Nikon has just announced the winners of the Nikon Film and Photo Contest 2024–2025, celebrating global talent in one of the world’s most prestigious competitions for visual storytelling. The winning images were unveiled during an awards ceremony on the 12 October, with the winners selected once again from an impressive pool of entries spanning 180 countries and regions.
This year there have been four Grand Prize winners who have been recognised across both photo and short film categories, joined by recipients of the Excellence Awards, Special Encouragement Awards, and the General Public Award, which has been decided via online voting. All of the award-winning works will be showcased in exhibitions and screenings in major cities, as well as at Nikon’s global facilities. Full exhibition details will be published soon on the official Nikon Film and Photo Contest 2024–2025 website.
This year’s contest revolved around the theme Inspire, and according to lead judge Sarah Leen, former Director of Photography at National Geographic, the submissions demonstrated remarkable diversity and emotional depth. “The Photo Story Category is always particularly challenging,” Leen remarked. “Photo stories capture emotions and complex ideas without a single word. What stood out was how universally resonant and moving these stories were.”
Grand Prize Winners – Nikon Film and Photo Contest 2024–2025:
Short Film Competition – Super-short Film Category
“The small red, big blue” by Hamed Nobari (Iran)
This poetic short reflects on marine life and environmental issues from a child’s perspective, evoking the wonder and fragility of the natural world.
Short Film Competition – 5-minute Film Category
“Finding Serenity” by Ademola Falomo (Nigeria)
Inspired by a poem and created during the COVID-19 lockdown, the film explores themes of peace amidst chaos and was crafted through close collaboration with friends.
Photo Competition – Single Photo Category
“Jonas” by Tiina Itkonen (Finland)
Shot in one of Greenland’s most remote villages, the portrait captures Jonas, a resident of Savissivik, whose traditional Inuit lifestyle is increasingly threatened by climate change and melting sea ice.
Photo Competition – Photo Story Category
“Farewell-able” by Lei Yang (China)
A deeply personal series that reflects on the meaning of farewell, documenting the photographer’s final days in their hometown before moving abroad.
In addition to the Grand Prizes, a wide range of other accolades were awarded, recognising the skill, creativity, and narrative power of both emerging and established creators.
With the Nikon Film and Photo Contest continuing to grow in scale and influence, this year’s entries stand as a compelling testament to the global power of visual storytelling and the resilience of creativity in challenging times.
If you would like to see the images and short films then please check out https://www.nikon-photocontest.com/en/
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