About the Open Call

The Dainamaina Award seeks works that offer hope, wonder, and soul, especially in tough times. Works should be fun, creative, and tell a great story, linking worlds, cultures, and generations to build a better world for all. Creators of any background, passionate about making things for kids, can participate in categories including Children's stories (picture books, chapter books, YA novels), Interactive games and playful storytelling, Illustration and visual storytelling, Hybrid formats, Story/Podcast/Audio Content, Song or Lullaby, Game & Entertainment Design (Physical or Digital), Play and Theater, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated works. Works must be narrative, fun, or adventure-driven, with topic, language, and form suitable and modern for kids/teens. They must be original with clear and undisputed intellectual property rights. Rewrites of classics are allowed if they show bold creativity. Ineligible works include translated, non-original, copyright-infringing, promotional/attack-oriented, previously published, or previously prize-winning works. Dainamaina is not obligated to publish works but will support worthy ones, potentially publishing with translation. Prizes are for copyright purchase, and half of each prize is cash, the other half is a development opportunity (workshop, study, etc.) to refine the work for production. Winners agree to participate in editing/refinement. Creators confirm full rights ownership. Participants can enter one work per category. Non-Iranian entrants of all nationalities and languages are welcome; if selected, work will first be published in Persian. Non-Iranian winners and nominees can attend the award ceremony, with travel and accommodation covered for first-place winners.

What is Offered

Recipients will receive the Dainamaina Int'l Medal, Global Recognition, Cash Prizes, and Expert Mentorship. There is also an opportunity to work with iGhe3's global projects and Dainamaina Publishing. Prizes include monetary awards (e.g., 27M-60M Toman for 1st place copyright purchase, 10M-20M Toman for 2nd place, 5M-10M Toman for 3rd place) and a development opportunity (workshop, study, etc.) to help refine the work for production. Certificates of Honor are awarded for 4th-10th place. Dainamaina will cover travel and accommodation costs for non-Iranian first-place winners to attend the award ceremony.

Requirements

Works must be narrative, fun, or adventure-driven, with topic, language, and form suitable and modern for kids/teens. They must be original with clear and undisputed intellectual property rights. Rewrites of classics are allowed if they show bold creativity, resulting in a unique, new work. Submissions must not be translated works, non-original creations, works derived from other pieces infringing copyright, works promoting/attacking an idea/belief/ideology, previously published works, or works that have previously won a prize in another contest. Specific category requirements include: for unillustrated stories, text must be fit for a kids' book and illustratable, with a basic sketch if not the artist; for illustrated picture books, a mix of text/image or image only, presented in final envisioned form; for YA novels, can include illustrations, with a clear sketch if not the artist; for audio content, sound-edited and finalized with intro/outro, no copyrighted music, author confirms consent of participants, can be single/multi-part/series; for songs, lyrics & music or lyrics with clear melody; for games, submission must make game fully clear to judges, physical/digital prototype required if selected, digital games require code access for review; for plays, clear submission (script + detailed notes, or script + performance video); for AI works, must be created using AI based on entrant's skills, output can be physical or digital, no limits on AI type, work can be in any field (text, audio, video, app, game).

How to Apply

Participants can submit their work through the online submission link: https://ighe3.com/dainamaina-award-en/. Ensure all category-specific details and forms are completed by the deadline of December 20, 2025.