SIFF EXPLORE｜1-month Countdown for Submission! Submission Q&A of SIFF EXPLORE

There is only one month left before the sign-up channel of SIFF EXPLORE for the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) closes! Days flash, and here, we’d like to remind you that the deadline for submission for SIFF EXPLORE is March 31, 2023, so don’t miss the chance~

It has been two months since SIFF EXPLORE launched the call for entries on December 30 last year. During this period, we’ve received a myriad of works submitted by creators at home and abroad, which have manifested the great talent and vigor of the young generation. In the world of film art, exploration will never cease, as your steps continue.

The popularization of short video creation has given more people the opportunity to discover their own potential, and also encouraged more young people who love the film art to devote themselves into filming. SIFF EXPLORE, as the platform for creative exchanges among film devotees, cherishes every way of expression in creation, and is committed to helping everyone make true their film dreams.

The creation of short videos requires not only imagination, but also action. And this is, especially, true of dreams, as one has to dare to fancy and move. Some of the excellent creators selected in the previous session we interviewed shared with us that one should have the courage to shoot, and what’s more, to submit works! Maybe, their personal experience will offer you some inspiration. So, do not hesitate, and sign up now!

This summer, let us join each other in Shanghai to learn, share, and explore together for more expression possibilities!

In the submission process of each session of SIFF EXPLORE every year, we will receive a number of inquiries from young creators, which also show the unfailing passion for creation among young creators. The Q&A section below contains the most frequently asked and most concerned questions of applicants, and we hope that it will be helpful to you.

I want to sign up for SIFF EXPLORE this year, and what are the channels for submission?

Please visit the official website of SIFF www.siff.com, and apply for an account through the "Explore Submission" module to register online and upload your works in the MOV or MP4 format. Applicants should ensure that the information filled in is true and valid.

I’ve submitted my work last year, so, am I required to submit it again this year?

Since the 25th SIFF, which was originally scheduled to be held in 2022, has been postponed to 2023, it is not necessary for works and individuals who have already signed up for SIFF EXPLORE during the original submission period to go through this process again. Applicants shall inform us in advance if they have changed their idea about whether to sign up or not.

Can I sign up with a short video work created many years ago?

The production time shall not be earlier than April 1, 2022.

Can I sign up with short life videos shot with mobile phones?

SIFF EXPLORE has no special requirements for shooting equipment, work genres, or orientations, be it landscape or portrait, but it must ensure that the image is high-definition and meets the 2K screening standards.

Can I sign up with a work co-created by several people?

Yes. However, only one creator can be submitted for each short video work, and the applicant must be the creator or his authorized representative who owns the copyright of the short video work submitted, regardless of nationality.

Can I sign up with an award-winning work?

It is required to indicate the information of whether the work submitted has won or been shortlisted for any award by other platforms or activities, if any.

How long will it take to receive notification of selection after submission?

Every May, the shortlist of 50 short video works will be announced through the official website, official WeChat account and other official channels of SIFF. The 20 selected works and their creators will be officially made public in June. At that time, the organizing committee will contact the candidates and finalists by phone or email.

What privileges will the finalists enjoy?

The finalists will be invited to participate in a series of activities in the SIFF EXPLORE unit held during SIFF, including official ones such as on-site promotion, SIFF EXPLORE class, red carpet of the closing ceremony, and later, the film training courses undertaken by Shanghai Vancouver Film School. The organizing committee will provide the finalists with 3-night accommodation in designated hotels during SIFF; we will also promote the finalists and their works through the official website, official WeChat account, official Weibo account, official cooperative media and other channels.

What occasions will the work posters required in the regulations be used for? Will the intellectual property rights of the selected works be protected?

Under the premise of non-commercial use, SIFF has the right to use the selected short video works and related materials for online and offline screening and promotion, as well as archiving.

For the regulations of SIFF EXPLORE of the 25th SIFF, please visit “SIFF EXPLORE” module on the official website of SIFF (www.siff.com). Applicants can sign up online through the "Explore Submission" module on the official website of SIFF as well.