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 filmmakers who have a strong aspiration to contribute to the betterment of society through the creation of new educational content in countries and regions with limited budgets and/or technical facilities. The Proposal Pitch will award two filmmakers with prize money with the goal of helping them to complete their projects.

• Once selected, all finalists are required to participate in the Proposal Pitch Workshop. Mentoring will be offered to help clarify the entrant’s idea and improve pitching techniques. We encourage young and up-and-coming filmmakers with less than 10 years of experience who seek learning opportunities to apply.
• Check below for countries and regions that are NOT eligible to enter.
  List of countries and regions that are NOT eligible to enter
• Prize-winners are required to produce and premiere the proposed program by September 30th, 2025, and to report the progress of the production to the Japan Prize Secretariat.

Important Dates – 2024

March 8th, Friday

Call for entries open

June 6th, Thursday

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 June 6th, 2024.

August 7th, Wednesday

Announcement of Finalists on website

Starting late September

Preparatory work for Finalists via online

November 16th, Saturday -17th, Sunday

Proposal Pitch Workshop in Japan for Finalists

November 18th, Monday – 21st, Thursday

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.

Entry Fee

There is no entry fee.
However, representing organizations are responsible for any fees that may arise in connection with entries, such as communication fees.

Prizes

• The Best Proposal Prize
  US$ 10,000
  Awarded to the best proposal for a program which will contribute to education in an entrant’s country/region/community
• Outstanding Proposal Prize (Runner-up)
  US$ 6,000
  Awarded to the second best proposal for a program which will contribute to education in an entrant’s country/region/community

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 represented by an established organization* such as the following:
  
  • TV/Film production companies
  • Digital content production companies
  • Educational research institutions
  • Established non-governmental or non-profit organizations etc.
  • Broadcasters/Streaming platforms

  *Individuals are welcome to enter if you are represented by an established organization.

• (3) Once selected, all finalists are required to participate in the Proposal Pitch Workshop. Mentoring will be offered to help clarify the entrant’s idea and improve pitching techniques. In particular, we encourage young and up-and-coming filmmakers with less than 10 years of experience, who seek learning opportunities, to apply.
  Please note, this does not mean we discourage the submissions from veteran filmmakers.
• (4) If the representing organization is not a broadcaster, entrants must declare the planned media and date of premiere.
• (5) In the hope of giving as many people as possible a chance, 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 with educational aims. Representing 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 feasible 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, 2025 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 details including the 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 Proposal Pitch 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: Thursday, June 6th, 2024 11:59pm (Japan Standard Time)

Use of Entry Information and Presentation Material

Entering filmmakers, their representing organizations, and all copyright holders for the entry proposal must acknowledge that upon submission to the Japan Prize, they will be granting NHK the right to use the entry information and presentation materials including the pitch videos and photos/slides, free of charge, for the purposes below:

• (1) 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 of the completed program during the Japan Prize Awards Ceremony.
  • Use of excerpts of entry material and of the completed program on NHK’s broadcast (both domestic and international), website, social media, and print.
• (2) 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.
• (3) Japan Prize Festival Platform
  NHK reserves the right to stream all or part of the entry material and the completed program on the Japan Prize Festival Platform for a limited term, including the Japan Prize festival week. The access to this platform is limited to registered delegates, and requires an individually issued ID and password to log in and view the content.

If you become a Winner

• (1) A memorandum will be exchanged between the Japan Prize and the representing 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 signed by all parties; the remaining half will be paid after the production is completed and has been premiered.
• (2) The prize-winners must complete and premiere the proposed program within their country/region by the most effective means of distribution (e.g. TV broadcast, internet streaming, theatrical and non-theatrical release) by September 30th, 2025. 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 details including the 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-winner retains copyrights to the completed program.
• (5) Entering filmmakers, their representing organizations, and all copyright holders for the entry proposal must acknowledge that upon winning a prize, in addition to the use of entry information and presentation material mentioned above, they will be asked to sign a memorandum which grants NHK the rights to use the completed program as follows:
  
  • (A) 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.
  • (B) 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 filmmakers who have a strong aspiration to contribute to the betterment of society through the creation of new educational content in countries and regions with limited budgets and/or technical facilities. The Proposal Pitch will award two filmmakers with prize money with the goal of helping them complete their projects.

Once selected as a Proposal Pitch finalist, workshops and mentoring sessions are provided to help clarify an entrant’s idea, and improve pitching techniques. In particular, we encourage young and up-and-coming filmmakers with less than 10 years of experience who seek learning opportunities to apply. Veteran filmmakers are also welcome to apply.

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?
• 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?
• For digital media content, does the entry actively and meaningfully engage the audience? Does it leave room for the audience to think and form their own views?

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, platform 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?
• Is the entry available on a device or platform that enables it to reach its intended audience?

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.