the winners of each award. The results of the judging will be announced on this website by September 2025 (scheduled). General Public Award will be determined by popular vote from among the works that make it to the final round of judging out of those mentioned above.
• After the entry period has ended, a round of judging separate from those above will be held to select works for inclusion in the Nikon Calendar. Works suitable for the calendar will be determined through judging by Nikon employees on those works that were taken with Nikon cameras among all the works submitted in the Photo Competition under any category. The results of the judging will be communicated by contacting those whose works are selected.

Application Requirements

• Must be image data captured with a device capable of taking still photos, such as a smartphone or digital still camera (including medium-format or larger digital cameras)
• Works that have been edited or processed using camera apps, editing apps, software, or the like are allowed.
• Images generated by AI are prohibited. However, AI-based editing of images taken by the entrant him or herself is allowed.
• Both color and monochrome images will be accepted.
• Image file size per work: up to 20 MB
• Image file format: JPEG/150 dpi or higher recommended
• The color space used for judging will be sRGB.
• The entrant will retain all applicable rights to the final work, including post-processing such as retouching and image editing.
• The work’s title can contain up to 35 characters and the story behind the work up to 200 characters.

For more information, visit Nikon.