IPSMF 2026 THEME :
"Art as a Catalyst for Social Change"
Art has long served as a powerful medium for reflecting reality and inspiring social awareness. Through photographs and moving images, social issues are not only understood intellectually, but also experienced emotionally. In an era where visual narratives spread rapidly and shape public discourse, art possesses the ability to amplify voices, challenge perspectives, and encourage collective action.
With the theme **"Art as a Catalyst for Social Change,"** IPSMF 2026 highlights the transformative power of visual storytelling. Change often begins with awareness, and awareness begins with the stories we choose to tell. Through this theme, we emphasize how photography and film can become catalysts that spark conversations, foster empathy, and inspire meaningful responses to the realities surrounding us. By capturing both the visible and the overlooked, artists are invited to reveal the social conditions that continue to shape human life and society.
*SUB THEMES*
Power & Accountability
We invite artists to explore the dynamics of power and responsibility within society. From corruption, political systems, and public policies to inequalities in authority, this subtheme encourages works that examine how power influences people's lives and how accountability remains essential in creating a more just and transparent world.
Environment & Exploitation
Calling artists to portray the relationship between humans and the environment amid the growing challenges of climate change, resource exploitation, and the loss of living spaces. Through their works, participants are encouraged to raise awareness of humanity's shared responsibility to protect and preserve the ecosystems that sustain life.
Digital Society & Manipulation
As digital spaces increasingly shape how information is created and consumed, artists are encouraged to reflect on issues such as misinformation, biases, hoaxes, and the influence of technology on social life. This subtheme highlights the complexity of living in an interconnected world where truth, perception, and identity are constantly negotiated.
The Marginals
We invite artists to shed light on voices and experiences that are often overlooked. Through stories of alienation, racism, inequality, and the pursuit of equal access to education and opportunities, participants are encouraged to foster empathy and understanding toward communities that continue to face social exclusion and injustice.
Youth & Resistance
Calling artists to capture the spirit of younger generations as agents of change. Through themes of social movements, resistance against injustice, and collective action, this subtheme celebrates the courage, creativity, and resilience of individuals who continue to challenge the status quo and envision a better future.
Nature constantly speaks through its changes, and society reveals itself through its realities. Likewise, art has the power to translate these realities into stories that resonate beyond borders. Through IPSMF 2026, visual creators are encouraged to listen, observe, and respond using the language of art to inspire awareness, dialogue, and positive change.
Note: perception of the explanation of each sub-theme, participants can perform according to their own perceptions.
___________________________________________________________________________
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SHORT FILM COMPETITION :
- This competition is allowed for the public and students (Amateur and Professional).
- This competition is charged $7 for the locals and $10 for international participants.
- Participants could take part in competitions based on the theme “Framing Social Change”.
- There is no limit to the number of short films that may be submitted by a participant.
- Each work must be registered separately and is subject to the applicable registration fee.
- The maximum number of participants in 1 (one) team is 6 (six) participants.
- 1 (one) participant could include a maximum of 1 (two) films with different teams.
- Submitted films may be fiction, documentary, animation, experimental films, or any other cinematic form.
- Short films included for at least the last 4 years (counting years 2023 to 2026)
- The film duration must be a minimum of 5 (five) minutes and a maximum of 20 (twenty) minutes, including opening titles and end credits.
- The submitted work must be an original work owned by the participant.
- Videos that are entirely created using Artificial Intelligence (AI), AI-generated scenes, AI voice-overs, or AI-generated visuals are not permitted.
- The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is only permitted for basic editing purposes such as color correction, brightness adjustment, contrast adjustment, cropping, audio enhancement, and image sharpening. The use of AI to generate scenes, characters, objects, voices, dialogue, or any major elements of the film is strictly prohibited.
- Films may be produced using any device, including professional cameras, mirrorless cameras, smartphones, or other digital devices.
- The best and selected photos will be called by committee and will continue to be included in the photo exhibition at the International Photography and Short Movie Festival (IPSMF) in Bandung, Indonesia.
- Films must be submitted in MP4 format.
- The minimum video quality requirement is Full HD (1920 × 1080 pixels).
- Films may be produced in any language.
- English subtitles are mandatory for films that use a language other than English.
- Participants must submit the following information:
• Film title
• Synopsis (maximum 300 words)
• Director’s name
- Films must not contain watermarks, television station logos, or any commercial branding, except those appearing in the opening or closing credits.
- Films must not contain content that violates the Broadcasting Code of Conduct and Broadcast Program Standards (P3SPS), including pornography, excessive violence, hate speech, discrimination, or any content contrary to public morality and applicable laws and regulations.
- Participants are fully responsible for all copyrights, music licenses, footage usage permissions, and intellectual property rights used in their films.
- Any legal claims arising from copyright infringement or the unauthorized use of materials shall be the sole responsibility of the participant.
- By submitting a film, participants grant the organizer a non-exclusive right to screen, publish, archive, reproduce, and use the film for promotional, educational, publication, screening, and documentation purposes, without affecting the participant’s copyright ownership of the work.
- The organizer reserves the right to request project files, original footage, or other supporting documents for verification purposes if necessary.
- Works that do not meet the technical requirements may be disqualified.
The organizer reserves the right to disqualify participants who violate the competition’s terms and conditions.
- The organizer reserves the right to screen selected films as part of festivals, exhibitions, academic activities, or promotional events related to the competition.
- Participants agree that their name, film title, synopsis, and production information may be published for promotional purposes and competition result announcements.
- The organizer shall not be held responsible for data loss, file corruption, or technical issues that occur during the submission process.
- Participants are advised to keep backup copies of all submitted works.
- The organizer reserves the right to reject incomplete submissions.
- The decisions of the jury panel are final and binding and cannot be contested.
- Any matters not stipulated in these terms and conditions shall be determined by the organizer at a later date.
- Submission deadlines and the competition schedule shall follow the organizer’s official announcements.
__________________________________________________________
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION :
- This competition is allowed for the public and students (Amateur and Professional).
- This competition is charged $5 for the locals and $7 for international participants.
- Participants could take part in competitions based on the theme “Framing Social Change”.
- There is no limit to the number of photographs that may be submitted by a participant. - Each submission must be registered separately and is subject to the applicable registration fee.
- The submitted photo works are the last 3 years (counting years from 2024 to 2026).
- Photographs may be taken using any camera device, including DSLR, mirrorless cameras, smartphones, or other digital cameras.
- Submitted works must be original and created by the participant.
- Photographs must not have received awards in other competitions.
- Basic editing such as color correction, brightness adjustment, contrast adjustment, cropping, and image sharpening is permitted.
- Manipulation that significantly alters the authenticity or context of the photograph is prohibited.
- Fully AI-generated images, or AI-assisted image creation are not permitted.
- The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is only permitted for basic editing purposes, including color correction, brightness adjustment, contrast adjustment, cropping, and image sharpening. The use of AI to generate, add, remove, or substantially modify the main elements of a photograph is prohibited.
- The best and selected photos will be called by committee and will continue to be included in the photo exhibition at the International Photography and Short Movie Festival (IPSMF) in Bandung, Indonesia.
- Photographs must be submitted in JPG or JPEG format.
- The minimum resolution is 3000 pixels on the longest side with a minimum quality of 300 dpi.
- Participants must provide:
• Photograph title
• Photograph description/caption (maximum 150 words)
• Photographs must not contain content that violates the Broadcasting Code of Conduct and Broadcast Program Standards (P3SPS), including to pornography, excessive violence, hate speech, discrimination, or any content that contravenes public decency and applicable laws and regulations.
- Participants are fully responsible for the originality and copyright ownership of their submissions.
- Any legal claims arising from copyright infringement or unauthorized use of materials shall be the sole responsibility of the participant.
- By submitting their works, participants grant the organizer a non-exclusive right to publish, display, reproduce, and use the photographs for promotional, educational, publication, exhibition, and documentation purposes while retaining the participant's copyright ownership.
- The organizer reserves the right to request the original file for verification purposes.
- Entries that do not comply with the technical requirements may be disqualified.
- The organizer reserves the right to disqualify participants who violate these Terms and Conditions.
- The organizer reserves the right to use selected photographs in exhibitions, catalogs, social media publications, websites, and promotional materials related to the competition.
- Participants agree that their names and submission information may be published for promotional and announcement purposes.
- The organizer shall not be responsible for any loss, file corruption, or technical issues occurring during the submission process.
- Participants are encouraged to retain backup copies of all submitted materials.
- The organizer reserves the right to reject incomplete submissions.
- Any matters not covered in these Terms and Conditions shall be determined by the organizer.
- Judges' decisions are final and binding.
- Submission deadlines and competition schedules shall follow the official announcements issued by the organizer.
SELECTION OF WORKS AND JUDGING :
1. This assessment is carried out by the Judges Team are determined by the International Photography and Short Movie Festival (IPSMF) committee.
2. Photos are received within the specified deadline will be selected by the committee and curator team.
3. The judge’s decision cannot be contested.
