Entry Rules: Proposal Pitch

Our mission

The mission of the Japan Prize is to contribute to the advancement of the quality of educational content around the world and to foster mutual understanding between societies and cultures by recognizing works that make innovative use of visual media. Since its establishment in 1965, the competition has supported the power of the media by awarding outstanding works that foster people’s aspirations to further learn, reflect, empathize, and take action for the betterment of the world.

Purpose of the Proposal Pitch

The Proposal Pitch aims to support the realization of educational programs in countries/regions with limited budgets and/or technical facilities.
* Check below for countries and regions that are NOT eligible to enter.

List of countries and regions that are NOT eligible to enter

* Prize-winning organizations are required to produce and premiere the proposed program by September 30th, 2024, and to report the progress of the production to the Japan Prize Secretariat.

Important Dates

March 13th

Open for entries

May 31st

Final deadline for all entries
* All required materials (i.e. the completed Entry Form and any additional material, if any) should arrive at the Secretariat by May 31st, 2023.

August 16th

Announcement of Finalists on website

Starting late September

Preparatory work for Finalists via online

November 18th – 19th

Preparatory Workshop in Japan for Finalists

November 20th – November 23rd

Japan Prize Festival and Awards Ceremony in Japan
(Announcement of the winners of the Grand Prix Japan Prize and the Proposal Pitch)
*Finalists will be required to do a Final Presentation in front of the final jury members during the Festival week.
*All final jury members will judge the Proposal Pitch.

Entry Fee

There is no entry fee.
NOTE: Entering organizations are responsible for any fees that may arise in connection with entries, such as a communication fee.

Prizes

• The Best Proposal Prize
  US$ 10,000
  The most outstanding proposal for a program which will contribute to education in an entrant’s country/region
• Excellent Proposal Prize
  US$ 6,000
  An excellent proposal for a program which will contribute to education in an entrant’s country/region

Entry Eligibility

• (1) Check below for countries and regions that are NOT eligible to enter.
  List of countries and regions that are NOT eligible to enter
• (2) Entrants must be established organizations* such as the following:
  
  • Broadcasters/Streaming platforms
  • TV/Film production companies
  • Digital content production companies
  • Educational research institutions
  • Established non-governmental or non-profit organizations etc.

  *Individuals are not eligible to enter.

• (3) If the entering organization is not a broadcaster, entrants must declare the planned premiere media and date at the time of entry.
• (4) Any director or producer who won the Best Proposal Prize once in previous editions or the Excellent Proposal Prize twice in previous editions is not eligible to enter the Proposal Pitch.

Entry Conditions

• (1) The entry must be a proposal for a linear program with educational aims. Entering organizations may submit one proposal per each target age group below.
  
  • Children (0 to 12 years old)
  • Teens (12 to 18 years old)
  • Adults (18 years and older)
• (2) The proposal must be realistically producible with the Japan Prize prize money alone or with any additional funds. Prize-winning projects must be completed and premiered by the most practical and effective means of distribution (e.g. TV broadcast, internet streaming, theatrical and non-theatrical release) by September 30th, 2024 in the entrant's own country/region. Upon completion of the program and premiere, prize-winners must hand in an Impact Report which should specify release media, release date, viewership and viewer feedback. Details will be provided from the Japan Prize Secretariat.
• (3) The proposal must appropriately address the educational needs of the entering country/region.
• (4) The length of the program can be up to 60 minutes.
• (5) Finalists will be required to do a Final Presentation in front of the final jury members. Prior to the presentation, all finalists will be required to attend the Preparatory Workshop in Japan. Details will be provided from the Japan Prize Secretariat.

Entry Procedure

1. 1. Read through the Entry Rules
2. 2. Complete and submit an online Entry Form
3. 3. Receive a confirmation email from the Secretariat
4. 4. Entry complete

Deadline: Wednesday, May 31st, 2023 11:59pm (Japan Standard Time)

Production and Premiere Requirements of the Prize-winner

• (1) A memorandum will be exchanged between the organizer of the Japan Prize and the entering organization regarding the rights and obligations of each party, such as payment of the prize money and production schedule.
  Half of the prize money will be paid after the memorandum is concluded; the remaining half will be paid after the production is completed and has been premiered.
• (2) The prize-winning organization must complete and premiere the proposed program within the organization’s country/region by the most effective means of distribution (e.g. TV broadcast, internet streaming, theatrical and non-theatrical release) by September 30th, 2024. The master quality movie file of the program (English version), along with any documentation verifying the premiere, must be sent to the Secretariat. The documentation must also include an Impact Report specifying release media, release date, viewership and viewer feedback. Details will be provided from the Japan Prize Secretariat.
• (3) The completed program must include credits indicating that the program was produced with the support of the Japan Prize.
• (4) The prize-winning organization retains copyrights to the completed program.

Use of Entry Material and Completed Program

Entering organizations and all copyright holders for the entry material must acknowledge that upon submission to the Japan Prize, they will be granting NHK the right to use the entry materials including videos and photos, free of charge, for the purposes below:

• (1) Domestic broadcast of the completed program
  In the event that the entry proposal wins a prize, upon completion of the program, NHK reserves the right to broadcast on NHK’s domestic broadcasting service including internet live streaming and 7-day on-demand catch-up services. Live streaming and on-demand catch-up service will be geoblocked. The aim of this broadcast is to further promote the Japan Prize and its quality to the general public in Japan.
  
  • *In the case of broadcast, the program may be edited to meet NHK’s programming requirements and broadcasting guidelines.
  • *The entrant shall be responsible for all rights clearances necessary for the broadcast above. With regards to the musical rights, the entrant warrants that the performing rights in all musical compositions and sound recordings contained in the program(s) are: (i) controlled by Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers ("JASRAC") and/or an affiliated collection society; (ii) in the public domain or; (iii) controlled by the entrant.
• (2) Promotion of the Japan Prize
  NHK reserves the right to use the entry material and completed program for the promotion of Japan Prize which will include the following:
  • Use of excerpts of entry material and completed program during the Japan Prize Awards Ceremony.
  • Use of excerpts of entry material and completed program on NHK’s broadcast (both domestic and international), website, social media, and print.
• (3) Public Screening
  NHK reserves the right to screen all or part of the entry material and completed program during the Japan Prize festival and at other admission-free Japan Prize-related events organized by NHK, both within and outside of Japan.
• (4) Japan Prize Streaming Site
  NHK reserves the right to stream all or part of the entry material and completed program on the Japan Prize Streaming Site for a limited term, including the Japan Prize festival week. The access to this streaming site is limited to registered Japan Prize delegates and requires an individually issued ID and password to log in and view the content.
• (5) Japan Prize Library
  NHK reserves the right to archive the completed programs in the Japan Prize Library. The Japan Prize Library lends out copies of the films to schools/researchers/producers for educational purposes upon request. Commercial use and broadcast are strictly prohibited.

<For Inquiries>

Japan Prize Secretariat

Our mission

The mission of the Japan Prize is to contribute to the advancement of the quality of educational content around the world and to foster mutual understanding between societies and cultures by recognizing works that make innovative use of visual media. Since its establishment in 1965, the competition has supported the power of the media by awarding outstanding works that foster people’s aspirations to further learn, reflect, empathize, and take action for the betterment of the world.

Purpose of the Proposal Pitch

The Proposal Pitch aims to support the realization of educational programs in countries/regions with limited budgets and/or technical facilities.

All entries will be judged based on the following criteria.

Educational Value

With respect to the context of the target audience’s culture and society:

• Does the entry challenge the target audience’s assumptions and preconceptions, and contribute to a positive transformation of the way they understand themselves, others, and the world?
• Is the entry effective in helping/heightening the target audience’s learning and understanding of others, and/or practice of empathy for others?
• Does the entry offer effective suggestions for problem-solving and/or improving the target audience’s society?
• Does the entry generate educational impact in the target society/community, with the potential to inspire the audience to take action for the betterment of society?

Production Value

With respect to the economic and financial background of the production:

• Is the idea of the entry original and innovative?
• Is the length, format, and style of the entry appropriate for sustaining and heightening the interest of the target audience?
• Are the budget plan and production schedule appropriately planned?

* NOTE

No jury member may participate in voting for any entry submitted by an organization to which they belong, or for any entry in whose production they or their organization have been involved.