SIFF NEXT｜The 25th Shanghai International Film Festival – SIFF NEXT Open for Applications!

The first phase of SIFF NEXT, the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) in 2023 is scheduled to be unveiled in Shanghai in June. From February 10, SIFF NEXT will be open for applications by young filmmakers from Chinese-speaking regions. Creators from the three directions of producers, screenwriters, and directors are welcome to sign up. And, about 20 trainees will be shortlisted finally to participate in the events of 2023 film festival. The registration will come to an end on March 10. Welcome to apply through the official website of SIFF, www.siff.com.

Trainees shortlisted for SIFF NEXT and director Chen Guofu

Introduced in 2017, SIFF NEXT constitutes one of the key steps in the SIFF's step-by-step training system developed for the next generation of film workers. In 2019, it was reshaped into a two-phase model that runs through the year and proceeds step by step. While selecting and recommending potential young filmmakers, it provides a platform for continuous individual growth and project incubation, for the joint creation of a Chinese cinema ecology among the young.

Over the past 5 years, SIFF NEXT has engaged 60 trainees and 31 projects, of which 5 projects have been filmed and produced: VANISHED GIRL directed by Long Lingyun (SIFF NEXT 2017), selected for SIFF NEXT, and then for the NEW TALENT PROJECT and WORK-IN PROGRESS PROJECT (WIP) of SIFF PROJECT respectively in 2018 and in 2021, has completed production and scooped the the 2022 FIRST Best Performance and Remy Martin Audience Award; Director Wang Nianyi's MAMMOTH (SIFF NEXT 2017), the winner of H!FUTURE of the 2020 Hainan Island International Film Festival, has finished filming and will meet the audience soon; LOST IN PROMISE (SIFF NEXT 2017) directed by Dong Ziyang has been filmed and is now in post-production; THE WIND WILL SAY (SIFF NEXT 2018) by director Wei Yongyao was selected for the "Window of Asian Films" section of the 2022 Busan International Film Festival; SOMETIME, SOMETIME directed by Ye Ruiliang (SIFF NEXT 2018), as a SIFF NEXT project, was selected into the WORK-IN PROGRESS PROJECT (WIP) of SIFF PROJECT in 2019, and finalized by the Asian New Talent Award of SIFF in 2020.

posters

Since the 25th SIFF originally scheduled to be held in June 2022 has been postponed to 2023, trainees who have already signed up for various groups of SIFF NEXT during the original registration period are not required to register again. Trainees who have successfully applied in 2022 (subject to the registration number) will all be included in the list of the 2023 SIFF NEXT and participate in the review of 2023.

In 2023, SIFF NEXT will keep on providing targeted support for next-generation film workers to start their career and develop projects, and help them complete the first two feature films. This year, SIFF NEXT will also be divided into two phases:

Phase 1 Industry General Knowledge Workshop

It will be held during the 25th SIFF for about 8 days. The shortlisted trainees of each group will have the opportunity to communicate face-to-face with domestic front-line film workers, to know each other, and explore more opportunities for cooperation. In addition, the selected trainees will have the opportunity to participate in the activities of different sections of SIFF, to understand the current domestic film and TV production environment, and gain a full range of international film festival experience.

Phase II Development Workshop

It will be launched in the second half of 2023, and last for 3-5 days. At that time, the organizing committee will solicit feature film projects and complete scripts from previous selected SIFF NEXT trainees, to shortlist six projects. The selected trainees will have efficient closed-door communication with instructors during the event on their projects, and make presentations to industry guests. During the event, the instructors will select two "Best SIFF NEXT Projects", and the project parties will be qualified for SIFF PROJECT by meeting the relevant requirements of the organizing committee before the next SIFF.

To effectively promote the development of feature film projects of the trainees in SIFF NEXT, and make full preparations for them to make a stage pose in SIFF PROJECT and join the industry, the second phase of the 2021 SIFF NEXT has set out requirements on the direct pass for the "Best SIFF NEXT Projects" to SIFF PROJECT. The project parties shall complete the project-related concept short film within half a year to be eligible for selection. Through the conditional selection mechanism, SIFF NEXT aims to help project parties to translate the attention and expectations they have received into the driving force for long-term progress.

Group photo of "Best SIFF NEXT Projects" and "Special Mention Projects" with instructors

The two best SIFF NEXT projects of the SIFF NEXT of the 24th SIFF, MOMENTS ELUDING and STAND OUT, have all completed the filming of the concept short films. And we’d like to express sincere thanks to our partners Phenom Films and Mofei Pictures for their strong support in the post-production color correction and sound production of the two short films.

Poster of MOMENTS ELUDING

Poster of STAND OUT

The first phase of SIFF NEXT of the 25th SIFF in 2023 will officially start recruiting trainees on February 10 and be open to young filmmakers with certain working experience in Chinese-speaking regions. If you meet any of the following requirements, then apply now!

a Director: Has filmed two short films or one feature film as a director;

b Producer: Has produced at least two short films, or one feature film, with a feature film project now under development (required);

c Screenwriter: Has completed at least two short films or one feature film as a screenwriter;

PS: Applicants with feature film projects under development will be preferred.

SIFF NEXT expects to empower more young filmmakers with simple yet valuable industry experience and help them step into the broader film world confidently. SIFF NEXT, for the next generation of filmmakers, and for the next generation of films.