SIFF EXPLORE | SIFF EXPLORE of the 26th SIFF 2024 Calls for Entries

From December 16, 2023 to March 31, 2024, SIFF EXPLORE of the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) will be open to submissions of short film works with a running time of up to 5 minutes on its official website (www.siff.com). Short film works of various genres such as feature films, animations, documentaries, and experimental works are all eligible for registration.

After the submission process ends, SIFF will organize professionals to review the submitted works and select 50 creators of short films as the candidates. Finally, 20 outstanding creators will be finalized and given special recommendations during the festival. They will be invited to participate in various activities of SIFF EXPLORE, such as on-site promotion, mentor forum, exploration class, post-training (SIFF EXPLORE Special Training Camp), as well as the Golden Goblet Awards ceremony and red-carpet ceremony.

Live scene of SIFF EXPLORE at the 25th SIFF

As an important part of the new talent cultivation system at SIFF, SIFF EXPLORE aims to discover new talents and explore new works through short film works. It encourages young filmmakers to actively explore in the film realm while consciously undertaking the responsibility of cultivating and delivering new talents for the future development of the film industry.

Since its establishment in 2019, SIFF EXPLORE has been held for four consecutive sessions. Renowned director/actress Sandra Ng, actor Chen Bolin, young director Mai Zi, Zhou Shengwei, young director Zhou Ziyang, Liu Kuo, screenwriter Yuan Yuan, actress Li Meng, renowned director Ding Sheng, Cheng Teng, screenwriter Amei, actress Qi Xi, renowned directors Tan Chui Mui, Dong Yue, Chen Liaoyu, screenwriter Chen Shu, etc. have been invited to serve as mentors in this unit, so as to offer newcomers more possibilities in growth. In recent years, those people have been working hard in their respective positions and have achieved remarkable results, and their practical actions have set an example for more young filmmakers with positive energy.

Mentors and finalists of SIFF EXPLORE at the 25th SIFF on the red carpet

We may have limitations in film creation, but dreams not. In 2024, a new journey of SIFF EXPLORE has begun. Let's explore together the experimental efforts of young filmmakers in these "five-minute" works and vision the future of cinema through them.

Registration notice

1. Running time: within 5 minutes (including);

2. Filming time: April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024;

3. Genre: Feature, documentary, animation, experimental, etc.

4. Quality: MOV or MP4 in high-definition format, 1080p HD (encoded with H.264), and compliant with the screening requirements for 2K;

5. Aspect ratio: Either landscape or portrait orientation;

6. Applicant: The creator who owns the copyright of the work or its authorized representative. Each work can only be submitted by one main creator;

7. Registration time: December 16, 2023 to March 31, 2024.

For the regulations of SIFF EXPLORE of the 26th SIFF, please visit the "SIFF EXPLORE" module on the official website of SIFF (www.siff.com). Applicants can apply online through the "SIFF EXPLORE" module on the official website.

SIFF EXPLORE was established in 2019 as an innovative measure to improve the system for nurturing new talents. Together with the Golden Goblet Short Film section, SIFF NEXT, and SIFF PROJECT, it is designed to create a step-by-step incubation system for new talents. This section aims to establish a long-term mechanism for discovering new talents and exploring new works through the medium of short films within 5 minutes (inclusive). This will be achieved through collection, promotion, tracking, and training, to encourage young talents in filmmaking to bravely explore and create, and lay the cornerstone toward the creation of feature length films for them. At the same time, leveraging the advantages of the platform and harnessing the platform influence, SIFF will integrate social resources to develop talent reserve as well as to cultivate and deliver emerging talents for the future development of the film industry.