Arts East-West, a non-profit media arts organization established in 1995, is proud to present the Montreal Asian International Film Festival (MAiFF). Initially conceived as the Korean Film Festival of Canada (KFFC), our annual film festival was launched in 2013 and has since evolved into a media art platform encompassing film screenings, media art exhibitions, workshops, artist talks and networking opportunities.

MAiFF opens during Asian Heritage Month in North America, and our 2027 edition will run from May 27 to June 12. As an organization based in Montreal, Quebec, MAiFF is a fully trilingual festival with all our content available in French, English, and Korean.

Through our expanded new platform as MAiFF, we aim to:
• Support Asian and Asian Canadian media arts by celebrating artist-driven, theme-based initiatives directed at fostering cultural diversity in Canada.
• Explore Asian Canadian identity inclusively through the screen culture with both an intercultural and intergenerational lens.
• Platform emerging Asian and Asian Canadian artists by highlighting marginalized and underrepresented voices.

⭐ 2026-2027 theme ⭐

TANGIBILITY: Soil, Body, Stories.

🌍 SOIL — our bond with the land, climate, care, and continuity
🤲🏼 BODY — agency, labor, memory, breath, and the truth held in hands and voices
📖 STORIES — wisdom that lives beyond screens, shared from one generation to the next

⭐ Our Categories ⭐

1. AmérAsia:
Films by or about Asian Canadian or Asian North American communities, made by filmmakers of Asian descent based in Canada or the United States, or films exploring Asian diaspora experiences in North America.

2. KFFC (Korean Film Festival of Canada):
Korean-language films or films about Korean culture/experiences, films from South Korea, or films in the legacy of our history that anchored in Korean film since its inception.
3. East Meets West (EMW):
Asian films from across all Asia, films by Asian diaspora filmmakers outside North America, or films featuring cross-cultural narratives.

⭐ Why Submit to MAiFF? ⭐

• Small, selective program means your film receives attention
• We welcome Quebec’s vibrant pan-Asian and multicultural communities
• Personal filmmaker engagement, Q&As, genuine conversations
• Thoughtfully selected the best screening locations across Montreal
• Festival content in French, English, and Korean

See you in Montreal, Spring 2026!

Awards & Prizes

DANCHEONG Competition: Grand Prize & Silk Thread Awards

단청 (丹靑) DANCHEONG is the ancient Korean art of painting wooden temples and palaces with vivid colors—red, blue, yellow, green, black—in intricate patterns. Like these sacred colors on ancient buildings, the DANCHEONG Competition honors emerging filmmakers painting bold new narratives in cinema.

⭐ Eligibility ⭐

• Must be director's first OR second feature film
• Length must be 60 minutes minimum
• Completed after January 1, 2023
• Open to films from ALL MAFF categories ((AmérAsia, KFFC, EMW)
• Short films are NOT eligible for DANCHEONG

We seek films that demonstrate ...

• Distinctive directorial vision
• Innovative narrativity and bold new forms
• Quality craftsmanship across all cinematic elements
• Meaningful engagement with humanity, culture, or environment
• Strong authorial voice

⭐ Awards ⭐

🏆 GRAND PRIZE - DANCHEONG (Best Director)
The highest honor, recognizing visionary filmmaking that embodies artistic excellence and meaningful storytelling.

🧵 SEVEN SILK THREAD AWARDS
Inspired by the vibrant colored threads used in traditional Korean embroidery and Dancheong art, each Silk Thread Award celebrates excellence in a specific craft: Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, Best Editing, Best Music Score, Best Artistic Direction.

⭐ Cash Prizes ⭐

The awards will be determined through community crowdfunding, allowing our audiences and supporters to directly contribute to emerging filmmakers. This collective approach reflects our values of community engagement and grassroots support for independent cinema. All submission fees will also go directly to awardees.

⭐ Jury ⭐

An international jury of film professionals, artists, and scholars will select award recipients from the 8 competition films. Jury composition will be announced closer to the festival.

⭐ Selection Timeline ⭐

Submissions close: November 1, 2026
Competition selections announced: March 15, 2027
Festival dates: May 27 - June 12, 2027
Awards ceremony: During festival (date TBA)

⭐ What DANCHEONG Offers ⭐

• Recognition by international jury
• Cash awards
• Promotional support and publicity
• Screening at quality Montreal venues
• Q&A and filmmaker dialogue opportunities
• Connection to artists, academics, and researchers
• Post-festival promotion and archive

Join the legacy of DANCHEONG!

Rules & Terms

Montreal Asian International Film Festival (MAiFF) 2027
Submission Rules & Requirements
By submitting to MAFF, filmmakers agree to the following terms and conditions:

1. ELIGIBILITY
- Independent film that was made in recent years (between 2023-2027)
- Each director's first to third film only
- Only one work per director

Runtime Requirements:
Shorts: Under 25 minutes
Features: 60+ minutes
Films between 25-59 minutes will be evaluated case-by-case

Categories:
Films must fit within one of MAiFF's four categories: AmérAsia, KFFC, East Meets West (EMW).

DANCHEONG Competition: Among the selected films, our curators and programmers will determine to choose which films or works are invited to be in competitions, and notify to the candidates.

MAiFF is not a genre film festival. We focus on quality, artistry, and meaningful storytelling. We welcome films that explore arthouse & experimental themes, coming of age narratives, socio-cultural & political themes, identity & diaspora experience, and more. Submitted films must align with the theme.

We do NOT review:
Films centered on gratuitous violence, horror, thriller, or violent content as primary focus.

NOTE ON FEES: If certain filmmakers might face significant financial barriers that would otherwise prevent them from submitting their work, please reach out to info@artseastwest.ca in case you would like to request a waiver based on your circumstances, and we will get back to you ASAP.

2. LANGUAGE & SUBTITLES

- English subtitles REQUIRED for all non-English language films
- French subtitles strongly encouraged (but not mandatory)
- Korean subtitles welcomed for accessibility
- Subtitle files must be embedded or provided as separate .srt files
- Subtitles must be accurate, well-timed, and legible

3. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Screening Formats:
- DCP (Digital Cinema Package) - preferred for theatrical screening
- ProRes 422 HQ or higher
- H.264 (high bitrate)
- Minimum resolution: 1920x1080 (HD)
- 4K accepted but not recommended
- MP4 or MOV files may be requested occasionally

For Submission Review:
- Online screener link required (Vimeo, YouTube unlisted, or password-protected)
- Link must remain active until April 15, 2026
- Download option preferred but not required

Audio:
- Stereo or 5.1 surround sound
- Clear, professionally mixed audio

4. PREMIERE STATUS

- World, International, North American, Canadian, or Quebec premieres preferred
- Previously screened films at festivals outside Quebec ARE eligible
- Films recently screened within the past 12 months at other festivals in the Quebec region ARE INELIGIBLE
- Online/streaming availability does NOT disqualify films
*Please indicate premiere status and previous festival screenings in submission form.

5. SELECTION PROCESS

- MAiFF Programming Committee reviews all submissions
- Selection decisions are final and not subject to appeal
- Filmmakers notified by March 25, 2026
- Selected filmmakers receive official invitation via email
- Non-selected filmmakers also notified

Selection Criteria:

- Artistic quality and originality
- Alignment with MAFF's mission and 2026-2027 theme (TANGIBILITY)
- Technical excellence
- Storytelling strength
- Relevance to category mandate
- Balance and diversity of festival programming

6. FILMMAKER OBLIGATIONS (IF SELECTED)

Required:
- Confirm acceptance within 7 days of notification
- Provide high-quality screening file (DCP or ProRes preferred)
- Provide promotional materials: poster, stills (minimum 3 high-res images), synopsis (short & long), filmmaker bio, director photo
- Provide credits list for program materials
- Secure all rights clearances (music, footage, images, etc.)
- Be available for festival Q&A (in-person or virtual)

Strongly Encouraged:
- Filmmaker attendance at festival
- Participation in panel discussions or workshops
- Engagement with audiences and press

Note: MAiFF cannot guarantee travel funding or accommodation for filmmakers, but we will assist where possible.

7. SCREENING RIGHTS

- Selected films may be screened up to 2 times during festival dates (May 27 - June 12, 2027)
- MAiFF may screen films at festival venues and online platform
- Filmmakers retain all rights to their work
- No territorial or distribution rights transferred to MAiFF

8. PROMOTIONAL RIGHTS
By submitting, filmmakers grant MAiFF permission to:

- Use film title, synopsis, stills, and credits in festival publications (print, online, social media)
- Screen excerpts (maximum 3 minutes) for promotional purposes
- Feature selected films on festival website and social media
- Include films in festival trailers and promotional videos
- Archive selected films in MAiFF digital archive for educational and promotional purposes
- Filmmakers will be credited in our main promotional materials.

9. WITHDRAWAL POLICY

Before Selection (by February 28, 2027):
- Filmmakers may withdraw submissions
- No refund of submission fees

After Selection (after February 28, 2027):
- Withdrawal strongly discouraged
- If withdrawal necessary, filmmaker must notify MAiFF immediately
- MAiFF reserves right to exclude filmmaker from future editions

10. FESTIVAL CONDUCT

- Filmmakers are expected to conduct themselves professionally
- MAiFF maintains a harassment-free, inclusive environment
- Any discriminatory, abusive, or inappropriate behavior may result in removal from festival

11. LIABILITY

- MAiFF takes reasonable care in handling submission materials
- MAiFF is not liable for loss, damage, or technical issues with submitted materials
- Filmmakers are responsible for maintaining backup copies of all materials
- MAiFF is not responsible for screening technical issues beyond our control

12. RIGHTS & CLEARANCES

Filmmakers warrant that:
- They own or control all rights to submitted film
- All music, footage, images, and other materials are properly licensed or cleared
- Film does not infringe on copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights
- Film does not defame or violate privacy rights of any person
- They have authority to submit film and agree to these terms

Filmmakers are solely responsible for all legal clearances.

13. CONFIDENTIALITY

- Submission screeners are for internal festival use only
- MAiFF staff and jury members agree to confidentiality
- Films will not be shared outside selection/programming process

14. FORCE MAJEURE

- In case of circumstances beyond MAiFF's control (pandemic, natural disaster, etc.), festival format may be modified (e.g., online screening)
- MAiFF will make reasonable efforts to present selected films
- No refunds for submission fees in case of format changes

15. AMENDMENTS

- MAiFF reserves right to amend rules as needed
- Significant changes will be communicated to submitters
- Continued submission implies acceptance of amended terms

16. CONTACT & QUESTIONS
For questions about submissions, eligibility, or technical requirements:
Email: direction@artseastwest.ca
Website: www.artseastwest.ca
Response time: Within 5 business days

17. AGREEMENT
By submitting to MAFF, filmmakers acknowledge they have read, understood, and agree to all rules and terms outlined above.

18. USE OF SUBMISSION FEES
MAiFF operates as a non-profit, independent film festival. All submission fees collected for the 2026 edition will be fully allocated toward cash prizes for the Dancheong Award and Silk Threads Award.

Montreal Asian International Film Festival (MAiFF)
Presented by Arts East-West
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Festival Dates: May 27 - June 12, 2027
1 Review
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Park Hae-oh

    The 13th MAiFF was a truly meaningful and rewarding festival experience.

    From the very beginning, the festival team communicated with warmth, professionalism, and genuine care for filmmakers. Every interaction reflected their commitment to supporting independent cinema and creating a welcoming environment for artists from diverse backgrounds.

    I was deeply honored that our short film, "Broken Dawn," received the Dancheong Award for Best Cinematography. The recognition means a great deal to our entire team, and we are grateful to the jury and festival organizers for their thoughtful consideration of our work.

    What makes MAiFF especially unique is its dedication to emerging Asian filmmakers and its ability to connect cinema with broader artistic and cultural conversations. The festival's interdisciplinary spirit and attention to detail made the experience feel personal, inspiring, and memorable.

    Thank you to Arts East-West, the programming team, the jury members, and everyone who contributed to making this year's festival such a special event. I wholeheartedly recommend MAiFF to filmmakers around the world and would be honored to participate again in the future.

    June 2026
    Helpful