The Society for East Asian Anthropology presents the biennial David Plath Media Award to the best audio-visual or other multimedia work on East Asian anthropology.
The award recognizes outstanding multimedia work – including but not limited to film, video, audio, digital, interactive, and experimental formats – on any aspect of East Asian anthropology or its contributions to the broader field.
For the 2026 award cycle, the committee especially invites submissions of creative multimodal ethnographies, photo-ethnographic work, and other projects that experiment with form, medium, or modes of audience engagement. Eligible submissions should advance theoretical development or debate, and they should have clear potential to enhance teaching. Projects may include media produced for digital platforms, broadcast, or other forms of mediated communication; materials designed for educational purposes; the visual documentation of anthropological stories; and ethnographic footage that furthers analysis or contributes to anthropological knowledge or the historical record.
This year’s David Plath Media Award will be awarded to a project completed in 2024 or 2025. Submissions are welcome from any part of the world, but they must be accessible in English (e.g. through subtitles, captions, or audio). Nominations for the prize may be made by authors/producers, distributors, or interested third parties.
The award will be presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, where the winner(s) will be most welcome, though not obligated to attend. Like all SEAA prizewinners, the David Plath Media Award honoree(s) will receive a cordial invitation to join the award ceremony at our Business Meeting. The award includes a formal commendation and carries a $300 prize. The winner will be notified in the fall.
Submission Deadline: July 1, 2026
Only one submission is eligible per applicant; resubmissions will not be considered.
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Project Information: Including applicant name, institutional affiliation, contact information, title of work, date of production/publication, and length of work (e.g. for film).
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Project Statement (250-400 words): This statement is a vital component of the initial screening process. and it should include the two parts described below:
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Abstract: A 1–2 paragraph concise description of the work and its objectives.
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Rationale for Entry: A clear explanation of how the submission fulfills the specific aims and criteria of the Plath Media Award.
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Project Information: Including applicant name, institutional affiliation, contact information, title of work, date of production/publication, and length of work (e.g. for film).
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Eligibility Verification: For unpublished or non-broadcast works, please provide evidence of the production period (e.g. a screenshot of file metadata, a dated production log, or a signed letter from an institutional advisor). To verify the production dates of a shortlisted submission, the committee may request additional documentation.
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Media/Video Projects: Provide a link to a hosting platform (e.g., Vimeo, YouTube, or similar), including any necessary passwords.
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Non-Video or Mixed-Media Projects: Provide a link to a digital portfolio, personal website, or a secure, password-protected cloud folder (e.g., PDF, JPG, MP3).
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International Submissions: Applicants in regions with restricted access to certain hosting sites should consult our International Submission Alternatives FAQ. Any questions not addressed there may be directed to the committee chair (ynkp_at_uwm.edu).
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We cannot accept materials via unsecured file-transfer services (such as standard/free WeTransfer or public Dropbox “share” links).
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Submissions via email attachment are possible only by special arrangement to accommodate exceptional circumstances.
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Format: Please prepare three (3) non-returnable copies of the work on USB flash drives.
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Mailing Instructions: Contact the committee chair by May 15 to request mailing instructions and be sure to follow up with an email notification after your package has been mailed.
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Deadline: All physical materials must be received by the committee no later than July 1, 2026. Please allow ample time for international shipping.
2026 David Plath Media Award Committee members:
Nan KIM (chair), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | ynkp_at_uwm.edu
Huatse GYAL, Rice University
Shoko YAMADA, Princeton University
Please feel free to contact the Committee members with any questions.
We look forward to receiving your submissions!
About the Award
The prize is named in honor of David Plath (1930–2022), who is widely remembered as a dedicated educator, renowned Japan scholar, and producer of award-winning documentary films. He co-founded the Asian Educational Media Service (AEMS) and mentored a vast number of advisees and students, many of whom went on to pursue scholarly and teaching careers.
Past David Plath Media Award Recipients:
2024: Qu Song’s film Beneath the Rubber Trees
2022: Chul-nyung Heo’s film 206 Unearthed
2020: Bora Lee-Kil’s film Untold (기억의 전쟁)
2018: Aaron Litvin and Ana Paula Kojima Hirano’s film One Day We Arrived
2016: Aya Domenig’s film The Day the Sun Fell
2014: Dipesh Karel and Asami Saito’s film Playing with Nan
2013: Jenny Chio’s film Peasant Family Happiness
2011: Karen Nakamura’s film A Japanese Funeral and Mark Patrick McGuire and Jean-Marc Abela’s film Shugendo Now