The 20th Japan Media Arts Festival Call for Entries Starts from July 7, 2016 The Japan Media Arts Festival Executive Committee organizes the 20th Japan Media Arts Festival. The Japan Media Arts Festival is a comprehensive festival of Media Arts (Japanese: Media Geijutsu ) that honors outstanding works from a diverse range of media - from animation and comics to media art and games. The festival presents awards in each of its four divisions: Art, Entertainment, Animation, and Manga. It also provides a platform for appreciation of the award-winning and other notable works. Since its inception in 1997, the festival has recognized significant works of high artistry and creativity, and in addition to a yearly Exhibition of Award-winning Works has held other events, such as symposiums, screenings, and showcases. We begin the 20th Festival on Thursday, July 7, 2016 with our call for entries. Entries are sought from professional, amateur, independent and commercial creators across the globe. Works completed or released between Wednesday, September 10, 2015 and Friday, September 9, 2016 are eligible for entry in one of the four divisions - Art, Entertainment, Animation and Manga. Last year, the 19th Festival received 4,417 entries from 87 countries and regions around the world, demonstrating its continuing evolution as an established annual international festival. Award-winning works are exhibited both within Japan and abroad through various projects and events organized by The Agency of Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, which aims to develop and promote the creation of Media Arts by focusing primarily on the current generation of artists. To mark the 20th Anniversary of the Japan Media Arts Festival, the special exhibition Japan Media Arts Festival 20th Anniversary Exhibition Power to Change will take place in October. For this reason, the schedule of jury screening and announcement of the Award-winning Works has changed significantly. The winners of the Grand Prizes, Excellence Awards, New Face Awards, Special Achievement Awards, as well as the Jury Selections will be announced in mid-march 2017. The Exhibition of Award-winning Works is planned for summer / autumn 2017. Entry Period: Thursday, July 7 Friday, September 9, 2016 18:00 Japan Standard Time Entries are accepted in a wide range of categories in the field of Media Arts including: interactive art, video works, games, web-based works, animations and comics. Contact Information: Japan Media Arts Festival Secretariat Public Relations Department c/o hilo Press Email: jmaf-pre@hilopress.net 1/6
1. The Japan Media Arts Festival A Creative Festival Conveying Various Aspects of Contemporary Expression Media Arts (Japanese: Media Geijutsu) refer to forms of expression that develop concurrently with a new media environment. The development of media technologies has allowed the creation of works which previously could not exist within the concepts of art, and has thereby led to the development of new forms of culture. By simultaneously taking a critical stance on present technologies and society, these works help diversify society s values by expanding its scope of imagination. Media Arts is a medium that conveys various aspects of contemporary expression and encourages the fostering of a culture that connects to the next generation. A Festival Discovering The Present by Revealing Borderless Forms of Expression The Japan Media Arts Festival is a festival that continuously questions the present, by reflecting diverse expressive activities generated by information technology and media. The large number of works assembled from all over the globe reflect changes of thought and communication styles born out of the expansion and infiltration of information technology, and display diverse forms of expression which lie beyond the realm of existing methods and forms. By honoring outstanding works of Media Arts (Japanese: Media Geijutsu ), the festival discovers the present through artworks influenced by the spirit of their time, and presents these works in the immersive Exhibition of Award-winning Works. Forcefulness of expression and individual creative spirit, exemplified by these works of Media Arts, invite viewers to make discoveries which lead to a deeper understanding of the art and culture of our times. 2/6
The Awards Announcement of Award-winning Works in mid-march 2017 For each division, a Grand Prize, Excellence Awards, and New Face Awards will be awarded on the basis of artistic quality and creativity. In addition, Special Achievement Awards will be awarded on the recommendation of the Jury to individuals or groups who have made a special contribution to Media Arts in any of the four divisions. Last year s 19th Regional Exhibition, Media Arts Overseas Exhibition and other projects, Project to Support the Nurturing of Media Arts Creators Schedule Entry Period: Thursday, July 7 Friday, September 9, 2016 18:00 Japan Standard Time Announcement of Award-winning Works: Mid-March, 2017 Awards Ceremony: Exhibition of Award-winning Works: Japan Media Arts Festival Overview Website: 20th Japan Media Arts Festival Website: Facebook: Twitter: Organizer: Contact Information: Email: Summer / Autumn 2017 TBC Summer / Autumn 2017 TBC Details on the venues will be announced upon decision. http://festival.j-mediaarts.jp/en/ http://www.facebook.com/japanmediaartsfestival @JMediaArtsFes Japan Media Arts Festival Executive Committee Japan Media Arts Festival Secretariat [c/o CG-ARTS] jmaf@cgarts.or.jp 3/6
2. The Call for Entries We are calling for works which display new forms of expression reflecting our present time. The Award-winning Works of the in the four divisions Art, Entertainment, Animation and Manga included the following works. Art Division: The Art Division features works which investigate new forms of expression, perception and critical perspectives using new media and digital technologies. We welcome ambitious cross-genre works. Interactive art, media installations, video works, video installations, graphic art digital illustrations, digital photographs, computer graphics, etc., internet art, media performances, etc. Grand Prize, Art Division This work is a conceptual and visual art piece which consists of six framed sheets. The artist revisits each programming language like an old friend and revitalizes it with a new appearance and energy using the latest machinery, creating a visualization of the rise and fall of various forms of technology from the past. 50. Shades of Grey Graphic art CHUNG Waiching Bryan United Kingdom 2015 Bryan Wai-ching CHUNG Entertainment Division: A wide variety of means for play and experience. We look for ambitious new forms of creativity and engaging works which capture the hearts and minds of audiences. Games video games, online games, etc., video / sound works music videos, independent and advertising videos, etc., multimedia productions including special effects videos, performances, projections, gadgets, electronic devices, websites including web promotions, open source projects, application software, etc. Grand Prize, Entertainment Division Best way of counting numbers is a music theater for children. It is an interactive performance consisting of multiple artistic forms including a puppet show, drama, animation, and musical performance. Best way for counting numbers Music theater KISHINO Yuichi Japan 2015 Out One Disc 4/6
Animation Division: Works with engaging stories and powerful expression, creativity and originality. We welcome a wide range of styles, hybrids and fusions of techniques. Animated feature films, animated short films, animated series, etc. Grand Prize, Animation Division This animated short film is remarkably elaborate and radically composed. This unique film embodies the interests and appetite of a young artist. Rhizome Animated short film Boris LABBÉ Sacrebleu Productions Manga Division: Comics - a globalized Japanese phenomenon with diverse forms of presentation currently in existence. We look for ambitious new work which can further expand its possibilities and connect people across the globe. Comics published in book form, comics published in a magazine including works still being serialized, comics published online for computer or mobile, self-published comics, etc. Grand Prize, Manga Division This autobiographical work follows a girl who dreams of becoming a girls manga artist, to her dream coming true, and her life thereafter. Her passion for drawing manga makes this a work filled with laughter and tears through multiple episodes and unique characters. Kakukaku shikajika So-and-so, Such-and-such HIGASHIMURA Akiko Japan Akiko HIGASHIMURA / SHUEISHA Public Recommendations Through the JMAF official website we welcome recommendations from members of the public of any exceptional works in Media Arts. Based on these recommendations, the Japan Media Arts Festival Secretariat will investigate the works and consider their possible entry. Please check the details of how to make a public recommendation on Japan Media Arts Festival Overview Website. 5/6
3. How to Enter Entries can be submitted by uploading data online or by post. For more information about entry, and how to complete registration and submission of work and/or reference materials please visit the Japan Media Arts Festival Overview Website. 4. The 20th Japan Media Arts Festival Entry Guidelines Divisions: Art Division Works of art created with new media and digital technologies. Interactive art, media installations, video works, video installations, graphic art digital illustrations, digital photographs, computer graphics, etc., internet art, media performances, etc. Entertainment Division Works for entertainment created with digital technologies. Games video games, online games, etc., video / sound works music videos, independent and advertising videos, etc., multimedia productions including special effects videos, performances, projections, gadgets, electronic devices, websites including web promotions, open source projects, application software, etc. Animation Division Animated feature films, animated short films, animated series, etc. Manga Division Comics published in book form, comics published in a magazine including works still being serialized, comics published online for computer or mobile devices, self-published comics, etc. Entry Period: Eligibility: Thursday, July 7 Friday, September 9, 2016 18:00 Japan Standard Time Works must be completed or released between: Thursday, September 10, 2015 and Friday, September 9, 2016. * Works completed, changed, renewed, presented or released during the above period are eligible for entry. * While an unlimited number of entries may be made, the same work may not be entered in multiple divisions. The entrant must hold the copyright of the submitted work. If the work is submitted by a representative, permission from the copyright holder must be obtained. *Each entrant must read, understand and accept the Rules and Regulations before submission. Please go to http://festival.j-mediaarts.jp/en/ to view the Entry Rules and Regulations. *By submitting their work, the entrant is deemed to have accepted all Entry Rules and Regulations as stated. Awards: Please view page 3 for details of the awards. 6/6