Introduction

BIBF International Illustration Award is one of the special brands under the umbrella of Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), with professional international review resources, integrating the three major projects of overseas artist residency, overseas publishing fund, and overseas exhibition of winning works. The competition categories are divided into professional and children's tracks. The winning works are recommended by BIBF to overseas publishing institutions, exhibited in the BIBF International Illustration Exhibition, and have the opportunity to be exhibited in the next Bologna Children's Book Fair. The winning illustrators will be invited to attend the award ceremony and BIBF International Illustration Forum during the Beijing International Book Fair.

Awards Introduction

Professional Competition

The 2025 BIBF International Illustration Awards (Professional) includes a total of seven categories（Children’s Publishing, Advertising, Covers, Science & Technology, Editorial, Product & Packaging and Specific Themes），and each category is divided into two groups: “published” and “unpublished”, aiming to provide a fair and impartial display platform for illustration works at different stages of creation.

A Gold Award and an Expert Recommended Award will be set for each group of each category in recognition of the artistic and professional excellence of illustrators. In addition, the competition will select a winner of the Global Award (Best of best), which represents the highest honor, among the entries in all groups for the Professional competition, in recognition of her/his outstanding contribution to creativity and influence.

BOB (Best of best) Global Award

Trophy and Certificate(10000CNY)

Gold Awards (Published/Unpublished)

Published Trophy and Certificate
Unpublished Trophy and Certificate(3000CNY)

Expert Recommended Awards (Published/Unpublished)

Published Trophy and Certificate
Unpublished Trophy and Certificate(2000CNY)

Shortlisted Awards

 Certificate

* All prizes are pre-tax amounts, and the individual must pay the applicable tax.

Teenager Competition

2025 BIBF International Illustration Awards (Teenager) includes two major categories: picture books and the specific theme “Gift of Nature”. Each category is divided into three groups: “4-8 years old group”, “9-12 years old group” and “13-18 years old group”, aiming to provide young creators of different ages with opportunities to showcase their talents and creativity and encourage their self-expression and exploration in the process of artistic creation.

A Gold Award and an Expert Recommended Award will be set for each group of each category in recognition of the growth and progress of young entrants in artistic expression and creative conception.

Gold Awards (4-8 Years Old/9-12 Years Old/13-18 Years Old)

Trophy and Certificate

Expert Recommended Awards (4-8 Years Old/9-12 Years Old/13-18 Years Old)

Trophy and Certificate

Shortlisted Awards

Certificate

Expert Juries

Anet van de Vorst

Netherlands

Anet van de Vorst is a Dutch illustrator and designer with over 20 years of professional experience. She graduated from the Academy of Visual Arts at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Anet began her career as an interior designer at the architectural studio Staal & Cristensen. Over the past two decades, she has dedicated herself fully to illustration. Her artistic style is characterized by narrative-driven compositions and a fresh, vibrant color palette. She has collaborated with numerous publishers and children’s brands, including Noordhoff Publishers, Bekadidact, Jongbloed, Kwintessens, Unieboek, Van Hoorne Entertainment, Locomix, and Koningkaart.

Ao De

China

Ao De (of Mongolian ethnicity) is General Manager, and Editor-in-Chief of four publishing houses: Genglin Children’s Books, Horn Media, Wallbook General Education, and Wenmeizhai. He is also a writer, luthier, acclaimed children's book planner, national editorial trainer, and jury member for the Chen Bochui International Children's Literature Award. Recognized by Sohu.com as one of China's Top Ten Emerging Publishers, he has delivered over 500 lectures across the country and hosts a history column on Beijing TV titled Uncle Ao De's General History. Ao De is the author of 15 picture books, including Ten Tricks to Handle Dad (rights sold in the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, and Japan), The Best Mom, What Is Wealth? (rights sold in the Netherlands and Germany), Traveling with Dad (rights sold in the Netherlands), The Star Child (rights sold in Vietnam), and Snowland Elf, As a publishing planner, Ao De has been behind numerous blockbuster titles, including I’m Not Just a Little Chicken (from the Carmela series, with over 80 million copies sold), the million-copy bestselling Wallbook series, The Britannica Children’s Encyclopedia, So Many Vehicles, and many other classics in children’s literature.

Cen Jun

China

Jun Cen is a New York-based illustrator and animated short film director originally from China. He is a gold medalist in the Society of Illustrators Annual Awards, Overall New Talent Winner of The AOI Awards and winner of the Booooooom Illustration Awards. His work has been consistently recognized by The New York Times and The New Yorker as some of the most memorable illustrations of the year. Jun's clients include, but are not limited to, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, Bally, Burberry and Rimowa.

Hanne Bartholin

Denmark

Hanne Bartholin is a renowned Danish picture book illustrator with over 50 published children's books to her name. Her works have been translated and published in countries including the United States, Spain, France, and China, and have been exhibited in countries such as Sweden and South Korea. Her acclaimed titles — The Very Hungry Crocodile, All, None, and You — have received multiple international awards.In addition to her artistic achievements, Hanne is also a distinguished educator. She has taught at the Design School Kolding and the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen.

Roderick Mills

UK

Roderick Mills is a British artist, illustrator, educator, writer, and curator, and a graduate of the Royal College of Art. He has extensive experience in illustration, graphic arts, and painting. In addition to his artistic practice, he serves as a Senior Lecturer at the School of Art and Media, Course Leader for BA(Hons) Illustration University of Brighton. He actively engages in research at the intersection of art and health. In 2018, Mills participated in ICON10, the Illustration Conference held in Detroit, USA, where he shared his insights on optimism and diversity. He has also authored papers on illustration as an expanded practice, examining how digital production methods offer illustrators greater interdisciplinary creative freedom. Furthermore, Mills served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Illustrators (AOI) for nine years, during which he witnessed significant transformations within the organization.

Samuel Bennett

UK

Samuel Bennett co-founded The London Illustration Fair in 2013 and has served as Director of International Editions at Phaidon Press since 2010. Leveraging his academic background in Psychology & Neuroscience, he initiated his career by curating critically acclaimed art exhibitions that bridge scientific inquiry with artistic expression. This unique perspective solidified his mission to empower emerging illustrators through innovative platforms. Under his stewardship, The London Illustration Fair has evolved into the UK's premier annual event for illustration professionals, having propelled the careers of numerous award-winning artists. He is currently spearheading the launch of a global artist agency designed to elevate both established and rising talents across international markets.

Yu Rong

UK

Picture book creator. A British Chinese artist, Yu Rong holds a Master’s degree from the Royal College of Art and studied under the UK Children’s Laureate, Sir Quentin Blake. She is currently the Director and Visiting Professor at the Jiangnan Institute for International Communication of Culture, Soochow University. She was awarded the Special Contribution Prize at the Chen Bochui International Children's Literature Awards. Her artistic style blends traditional Chinese papercutting with pencil drawing, presenting contemporary narratives rich in Eastern aesthetics. Her picture books have received numerous international accolades, including the Golden Apple at the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava and the ALA Notable Children’s Book Award. The Girl Who Found Her Voice was shortlisted for the UK’s prestigious CILIP Carnegie Illustration Award. Her notable works include I Am Like a Kite, The Starling Like a Cloud, I Am Hua Mulan, Grandpa Shu Lin, and Have You Seen the Magpie? Her books have been published in over 20 countries, including the UK, USA, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, and France.

Timeline

Submission period

March 7, 2025 – April 30, 2025

Jury Announcement

April 1, 2025

Review Period

Preliminary Review: May 2–5, 2025

Final Review: May 8–10, 2025

Awarding Ceremony

June 18–22, 2025

Process

  1. Login and Registration

    Visit the official Awards website to register and access the appropriate link to complete the application form and submission page.

  2. Registration Methods

    Professional
    • Individual Illustrator Registration: Access the "Professional Individual Registration" portal to fill out the required details.
    • Art Schools, Publishing Institutions, Illustration Studios, or Creative Content Companies: Access the "Professional Institutional Registration" portal to complete the application.
    Teenger
    • Individual Registration: Access the "Teenager Individual Registration" portal to fill out the required details.

  3. Work Description

    Provide a brief work description of each submission, no more than 150 words, in both Chinese and English. Additional details, such as creative processes or sources of inspiration, may be included in the form.

  4. Submission Requirements

    • Picture Book Category: Submit no fewer than five illustrations from the same book or theme.
    • Packaging Category: Submit effect renderings, product images, or mockups.
    • Other Categories: Submit 1–3 illustrations.

  1. Submission Limits

    • Professional: Each participant can submit works in up to five categories, with one set of works per category.
    • Children: Each participant can submit works in up to two categories, with one set of works per category.

  2. Artistic Techniques and Format

    • No restrictions on artistic techniques.
    • File format: JPG.
    • Resolution: At least 300 dpi.
    • Color mode: CMYK.
    • Suggest using Chrome, Edge, Safari or Firefox browser to upload.

  3. Timeline

    Submissions will be accepted from at 10:00 AM on March 7, 2025, to 11:00 PM on April 30, 2025

  4. Submission of Award-winning Work

    After the final evaluation, award-winning works must be submitted in their original form for the BIBF Illustration Exhibition. For the Professional Category, if return shipping is required, please include a printed return address and use SF Express Cash on Delivery. Teenager Category exhibition works will not be returned.

Declaration

  1. All entries must ensure that they do not infringe upon the rights of any third parties.
  2. The organizing committee reserves the right to reject any entries that violate the cultural or moral standards of any country or do not meet the competition requirements.
  3. Entries submitted by participants must be original works. In the event of any intellectual property or copyright disputes, the organizing committee has the right to disqualify the entry, and the participant must bear the corresponding consequences.
  4. The organizing institution has the right to exhibit, publish (including electronic publication), distribute, collect, conduct technical research and development, and use the entries for educational and other non-commercial purposes. It also has the right to modify and adjust them according to promotional needs without prior notice to the participant.
  5. Entries can cover traditional media and digital media, but entries generated or adjusted by artificial intelligence (AI) will not be accepted. If discovered, the organizing committee has the right to disqualify the entry, and the participant must bear the corresponding consequences.
  6. Any matters not covered by these rules will be further defined and interpreted by the organizing committee.