Doyle's installation A World Apart Not A World Away took out the top honours in the RACT Insurance competition.

The video depicts multiculturalism in Tasmania and aims to highlight the discrepancy between funding for tourism and attracting skilled migration.

Judge and MONA curator Jarrod Rawlins said Doyle's video would be surprise to those who were expecting "something else" from a portrait.

"It's a really timely and interesting piece that discusses some of the issues around recent immigration to Australia and into Tasmania itself," Mr Rawlins said.

"We were looking for something that had a bit of adventure and a bit of fun, something that challenged the idea of what people expect from a portrait," he said.

Launceston artist Celine Lee was the runner-up, with her photograph Warhead.

The piece explores a person's awkward and uncanny facial expressions when faced with something uncomfortable.

Eliza Freeman, of Wynyard, was also a runner-up for a fibre print of her father at the Mount Roland summit.

There were 75 entries from around the state.

The exhibition of the finalists will travel to Devonport from October 24 and then Launceston from November 27.