The 17th Japan Media Arts Festival

Festival of Art, Entertainment, Animation and Manga

The Japan Media Arts Festival is a comprehensive festival of Media Arts (Media Geijutsu) that honors outstanding works from a diverse range of media – from animation and comics to media art and games. The festival gives 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.

As time passes and new forms of expression are born in different genres, the Japan Media Arts Festival continues its evolution as an established annual international festival.

And we begin the 17th Festival with our call for entries. Entries are sought from professional, amateur, independent and commercial creators from across the globe.

Entry Period Thursday, July 11 – Thursday, September 12, 2013

Works completed or released between September 21, 2012 and September 12, 2013 are eligible for entry in the four divisions: Art, Entertainment, Animation and Manga.

Through a rigorous judging process by a 5-member jury for each division, award-winning works will then be selected based on their artistic quality and creativity.

In early December, we will announce the winners of Grand Prizes, Excellence Awards, New Face Awards and Special Achievement Awards, as well as other Jury Selections. Award-winners will receive prizes from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

The Exhibition of Award-winning Works, in which these will be presented, will be held from February 5 to 16, 2014, at the National Art Center, Tokyo (our main venue) and other locations.

The year’s leading examples of fascinating Media Arts will be seen!

Link to the Japan Media Arts Festival press release.