Sebastian Nadilo – owner of Asian Film Festivals – brings you the first “Call for Entries Guide for Short Films”. The guide is aimed at Asian independent filmmakers, producers and distributors with the objective of providing them with quality information on how to plan and send their movies. In this second part he publishes information about Themed Festivals (Women, Kids & Youth, Fantasy and LGBTQ Festivals).

About this guide:
This guide is aims towards independent filmmakers, producers and distributors FROM ASIA & SOUTH ASIA that are having trouble planning their submissions. Please take in mind that this guide is ONLY for short films. For more information please go to the first part of this guide: HERE.

In this second part I will discuss themed festivals. I decided to divide these festivals into 5 categories: Women’s Festivals (4), Kids Festivals (2), Horror & Fantasy (2), LGBTQ (1). As always, we remind filmmakers that your movie could be accepted in more than one category.

Women’s Film Festivals Application Route

PROS You can apply to the four festivals without worrying about premier status restrictions. Three have no submission fees. You could attend all the festivals (One in August, another in September and 2 in October).
CONS: Applying for these themed festivals could interfere with other General Festivals.
FEES: $ 10 USD (only for the Women Make Waves Film Festival [Taiwan])
Number of Festivals: 4
Very important: Directors must be female. For applying to all the festivals your short film must be under 40 minutes.

Kids & Youth Film Festivals Application Route

PROS: The festivals deadline do not interfere with each other and there is no Country Premiere status.
CONS: There are only two festivals dedicated exclusively to kids & youth films.
FEES: $ 15 – $ 35 USD (The Busan International Kids & Youth Film Festival has no entry fee, but the Kineko International Children’s Film Festival has an entry fee that range from $ 15 (early deadline) to $ 35 USD (late deadline))
Number of Festivals: 2
Very important: Films should be produced & suitable for 1-12-year-old children. Films can be directed by kids or youth, or by adults showing kids & youth topics. Please bear in mind that for applying to the two festivals your film should not exceed the 30-minute mark.

Horror & Fantasy Film Festivals Application Route

PROS: The festivals deadline and country premiere status do not interfere with each other.
CONS: There are only two festivals dedicated exclusively to Fantastic Films. The Ngilngig Asian Fantastic Film Festival Davao restricts your possibilities since they only accept shorts under 20 minutes.
FEES: The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival has no entry fee but the Ngilngig Asian Fantastic Film Festival Davao (Philippines) will have an entry fee depending on the deadline and will also depend if you are from Philippines or Asia.
Number of Festivals: 2
Very important: To apply for both festivals your short should be under the 20-minute mark.

LGBTQ+ Film Festival Application Route

PROS: The KASHISH festivals has stablished as one of the most important LGBTQ+ festivals in Asia.
CONS: There is only one LGBTQ festival that accepts shorts.
FEES: For Indian Filmmakers is free but for international filmmakers’ fees range from $ 10 USD to $ 25 USD depending on the deadline.
Number of festivals: 1
Very important: Your short film should be under 60 minutes and should feature LGBTQ+ topics

We hope this helps you in sending your productions abroad. In the next article we will show you the submission route for Documentary Festivals so please stay tuned. Don’t forget you can follow us in Facebook HERE and in our Twitter account HERE. For more information please don’t hesitate to contact us using our CONTACT FOR or send us a message via FB. Thanks for your time and support.

Sebastián Nadilo