The 51st edition of Japanese public broadcaster NHK’s four-day international Japan Prize Festival opens in Tokyo on 18 November.

The 59-year-old festival runs from 18-21 November. The Grand Prix winner, chosen from across the categories, will be announced on 21 November.

This year’s competition received 423 entries and proposals – the largest in the Japan Prize history – from 59 countries and regions.

More than 40 category winners and finalists go forward to the Grand Prix.

The Grand-Prix will be judged by 12 producers and media professionals representing 12 countries and regions.

Screenings of the nine Grand Prix finalists will be held during the festival week along with talks and discussions with the creators.

Category winners going through to the grand finals include NRK Norway’s “The Fantus Show” in the pre-school category; “Death to the Bikini!” from Canada’s Colonelle films in the primary school category; youth category winner, “Kabul Beauty”, from Kraken Films/LCP-Assemblée Nationale France; and “Can I Hug You?” from Jumping Ibex/Deutsche Welle (UK/Iran/Germany) in the lifelong learning category.