CALL FOR ENTRIES: Mobile Journalism Awards recognizes excellence in non-fiction storytelling produced by journalists with smartphones.

The competition is organized by a coalition of journalism organizations, universities, foundations, and the Visual Editors non-profit.

- Winners will be showcased in a series of global cinema screening events and curated in an annual collection to serve educators.

- View the criteria for each category and you will find options for mobile documentary film, social video, photography, and even audio reporting.

The judges will be nominated by the competition committee of scholars who are building this project. Judging rounds will begin in January with announcements and screening events in April.

The committee also advises on criteria, rules and recognition of best ethical practices in mobile reporting.

The goal of this initiative is to raise standards by honoring the best work each year and to provide a valuable resource and benchmark for educators, students and professionals worldwide.

What makes these awards special?
- The Mobile Journalism Awards is where mobile journalists can share their best work and be recognized for it.

It does not matter if you are an independent filmmaker, student journalist or on the payroll of a public broadcaster.

Live screenings of winning entries will premiere at the Athena Cinema at Ohio University and at screening events in London, Paris, and Cairo.

Why is this important?

Video is a persuasive medium to help convey those ideals and the smartphone video revolution is empowering non-fiction storytellers to reach new audiences on the screens they watch. Both small and large.

Finding new audiences
- Mobile journalism documentaries are winning top prizes at film festivals from L.A. to Berlin and are being screened to live audiences in cinemas as a result.

What are you waiting for?
- Enter now and get your work seen!

Awards & Prizes

Jury Awards

- Best Documentary
- Best Documentary Short
- Best Photography
- Best Audio Story
- Best News Story
- Best Social Media Story
- Best Travel Story
- Best Fashion Story
- Best Nature Story
- Best Food Story
- Best Editing

Multiple submissions
- You may submit more than one project and it also may be entered in more than one category.

- Judges will not move entries between categories.

Notification
- Winners will be notified at each stage of the judging process: From "Official Selection" to "Award Winner."

Recognition
- Winners will be recognized in live screening events and in the online Winners Circle for each edition of the competition. Winners will receive laurels and finalists will receive certificates.

Live screenings
- Winning work will be showcased at international screening events.

Rules & Terms

* All films must include English subtitles (unless the spoken language is English)

* Films completed between Jan. 1, 2016 through December 31, 2019 are eligible.

- Entries must be shot primarily with a smartphone.

- Films may include shots made with action cams or drones up to a maximum 25% of the total duration of the project.

- The jury for each edition of the awards will be selected from a pool of international visual journalism experts and award-winning documentary filmmakers.

- All submissions must be original and not include any intellectual property protected by outside copyrights.

Music
- If music is used, it must be 'rights-cleared,' public domain, creative commons, or original compositions. Verification may be requested by the jury.

Waivers
- Entrants consent to the use of their films or videos for live screenings in film festivals and at journalism events.
Entrants further consent to allow winning work to be curated, publicized by the organizers and be used for educational purposes.

Consent
The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening (including, but not limited to, multiple events at international locations).
The entrant understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

Liability
The entrant shall indemnify and hold harmless the organizers from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.