Focusing on inclusivity and diversity, we call for submissions from Chinese and Asian filmmakers, as well as diasporic talents who are shaping the landscape of Chinese and Asian cinema. The competition features two sections: Feature Competition and Short Film Competition.

Starting with the 3rd edition, we are expanding our curatorial focus beyond Chinese cinema to include a broader Asian presence. This includes the introduction of a new dimension, ‘Asia Sparks,’ into our feature film competition. Alongside this, our existing competition sections for Chinese films remain, with all films being required to have the UK premiere.

We have invited a number of internationally renowned filmmakers, visual artists, and film industry experts to join the jury. The submissions are open to global creators of Chinese films and Asian films.

It is hoped that our inclusive initiatives can remove political, geographical, and other concerns of our prospective participants.

We especially encourage women, non-binary, and LGBTQ+ individuals/diverse sexualities filmmakers, and emerging film talents to submit their latest works. We also welcome experienced film artists to participate in the Competition. Our goal is to showcase a diverse range of independent and pioneering Chinese films and Asian films in UK cinemas.

The call for submissions will close at 23:59 on 25th December 2024. We only accept works submitted through FilmFreeway, where the submission portal is now open. Click to submit your film now.

Awards & Prizes

🏆Five major awards with cash prizes opportunities 💵:

👉Best Feature: C-Film in Focus
👉Best Short: C-Film in Focus
👉Best Asian Film: Asian Spark
👉Best Director: all sections
👉Audiences’ Choice Award: all sections

Rules & Terms

The MINT Chinese Film Festival Competition Rules and Regulations

Please read it carefully before submitting！

I. Competition Entry Guidelines

1. Eligibility:

Feature films: Asian and Chinese films

A feature film only needs to fulfil one of the below conditions to be eligible. Please read the conditions carefully and confirm eligibility before submitting films.

1)The film revolves around Chinese-related themes or elements which include but are not limited to Chinese communities, Chinese stories, Chinese perspectives, Chinese diaspora, and Chinese cultural memories.
2) The cast and/or crew of the film (including the director, producer, and main cast) are from China or Chinese-speaking regions or identify with Chinese culture in the broadest sense.
3) The film revolves around Asian-related themes or elements which include but are not limited to Asian communities, Asian stories, Asian perspectives, Asian diaspora, and Asian cultural memories.
4) The cast and/or crew of the film (including the director, producer, and main cast) are from Asia or identify with Asian culture in the broadest sense.

Short films: Chinese films

A short film only needs to fulfil one of the below conditions to be eligible. Please read the conditions carefully and confirm eligibility before submitting films.

1)The film revolves around Chinese-related themes or elements which include but are not limited to Chinese communities, Chinese stories, Chinese perspectives, Chinese diaspora, and Chinese cultural memories.
2) The cast and/or crew of the film (including the director, producer, and main cast) are from China or Chinese-speaking regions or identify with Chinese culture in the broadest sense.

2. Deadlines:

1) Regular deadline: 23:59, 5th December 2024 (GMT).
2) Specially extended deadline: 23:59, 25th December 2024 (GMT).

*The festival recommends prospective participants submit their films as early as possible to allow the festival selection committee and the jury enough time to view, assess, and discuss the films.

3. Steps of Registration and Submission:

1) The festival only accepts films submitted via FilmFreeway.
1.1）Click the button above to submit your work.
1.2）Successful registration requires providing information and materials and submitting films as per instructions.

2) Please Note:
2.1) Prospective participants should provide comprehensive film information and relevant materials as per the requirements listed on the submission page. Missing important information will affect the selection process. Please only provide commonly used email addresses and telephone numbers for submission.
2.2）Please do not submit more than one work.
2.3) The festival requests participants to tick the option ‘Festivals may download my video upon my permission’ on FilmFreeway to allow follow-up contact regarding selection or other screening and networking opportunities.

2.4) Should you be unsure about your film’s eligibility and have any questions, please consult the festival team promptly before the Call for Entries’ final deadline (25th December 2024) via email: mintchinesefilmfest@gmail.com.

II. Submission Requirements

UK Premiere Requirement :

All films must not have been released in the UK in any format, including online, before their screening in the Festival.

Production Time:

1) Feature films (all genres) made in 2023 and 2024.
2) Short films ((all genres) made in 2023 and 2024.

*We will prioritise films made in 2024 with UK premiere.

Format:

2.1) Films submitted should have a minimum resolution of 1920×1080p.
2.2) Should the film be selected, please ensure to submit a copy for official screening (either DCP or MP4 file with a resolution of 1920×1080p in H. 264) at least one week before the festival’s opening.
2.3) Should the film be selected, participants need to actively cooperate with festival staff at least two weeks before the opening to provide relevant promotion materials in both English and Chinese, including but not limited to official high-resolution posters and stills, trailers, Q&A with directors, and/or introduction videos. (Resolution and format requirements for video materials are the same as above.)

* Shortlisted directors who need translation services due to special reasons should contact festival staff by email in advance.

Length:

3.1) Feature films: no less than 60 minutes.
3.2) Short films: no more than 30 minutes.

Genre and Content:

4.1) A wide range of genres and schools are accepted, such as drama, narrative films, experimental films, animations, documentaries, artists’ moving images, film series (single episodes), essay films, and poetic films.
4.2) The festival does not accept advertisements, culture and tourism promotion videos, public information films, music videos, personal vlogs, and marketing clips.

Subtitles:

5.1) Embedded English subtitles are required for non-English films. Embedded bilingual (English and simplified Chinese) subtitles are required for Chinese-speaking films. (*It is recommended that all films prepare embedded bilingual subtitles in English and simplified Chinese.)
5.2) In case of special circumstances, prospective participants may send the required SRT subtitle files to festival staff via email.

III. Selection Criteria

1. Selection Dimensions: The assessment will be based on five dimensions which are production quality, film aesthetics, narrative structures, originality of expression, and thematic alignment (e.g., alignment with themes of this global call and the festival’s vision).

2. Selection Procedure: Once submitted, all eligible films will first be reviewed in one or two rounds by youth volunteers selected by the festival. Next, those films will be forwarded to the selection committee for further assessment. Films selected by the committee will be passed on to the jury for final assessment. The shortlists for Feature Competition and Short Film Competition will be announced through official channels on or around 30th January. Winners of 5 major awards decided by the jury will be announced on-site during the festival and posted online subsequently. Additionally, there will be an offline audience vote during the festival. The film winning the most votes will be presented the Audiences’ Choice Award.

3. Result Announcement: The festival will notify corresponding Competition participants of shortlisted films via email after the selection procedure concludes. Please ensure to check the emails used for submission regularly. The shortlists will be announced on the formal platform of the festival before official screenings.

IV: Event Rules

Obligations and Rights
1) For the Festival:
1.1) The festival shall keep all entry content confidential, and only use it upon permission from Competition participants.
1.2) The festival may promote and screen all entries during the festival. With the consent of Competition participants, the festival may promote and screen the entries outside the festival.
2) For Competition Participants:
2.1) Competition participants shall commit that they possess full intellectual property rights of the entries worldwide or have obtained written authorisation from right holders. They shall also commit that they can exercise the aforementioned rights in accordance with all submission rules. Competition participants own and have the right to exercise the entries.
2.2) Competition participants shall guarantee the legality of the entries. The entries may not violate laws and regulations in both the UK and China, infringe copyright and other rights and interests of others, or breach legitimate rights of any third party.

2. Declaration:
1) The festival does not charge screening fees from or offer subsidies to shortlisted participants. Submission of the short film is free before the regular deadline. Please see FilmFreeway for the fee information.
2) All submission fees collected by the festival will be used to support the organisation and operation of the Competition and as cash prizes.
3) Entries shall be original. There shall be no intellectual property disputes. Competition participants shall be the lawful copyright holders of the entries and prepared to provide screening authorization in written form as required by the festival if needed.
4) Films submitted after the final deadline will be excluded from the selection procedure. All eligible entries may not be withdrawn from the Competition or the screenings at will.
5) All those who complete the Competition submission are considered to acknowledge and accept the festival rules and regulations. The festival reserves the ultimate right to interpret all terms and any matter not covered herein.

V. Shortlisted Films
1. Awards and Opportunities
1) Shortlisted films will have the opportunity to compete for the five major awards: Best Feature Film, Best Short Film, Best director, Best Asian Film and Audiences’ Choice Award.
2) The festival will provide shortlisted works and directors with diverse screening and networking opportunities, including but not limited to standard theatrical screenings in the UK, international promotion and marketing, thought exchange with other filmmakers, thematic forums, and a series of derivative interactive activities.

* Winners of the Competition have the chance to receive cash prizes, festival laurel in recognition, membership of Keswick Alhambra Cinema, exclusive in-depth interviews, and global touring exhibition opportunities. Works which are not shortlisted may also be selected for international screenings outside the festival.

2. Screening Copy
Screening copies should be DCP or MP4 files with a resolution of 1920×1080p in H. 264.

3. Publicity Materials
After a film is shortlisted, its entry information provided on FilmFreeway and promotional materials submitted will be used on the festival's official website, on the official website of the festival’s partner cinema, and in online and offline media promotion. The festival is entitled to edit and publicly use film introduction information presented through festival official channels. In case of missing and incorrect information or materials during the submission stage, they should be submitted or corrected after the films are shortlisted.

4. Filmmaker Participation
After a film is shortlisted, the festival will contact corresponding Competition participants to discuss their participation in the screenings, post-screening discussions, and other arranged events during the festival.

5. Premiere Status
Once a film is shortlisted, public screenings which will affect the film's premiere status at the festival are not allowed.

6. Screening Schedule
All shortlisted films will have at least one public screening during the festival. Screening time, dates, and venues are entirely at the discretion of the festival. The final schedule is subject to festival official announcements via email or other social media.

7. Festival Laurel
After a film is shortlisted and/or awarded, the festival will provide a corresponding laurel. The film must incorporate the laurel in all formal copies and subsequent promotional materials. Modifying the laurel is strictly prohibited.