In the era of artificial intelligence (AI), both static images and dynamic videos, as well as digital art and interactive installations, have become powerful tools of human creative expression and new ways of presenting the world.The Global Youth Image Art 100 & TOP10 Cultivation Program (referred to as Youth Image 100) was born in response to the growing trend of diversified and multimedia expression among young image artists in the AI era. It aims to explore the evolving relationship between technology and humanity, and to inspire young people to move the world through the power of innovation and creativity.

As an academic brand program continuously developed by Photo Beijing, the Youth Image 100 project was initiated in 2024 by Photo Beijing, organized by China Artistic Photography Society, and Beijing International Arts & Photography Foundation, with Sony (China) Co., Ltd. as a collaborative partner.

In 2025, the second edition of the Youth Image 100 will carry the theme “Echoes of Civilization”, continuing its call for submissions from young image artists aged 18 to 45 worldwide. The program will select 100 outstanding works across five categories—documentary photography, art photography, micro videos, digital art images, and image installation art—for exhibition, and from these, 10 young artists will be selected for focused training and funding.

I. Organizing Institutions:

Initiating Unit: Photo Beijing

Hosted by: China Artistic Photography Society、Beijing International Arts & Photography Foundation

Organized By: Beijing China Millennium Monument WorldArt Center

Collaborative partners: Sony (China) Co., Ltd

II.Promoting Units

Central Academy of Fine Arts

School of Theatre, Film and Television, Communication University of China

School of Film, China Academy of Art

Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication

Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology Fashion Communication College

Photography Department, Beijing Film Academy

Sabanci University (Turkey)

Hongik University (South Korea)

Chung-Ang University (South Korea)

Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts

Sichuan Fine Arts Institute

Art College of Dalian Medical University

Shenyang City University

School of Experimental Art, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts

Shandong Normal University Academy of Arts

Shandong University Of Arts

School of Art and Design, Xian University of Science and Technology

LAFA Image Art College

Hainan Vocational University of Science and Technology

Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Pingyao International Photography Festiva

Dali International Photography Exhibition

500PX Photography Community

Australia-China Youth Development Association (Australia)

Laguna College of Art and Design (USA)

Chinese Photographers

Chinese Photography Magazine

China Photographers Magazine

Three Shadows Photography Art Centre

China Image Gallery

Korea Photographers Association

Ui ART Museum

Ill. Target for Solicitation:

1,Age: Open to young image art creators worldwide aged 18to 45 (from January 1, 1980, to December 3l, 2007), aiming todiscover and cultivate outstanding young talents in image artwith innovative awareness, pursuit of excellence, and socialresponsibility.

2,Nationality: No nationality restrictions.

IV. Solicitation Theme:

Echoes of Civilization

This theme is open-ended and originates from the 2025 academic theme of Beijing International Photography Week—“Image: Civilization · Neo-Essence”. Participants are encouraged to interpret the theme through their own perspectives, using multi-media and innovative forms of image art to reflect on the footprints and evolution of human civilization. Submissions may engage with broad humanistic and philosophical topics such as nature, environment, heritage, culture, society, and sustainable development. Artists are also encouraged to explore the future of civilization in the era of artificial intelligence and the post-human age, and to provoke thought on how technology reshapes civilization.

Submitted works must have been created within the past five years and should reflect contemporary themes with an emphasis on cultural guidance and social value. The project values both professionalism and social relevance, balancing experimental and practical qualities, as well as forward-thinking and real-world significance. Works should demonstrate openness, innovation, leadership, and inspiration.

V. Categories and Selection:

The solicitation includes five categories: documentaryphotography, artistic photography, micro-videos, digitalimage art, and interactive image installation art, with 100works selected for exhibition.

As a collaborative partner, Sony (China) Co., Ltd. will provide training and funding support to the Top 10 selected young image artists. Each of the Top 10 artists will receive RMB 20,000 (pre-tax) in production funding and Sony camera equipment valued at RMB 30,000, including the Alpha 7CR, SEL2450G lens, and a SF-M128T/T1 TOUGH series SD memory card.

(The number of selected works in each category will be determined by the jury based on the actual submissions.)

Category Descriptions:

1)Documentary Photography: Based on static images ofhumanities, society, ecology, and geography. It focuses onthe times, social development, human survival, and theecological and geographical environment of the Earth.

2) Artistic Photography: Based on static images for artisticcreation.All post-production techniques can be used tocreate artistic creative works around the project theme

3)Micro-Videos: Video works with a duration of 2-5 minutescreated around the theme. Content includes but is notlimited to documentary, stream of consciousness, film, andcontemporary art.

4) Digital Art Images: Including but not limited to workscreated using digital technologies such as CG, mixed reality(AR, VR, MR), and artificial intelligence/AIGC.

5)Video Installation Art: Based on innovative interactiveinstallation art with digital technology as the foundationfor artistic innovation, technological innovation in artisticperception experience, and social innovation in digital artpractice.

VI. Application Method:

A combination of self-nomination and recommendation

To expand the project's infuence and participation, theorganizer will establish a recommendation committee. It isaimed at photography and art departments of Chinese andinternational universities, as well as college students, graduatestudents, and young teachers related to image, and also at youngpeople engaged in photography and art creation in society

VIl. Submission Details:

1. Documentary Photography

Individual or group works are acceptable. At least oneoriginal thematic photography series is required, with 10-15images per group.

Submit electronic files of the work, with JPEG formatrequired, and the long side should not be less than 3000pixels, with image size limited to 2-5M.

Documentary works must not add or delete content from theoriginalimage.Moderate adjustments to tone and color inpost-production are allowed, as long as they do not violatethe objective and true attributes of the subject.

Each work, in addition to the title, should have a briefdescription (within 100 words, including time, place, and kelpoints of the event).

The author must retain the original data file for unified useafter being shortlisted (file format should be tiff or jpg, filesize between 10Mb-80Mb, resolution not less than 300dpi).

2. Artistic Photography:

Individual or group works are acceptable. At least oneoriginal thematic photography series is required, with 10.15 images per group. There are no restrictions on creativetechniques for artistic photography.

Submit electronic files of the work, with JPEG formatrequired, and the long side should not be less than 3000pixels, with image size limited to 2-5M.

The author must retain the original data file for unified usafter being shortlisted (file format should be tiff or jpg, filesize between 10Mb-80Mb, resolution not less than 300dpi).

3.Micro-Videos

Duration of 2-5 minutes

Video files should be in MP4 format, with a resolution of atleast 1080p (or image quality of at least 2K),

Using the H.264 compression standard, the pixel size shouldnot be less than 1920p on the long side and not less than1080p on the short side.

4. Digital Art Images

Interactive digital, interactive installations,VR,AR, MRholography, and other interactive image works should be360-degree panoramic videos, with a pixel size width ofnot less than 3840p and a height of not less than 2160p,and include relevant technical explanations; if the workis generated in real-time, please submit the compiledexecutable program.exe (to be further confirmed).

5.Video Installation Art.

Each piece should provide 3-5 images from differentperspectives (refer to the requirements for flat works), andassembled works should have a clear installation diagramand technical requirements for installation. If a video isattached, refer to the specific format requirements fordynamic and interactive works.

Note: All images and video files should be named after thework title and should not contain any author information.Ifartificialintelligence is used in the creative process, specificusage should be explained.

6.Application for the Youth Image TOPl0 Cultivation Planrequires the submission of materials

Applicants must submit the following information in detailwhen submitting their application form along with the work.

(1)Applicants must provide a resume of national/international awards or relevant qualifications inphotography work;

(2)A written explanation of their understanding ofphotography and personal photography philosophy, as wellas the shooting experience and philosophy of the submittedwork, with no less than 800-1200 words,;

(3)A description of the planned shooting project afterreceiving funding:including the content and creativeexplanation of the project, shooting time, planned start time,and financial planning (800-1200 words)

(4)One electronic version of a personal photo: file formatshould be jpg, file size should not be less than lMb, andresolution should not be less than 300dpi.

Attachment: Entry Application Form

pplication Form Young Image Artists TOP10 Development Program

VIll. Work Selection and Publicity

The selection is divided into: preliminary selection and finalselection

The results of the preliminary and final selections willbe announced and publicized on the Beijing InternationalPhotography Week website

IX. Honors:

1. The host unit will issue an exhibition certificate to 100selected authors

2. The recipients of the Youth Image TOPl0 Cultivation Plan will be rewarded with a total value of 50,000 RMB in camerasand bonuses provided by Sony (China) Co., Ltd.

3. The works will be exhibited during Photo Beijing and willalso be part of a traveling exhibition

4. The exhibited works will be compiled and published by thehost unit in the form of an exhibition catalogue or portfolio

5.The exhibition can serve as a qualification for applying folmembership in the China Artistic Photography Society, andthe information will be posted on the Society's website

6. Recipients of the Youth Image TOP10 Cultivation Plan will be invited to attend the opening and forums of Photo Beijing

Attention.

1.The organizing committee will request the original datafiles for selected works, and contributors should submit thenwithin the specified time after being notified. Failure to doso will result in automatic forfeiture of all qualifications

2.Contributors should ensure they are the authors of thesubmitted works and hold independent, complete, clear, ancht to the works:contributors should als:uncontested copyr1ensure that their submitted works do not infringe upon thelegal rights of others, including copyright, portrait rightsreputation rights, privacy rights, etc. Any disputes arisingfrom this will be the sole responsibility of the contributorand the host unit reserves the right to pursue legal

responsibility if it suffers any damage

3. Works and behaviors that are deemed to violate publicorder and good customs (including but not limited to thosethat may seriously mislead public perception, are fraudulentin nature, or violate laws, morals, public order, or goodcustoms)will result in immediate disqualification andwithdrawal of support upon discovery

4. The host and organizing units have the right to usethe selected and supported works through means suchas reproduction, distribution, exhibition, screening,information network dissemination, and publication

5.Recipients of the Youth Image TOPl0 Cultivation Planincluding but not limited to during the cooperation periodwill participate in work displays, project result sharing, ancproduct experience sharing sessions related to the event(specific details will be agreed upon in the developmentplan's specific advancement agreement)

6. There is no fee for this event, and submissions will not bereturned.

7. All contributors are considered to have acknowledgedand agreed to abide by all the regulations of this call forsubmissions.Works that do not comply with the regulationsof this call will not be selected; those that have already beerselected will be disqualified

8.The final interpretation of this call for submissionsbelongs to the host.

X.Time

Submission Time: June 9,2025-July 10, 2025

Evaluation Time: Mid-August 2025

Award Ceremony: The awards will be presented at theopening ceremony of Photo Beijing on October 18, 2025.

Exhibition Time: October 18 -0ctober 27, 2025 (Exhibitionheld during Photo Beijing) Exhibition Venue: ChinaMillennium Monument, Beijing

X1. Submission Platform:

1.Email Submission:

Photo Beijing email: info@photobeijing.com

2.Website Submission:

Log in to the official website of Photo Beijing (http://www.photobeijing.com), go to the exhibitionarea, select " Global Youth Image Art 100 and TOP10Cultivation Program " to complete the submission

XIl. 

Contact Information for Inquiry Contact Person: LijuanLiang,Anna

Phone Number: 13994267049,18600591647

Inquiry Email:info@photobeijing.com