Cosplay Video Competition

Photo: Nyymix

• Competition applications opens: June 1 at 18:00
• Competition applications closes: August 2 at 23:59
• All applicants will be informed about the competition spots by August 12.
• The winners will be announced at Tracon during the Saturday cosplay competition on September 5.

• Application opens on June 1, 2026, and closes on August 3, 2026. Videos submitted outside the application period will be automatically rejected.
• Application must be completed only in the manner specified by the organizer. More detailed application instructions can be found below.
• Only one video per production team may be submitted to the competition. Production team members are considered to be individuals significantly involved in the creation of the competition video (lead actors, cinematographer, editor, scriptwriter).
• Finalists are not required to attend Tracon in person, but if you wish to attend the event, the finalist must purchase a ticket to the event themselves.
• Finalists can reserve a seat for the Saturday cosplay competitions. A maximum of four seats may be reserved per production team. Reserved seats can only be reserved for people who participated in the making of the competition video.
  • In order to reserve a place, a list of names must be submitted to cosplay organizers.
  • When reserving a place, the competitor must have at least a Saturday ticket to the event.

• The video must be a minimum of 1 minute and a maximum of 4 minutes in length. In addition, optional opening and closing credits may be included. The opening and closing credits cannot exceed 30 seconds in total, and they must be included in the maximum length of the video.
• The competition entry may be a cosplay music video, a short film, a skit or a cover video. The style and genre are unrestricted.
  • Generic event videos are not permitted. However, footage filmed at events may be used as part of a video.
• The video may be new, old, or previously published.
• Videos that have previously been entered into any video competitions are not eligible.
• The video footage must be filmed and edited by the contestant or their team.
• The video must consist mostly of video material.
  • The use of still images is permitted, for example, in stop-motion animation.
• AI may not be used in the video, images, or audio track in any form.
• The source material for the character(s) used is unrestricted, provided it comes from a licensed source. Original designs or OC characters (original fictional characters) are not allowed. Custom player characters from licensed sources are allowed, provided that the contestant can provide screenshots of the outfit in question (for example, an FFXIV Warrior of Light player character).
• The cosplay costumes visible in the photos will not be judged separately. Costumes may be either handmade or purchased.
  • However, the costumes may be evaluated as part of the photo’s overall presentation and visual cohesion. The main point is the recognizability of the characters.
• Adult material is prohibited. Judges and cosplay organizers reserve the right to disqualify videos containing excessively graphic or inappropriate content.
• The video must have high image quality. Judges and organizers may disqualify technically poor-quality videos. Technical requirements are listed below.
• The production team must have permission from the individuals appearing in the video, as well as from filming locations, for public screening of the video as part of the competition.
• There are no copyright restrictions on the soundtrack.

• Please aim to film and export the video in the highest possible quality.
• Recommended resolutions are 1920×1080 or 1280×720. The minimum accepted resolution is 480×360. The video must be in landscape orientation.
• Frame rate: minimum 23.976 fps, maximum 60 fps.
• The recommended final file format is MP4. Other accepted formats are AVI, WMV, and MOV.
• Please choose the music and/or audio track used in the video in the highest possible quality. There are no copyright restrictions regarding the soundtrack.

Videos in the Cosplay Video Competition will be evaluated by a selected panel of jury. The judges will award the best video. In addition, the audience will be able to vote for their favorite entry during the event.

The judges will select both their favorite video and finalists through pre-judging. The judges consider all aspects together and assess how balanced, impactful, and carefully executed the video is overall. Videos are evaluated based on the following areas.

When evaluating technical execution, the judges will pay attention to framing, camera angles, lighting, cinematography, editing, pacing, and sound design. Visual effects will also be taken into consideration. The evaluation focuses on the smoothness of the overall production, technical cohesion, and overall quality.

When evaluating storytelling and concept,  the jury will look at whether  the video has a clear idea or narrative. They examine whether the video forms a coherent and understandable story, as well as how creatively and originally the concept has been executed. A consistent atmosphere and visual style strengthen the impact of the video. The evaluation also considers how the chosen characters and source material are represented.

When evaluating performances and character portrayal, the judges examine direction, acting, expressiveness, body language, and the natural flow of movement. Successfully conveying the character’s personality to the audience is essential. The judges also evaluate how convincingly the character is portrayed through the video format.

In evaluating overall impression, the judges consider the memorability of the video, how effectively the different elements work together, and the overall atmosphere and impact. The evaluation focuses on how well the technical execution, story or concept, and performances combine into a cohesive and compelling final product that leaves a lasting impression on the viewer.

You can apply for the competition through the form available via the link once applications open. The form opens on June 1, 2026, at 18:00. Applications will be accepted until August 2 at 23:59. All applicants will be informed of the selections no later than August 12.

The team representative must be registered on the Kompassi.eu service.

In case of problems or questions, you can contact cosplay@tracon.fi.

Tracon’s committee is not permitted to participate in the competition.

Personal information of the participants will only be processed by the Cosplay Manager and the Cosplay Team of Tracon. In the competitions, the participants’ names or usernames will be announced according to their choices, as well as the information on the characters and shows.

The information will be processed according to the Data Protection Principles of Tracon https://ry.tracon.fi/tietosuoja/rekisteriselosteet