Arts East-West, a non-profit media arts organization established in 1995, is proud to present the Montreal Asian Film Festival (MAFF). 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.

MAFF opens during Asian Heritage Month in North America, and our 2026 edition will run from May 8 to June 13. As an organization based in Montreal, Quebec, MAFF is a fully trilingual festival with all our content available in French, English, and Korean.

Through our expanded new platform as MAFF, we aim to:
• Support 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 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. Korean Film Festival of Canada (KFFC):
Korean-language films or films about Korean culture/experiences, films from South Korea, or films by Korean diaspora filmmakers worldwide.

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 MAFF? ⭐

• 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 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: March 5, 2026
Competition selections announced: April 1, 2026
Festival dates: May 8 - June 13, 2026
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 Film Festival (MAFF) 2026
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 2016-2026)
- 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 MAFF'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.

MAFF 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 contact@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

- MAFF 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 (May 14-June 13, 2026)
- Participation in panel discussions or workshops
- Engagement with audiences and press

Note: MAFF 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 14-June 13, 2026)
- MAFF may screen films at festival venues and online platform
- Filmmakers retain all rights to their work
- No territorial or distribution rights transferred to MAFF

8. PROMOTIONAL RIGHTS
By submitting, filmmakers grant MAFF 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 MAFF digital archive for educational and promotional purposes
- Filmmakers will be credited in our main promotional materials.

9. WITHDRAWAL POLICY

Before Selection (by March 31, 2026):
- Filmmakers may withdraw submissions
- No refund of submission fees

After Selection (after April 1, 2026):
- Withdrawal strongly discouraged
- If withdrawal necessary, filmmaker must notify MAFF immediately
- MAFF reserves right to exclude filmmaker from future editions

10. FESTIVAL CONDUCT

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

11. LIABILITY

- MAFF takes reasonable care in handling submission materials
- MAFF is not liable for loss, damage, or technical issues with submitted materials
- Filmmakers are responsible for maintaining backup copies of all materials
- MAFF 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
- MAFF staff and jury members agree to confidentiality
- Films will not be shared outside selection/programming process

14. FORCE MAJEURE

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

15. AMENDMENTS

- MAFF 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
MAFF 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 Film Festival (MAFF)
Presented by Arts East-West
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Festival Dates: May 14 - June 13, 2026 (Four weekends)