Winners of the Nikon Film and Photo Contest 2024-2025
Award-winning works will be exhibited in several major cities around the world
October 14, 2025
TOKYO - Nikon Corporation (Nikon) has been proud to host the Nikon Film and Photo Contest, one of the world's largest photo and film competitions, for over 50 years, since its inception in 1969. The winners of Grand Prizes and other awards for each Nikon Film and Photo Contest 2024-2025 competition were announced at the awards ceremony held on October 12, 2025.
Winners of the Grand Prizes, Excellence Awards, and Special Encouragement Awards were selected from submissions from 180 countries and regions around the world. In addition, two works were recipients of the General Public Award, determined through public voting.
The following four entries were selected as Grand Prize winners in each category.
- Short Film Competition
- Super-short Film Category: "The small red, big blue" by Hamed Nobari (Iran)
- 5-minute Film Category: "Finding Serenity" by Ademola Falomo (Nigeria)
- Photo Competition
- Single Photo Category: "Jonas" by Tiina Itkonen (Finland)
- Photo Story Category: "Farewell-able" by Lei Yang (China)
The exhibition and screening of award winners at events in several major cities, as well as Nikon facilities, around the world is planned. Please visit the Nikon Film and Photo Contest 2024-2025 website for details to be posted at a later date.
Short Film Competition Super-short Film Category Grand Prize
"The small red, big blue" by Hamed Nobari (Iran)
The story behind the film
This work addresses environmental issues and marine life from a global perspective. Children love fish and the sea. I want to cherish those feelings and always remember to respect nature.
Short Film Competition 5-minute Film Category Grand Prize
"Finding Serenity" by Ademola Falomo (Nigeria)
The story behind the film
It was born during the COVID-19 lockdown, when I was deeply moved by Yimeeka's "Finding Serenity" poem. My friends and I worked together on this film, exploring peace in chaos and beauty in uncertainty.
Photo Competition Single Photo Category Grand Prize
"Jonas" by Tiina Itkonen (Finland)
The story behind the photo
Jonas lives in Savissivik, one of Greenland's most isolated settlements. Savissivik is located in
northwestern Greenland, more than a thousand kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, and is a
region where the polar night and midnight sun each last for four months. With a population of
only 50 people, the village can be reached from Qaanaaq, a town in northern Greenland, only
once a week by helicopter.
The Inuit of northwestern Greenland are the northernmost indigenous people in the world.
Because agriculture is impossible in this region, hunting Arctic animals such as seals and walruses
has long been an important part of life, and these animals have been the main food source for
many families. However, in recent years, the sea ice has become increasingly thin, making
hunting on the ice more dangerous. The melting sea ice poses significant challenges to the
traditional Inuit way of life, and eventually, these traditions may be lost forever.
Photo Competition Photo Story Category Grand Prize
"Farewell-able" by Lei Yang (China)
The story behind the photos
When we move from one place to another, we say, "Goodbye" or "Farewell" to express our connection to people and places. Before leaving China, I photographed my hometown and considered what "Farewell" meant to me.
Lead Judge Sarah Leen's comments on the Nikon Film and Photo Contest 2024-2025 (summary)
Being involved with the contest as Lead Judge again on this panel of judges was an invaluable experience.
I was particularly impressed by how much stronger each individual entry was this year compared to the previous contest. The "Inspire" theme encouraged a wide range of entries, and the diverse creativity expressed was impressive. We received many fascinating works, including beautiful landscapes and portraits, that clearly reflected this theme.
The Photo Story Category was, once again, the most difficult category to judge, given the complex thoughts, ideas, and intent behind photo stories and series. This is because a thorough understanding of the story the photos tell in their own unique language, not in words, is required. However, it was such a joy for all of the judges to discover the things in which people find value and inspiration through all of the entries submitted from around the world.
Each judge brought his or her own experience and knowledge to the table, and discussions that led to final selection of the winning entries were extensive. I truly believe the unique appeal of this contest lies in the fact that we judges learned a lot, expanded our perspectives on photography, and made new discoveries through these discussions.
Exhibition and screening of winning works in several major cities around the world
The exhibition and screening of award-winning entries at Nikon facilities in Kyobashi, Tokyo, and in several other cities around the world is planned to allow as many people as possible to enjoy the results of the Nikon Film and Photo Contest 2024-2025.
In Japan, an exhibition of the award-winning entries will be held from October 12-27, 2025, as part of the T3 PHOTO FESTIVAL TOKYO 2025 at Tokyo Square Garden, a shopping complex in Tokyo's Chuo Ward. The exhibition will offer a space based on the contest theme, "Inspire", where visitors can experience these works and the stories behind them. Please come and see the works of creators from around the world up close.
Information regarding the exhibition and screening of winning works
Exhibition: Nikon Film and Photo Contest (T3 Photo Festival Tokyo)
Dates: October 12-27, 2025
Venue: Tokyo Square Garden, 1st floor thoroughfare
Information regarding other exhibitions and screenings will be posted on the Nikon Film and Photo Contest 2024-2025 website as it becomes available.
Please visit the Nikon Film and Photo Contest website for further information on winning works.
The information is current as of the date of publication. It is subject to change without notice.