Born in 2007, SIFF PROJECT has been successfully held for 14 versions, witnessing 75 projects being made into movies, including some award-winning films in major film festivals. SIFF PROJECT has been widely recognized and proclaimed by the industry. Not only has it become the incubator for good film works, but also the very place to discover Chinese film talents.
SIFF PROJECT aims to connect the film industry through supporting emerging filmmakers and facilitating Sino-foreign co-productions. Four programmes have been gradually formed, and they are new talent project, pre-production project, co-production project, and work-in progress project. And for projects of different stages, SIFF PROJECT will help connecting various resources from incubating, financing, post-production, distribution, festival strategy, to promotion.
DATE
The 15th SIFF PROJECT of the 24th Shanghai International Film Festival will be held from June 12th (Sat.) to June 15th (Tue.) 2021.
CATEGORIES
1.NEW TALENT PROJECT
Established in 2014. In order to support new Chinese filmmakers, 10 projects of young directors will be selected.
2.PRE-PRODUCTION PROJECT
15 projects will be selected, which have mature directors in place or have been fully developed.
3.CO-PRODUCTION PROJECT
Established in 2019. In order to facilitate Sino-foreign co-production, 3-5 projects will be selected.
4.WORK-IN PROGRESS PROJECT
Established in 2018. For projects that have started shooting or are currently in post-production, so as to support more specifically their post-production, domestic and foreign distribution, and film festival promotion. 6-10 projects will be selected.
SUBMISSION DATES AND FEE
DATES:
NEW TALENT PROJECT/PRE-PRODUCTION PROJECT/CO-PRODUCTION PROJECT: Jan. 1st – Mar. 1st
WIP PROJECT: Jan. 1st – Mar. 25th
FEE:
EARLY BIRD: 180 RMB (Applications submitted before 24:00pm, Jan. 31st, 2021.)
NORMAL PRICE: 300 RMB
* APPLICATION FEE WILL NOT BE REFUNDED ONCE RECEIVED.
ELIGIBILITY
1.PRE-PRODUCTION PROJECT /CO-PRODUCTION PROJECT/ WIP PROJECT:
1)Feature film project intended for theatrical release (not including animations);
2)Chinese language production, or co-production with China;
3)Any project that is not completed before June 2021, including those that are under development, financing, shooting, and post-production;
4)With a finished script;
5)With a budget plan (project that has secured over 20% of the total budget is preferred);
6)Has a director and a producer in place;
7)Project that has not participated in any other Chinese project market is preferred;
2.NEW TALENT PROJECT
1)Meets all requirements in section 1;
2)Has to be a Chinese language production;
3)Has to be the first or second feature of the director.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
1.NEW TALENT PROJECT/PRE-PRODUCTION PROJECT
1)Director’s biography and filmography (200 characters in Chinese; 110 words in English);
2)Producer’s biography and filmography (200 characters in Chinese; 110 words in English);
3)Script writer’s biography and filmography (200 characters in Chinese; 110 words in English);
4)Production company profile (200 characters in Chinese; 110 words in English);
5)Logline (40 characters in Chinese, 20 words in English);
6)Synopsis (500 characters in Chinese, 200 words in English);
7)Statement of director (200 characters in Chinese, 110 words in English);
8)Statement of producer (200 characters in Chinese, 110 words in English);
9)Treatment (about 2000 words in Chinese, 1000 words in English);
10)Full script (a full script in Chinese is required);
11)Director’s previous works (no more than 3 feature or short films, please provide an online link and the password);
12)Production proposal (including budget sheet, shooting agenda, etc.);
2.CO-PRODUCTION PROJECT
1)Same as all requirements in section 1;
2)Application materials are required to be in both Chinese and English languages, files like script and production proposal need to be in Chinese at least.
3.WORK-IN-PROGRESS PROJECT
1)Same as all requirements in section 1;
2)Film clip (about 20 minutes, please provide an online link and the password);
3)Overview of the current stage of the production (300 characters in Chinese, 150 words in English);
APPLICATION AND PAYMENT
1.Register an account via “Project Submission” on the official website of Shanghai International Film Festival (www.siff.com);
2.Select the category of project (Chinese project or Co-production project), fill in the complete information as required and submit;
3.SIFF PROJECT team will verify your information within 2 business days once the project is submitted;
4.Upon verification, applicants will receive an email that guides to the online payment of the submission fee;
5.The online payment must be completed within 7 days after receiving the email verification. If overdue, the project application shall be construed a waiver;
6.Once SIFF confirms the payment, the project status will be shown as“successful application”and it is put under review;
7.The applicant must be the copyright holder or the copyright owner’s representative of the submitted project;
8.Pleases ensure that the contact information is authentic and valid;
9.All registration documents and materials will not be returned and will be kept for the sole purpose of the selection by Shanghai International Film Festival.
CONTACT US
SIFF PROJECT Team
Shanghai International Film Festival
Email: project@siff.com
Tel: 86-21-2200 9863 (UTC +8, 11:00-17:00 Mon-Fri)
PRIVILEGES FOR SELECTED PROJECTS
1.PRE-PRODUCTION PROJECT and CO-PRODUCTION PROJECT
a)Two representatives of the project (director and producer only) will be officially invited to Shanghai International Film Festival as project guests to attend related events, with complimentary 5-night accommodation during the event.
b)Selected projects will be officially promoted by SIFF at various occasions;
c)Selected projects will have the chance to meet with the SIFF PROJECT jury panel;
d)Selected projects will have the chance to meet with potential buyers, distributors, and festival programmers;
e)Selected projects will be presented in the SIFF PROJECT section of International Film and TV Online Market of SIFF;
f)Selected projects will be eligible to win official awards of SIFF PROJECT.
2.NEW TALENT PROJECT
a)Same as what is included in section 1;
b)The director of the project will be invited to attend the red carpet of the opening ceremony;
c)Public presentation opportunity with the attendance of the jury panel, all buyers and media press;
3.WORK-IN-PROGRESS PROJECT
a)Same as what is included in section 1;
b)Public presentation opportunity with the attendance of the jury panel, all buyers and media press;
c)Industry Screening with the attendance of the distributors, film selectors and industry press.
CONDITIONS
1.The finalists will be officially announced on SIFF.com around mid-May. Before that, the selected project will be contacted by the committee via email or phone. Please ensure that the email address and phone number provided are correct and reachable, and please do update with SIFF PROJECT team if your contact changes;
2.Once the project party has officially confirmed its participation, it is required to fully collaborate with the committee in order to better present the project and could not withdraw from the Festival for any reason. If the project decides to withdraw, the SIFF committee has all rights reserved to make the final decision. If any cost occurred due to the submitter’s request of withdrawal, the submitter is obliged to compensate SIFF for any economic and/or reputation loss caused thereby, including but not limited to paying for the economic loss, issuing an official apology letter, making a public apology via designated social media platforms, etc.
3.At least one representative of each selected project is required to attend all the meetings and events organized by SIFF PROJECT. If no one is able to attend, the project is automatically disqualified from the finalist.
4.Online-registration is required to be completed within 7 days after the official announcement of selection result. Selected project will be cancelled automatically if fails to register in time.
5.Once the selected project completes, it will be required to present the SIFF PROJECT logo in the opening or closing credit of the final film.
OTHERS
The Festival is very much aware of the global situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the committee is carefully monitoring all developments of the virus as well as following China’s policies on epidemic prevention and control. The Festival may adopt alternative ways to organize its events if they are likely to be affected by the latest situation. In any case, the SIFF PROJECT committee commits provide up-to-date information to all the film project applicants.
* Participation in the Festival implies adherence to the regulations as here set out. The Festival maintains the right to decide all cases not provided above.