SIFF PROJECT | SIFF PROJECT of the 27th SIFF Launched Call for Entries!

 “Collecting stories” sounds a bit dull, while “recording the moments of life” feels far more intriguing. When we think of “life”, it often conjures disordered words: “home”, “summer vacation”, “friends”, “sycamore trees”, “my little cat”... These words are accompanied by fleeting images that rush through our memories in chaos. Life can often seem bland and stable, yet it can also be torn apart into fragments in an unexpected moment. Life remains the same, yet it is never the same. SIFF looks forward to seeing creators build narratives from the disorder of life, showcasing the myriads of forms the world can take.

SIFF PROJECT will take place during the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) in June 2025 in Shanghai. Starting today, this section will publicly solicit high-quality film projects from filmmakers around the world. And representatives of selected projects will be invited to participate in related activities at SIFF.

Group photo of project personnel at SIFF PROJECT 2024

Launched in 2007, after 17 successful editions, SIFF PROJECT has become one of the most influential film financing events in Asia. Over the years, it has witnessed 100 projects into production, many of which have garnered awards at major film festivals, winning significant attention and recognition across the industry. SIFF PROJECT serves not only as an incubator for outstanding works but also as a comprehensive platform that connects Chinese and Sino-foreign coproduction features with potential partners, investors and distributors. It has gradually developed into sub-sections such as NEW TALENT PROJECT, PRE-PRODUCTION PROJECT, CO-PRODUCTION PROJECT, and WORK-IN PROGRESS PROJECT. Each year, 30 to 40 projects will be shortlisted, with services offered for project incubation, financing, and promotion tailored to their different stages of development.

In 2025, SIFF PROJECT will introduce a new section – “GENRE PROJECT”, to encourage genre filmmakers to explore new ideas within fixed frameworks, thereby enriching the film market.

Negotiation venue of SIFF PROJECT 2024

In 2024, SIFF PROJECT received a total of 380 valid project submissions, including 330 script projects in categories such as NEW TALENT PROJECT, PRE-PRODUCTION PROJECT and CO-PRODUCTION PROJECT, along with 50 WORK-IN PROGRESS PROJECTS. CO-PRODUCTION PROJECT included not only submissions from previous countries like the USA, Japan, and France but also collaborations with Germany, Iceland, and Italy. The diverse range of selected projects sparked enthusiastic responses in the film market. During the event, a total of 661 meetings were held.

1.Sections

New Talent Project

This programme is designed to support emerging Chinese director for the first and second fictional feature project so as to reflect SIFF’s support for new voices in Chinese-language cinema. Project representatives will publicly present their projects to the industry and media during the event.

Group photo of project personnel and their instructors of New Talent Project

Pre-production Project

This programme selects feature film project which has relatively mature director in place or has been fully developed.

Negotiation venue of Pre-production Project at SIFF PROJECT 2024

Co-Production Project

This programme aims to facilitate feature film project that has the potential of a Sino-foreign co-production.

Co-production representatives at the negotiation venue of SIFF PROJECT 2024

Work-in Progress Project

The WIP programme is for feature films that has started shooting or is currently in post-production, so as to support more specifically their post-production, domestic and foreign distribution, and film festival promotion. Directors of selected projects will participate in presentations and project negotiations during SIFF PROJECT.

WIP Presentation of SIFF PROJECT 2024

Genre Project

This programme is designed to foster Chinese genre project, including but not limited to comedy, romance, sci-fi, suspense, etc.

2.Eligibility

 (I) PRE-PRODUCTION PROJECT/CO-PRODUCTION PROJECT:

1. Feature film project intended for theatrical release (not including animations);

2. Chinese language production, or co-production with China;

3. With a budget plan;

4. Any project that is not shot before June 2025, including those that are under development, financing, etc.;

5. Project with confirmed director and producer is preferred；

6. Project with a finished script is preferred；

7. In the same project stage, project that has not participated in any other Chinese project market is preferred.

 (II) NEW TALENT PROJECT

1. Meets all requirements in section I;

2. Has to be a Chinese language production;

3. Attached to a Chinese director (if any);

4. Has to be the first or second feature of the director.

 (III) WIP PROJECT

1. Meets all requirements in section I (except as article 4);

2. A Chinese production has to obtain a shooting permit at China Film Administration before May. 15th, 2025, and must obtain receipt for film script (synopsis) registration;

3. Has started shooting or is currently in post-production.

 (IV) GENRE PROJECT

1) Meets all requirements in section I;

2) Has to be a Chinese language production;

3) Attached to a Chinese director (if any);

4) Including but not limited to comedy, romance, sci-fi, suspense, etc.

3. Submission Dates and Fee

2025.1.15  Submission starts for SIFF PROJECT

2025.3.20  Deadline for script projects submission

2025.4.5  Deadline for WIP PROJECT submission

2025.5.15  Chinese productions have to obtain the shooting permit at China Film Administration, and must obtain receipt for film script (synopsis) registration

2025.6  SIFF PROJECT takes place

Submission fee

Registration portal: projectregister.siff.com

For any inquiries, please contact:

SIFF PROJECT Team

 project@siff.com

SIFF NEXT, focusing on nurturing and supporting emerging filmmakers, is expected to open the submission channel in February 2025. Stay tuned for more information.

SIFF PROJECT

Launched in 2007, after 17 successful editions, SIFF PFROJECT has witnessed 100 projects into production, with 73 of these films selected for international film festivals, 54 of which participated in A-list film festivals for awards or screenings, and a total of 70 films gracing the audience in domestic and international theatrical releases. SIFF PROJECT has proven to be not only an incubator for outstanding works but also a comprehensive platform that connects Chinese and Sino-foreign coproduction features with potential partners, investors and distributors. It has gradually developed into sub-sections such as NEW TALENT PROJECT, PRE-PRODUCTION PROJECT, CO-PRODUCTION PROJECT, and WORK-IN PROGRESS PROJECT. Each year, 30 to 40 projects will be shortlisted, with services offered for project incubation, financing, and promotion tailored to their different stages of development.

SIFF PROJECT

2025.06

June 2025

project@siff.com
www.siff.com