The NewGen Berlin Film Festival, established in 2022, is a non-profit organization dedicated to discovering and supporting emerging cinematic talent from Asia. NewGen focuses on the interconnection between cinema and contemporary society, promoting independent creations that showcase the cultural diversity of Asia. NewGen aims to build a borderless platform for exchange, raising the international profile of Asian filmmakers and fostering a sustainable dialogue between the Asian and European film industries.
NewGen柏林青年电影节成立于2022年，是旨在挖掘并支持亚洲地区电影新锐力量的非盈利机构。NewGen聚焦电影与当代社会的关联，推广呈现亚洲文化多样性的独立创作，致力于打造一个无国界的交流平台。通过竞赛、展映和产业活动，提升亚洲新锐导演的国际能见度，并构建亚欧电影产业深度对话的长效桥梁。

The 5th NewGen Berlin Film Festival will take place in October 2026. We are now calling for entries for the Short Film Competition. The submission deadline is July 31, 2026.
第五届NewGen柏林青年电影节将于2026年十月举行。从即日起至2026年7月31日，短片竞赛单元面向全球的电影创作者征集优秀作品。

Awards & Prizes

I. Official Competition Awards 短片竞赛单元官方奖项

Best Short Film最佳短片奖
For the most outstanding work in the competition. Awarded for excellence in storytelling, aesthetics, and direction. Includes a €500 cash prize and a certificate.
授予竞赛单元综合实力最杰出的作品。表彰其在叙事、视听及导演手法上的卓越完成度。获奖导演将获得 500 欧元奖金及证书。

Jury Prize 评审团奖
Awarded to a film of unique artistic or social significance. Includes a certificate.
授予具有独特艺术价值或社会意义的佳作，体现评审团对影片特定艺术成就的高度认可。获奖导演将获得证书一份。

Best Screenplay 最佳剧本奖
Awarded for profound insight, structural precision, or original narrative voice. Includes a certificate.
授予在文本创作上具有深刻洞察力、叙事结构精巧或语言表达极具原创性的编剧。获奖编剧将获得证书一份。

Outstanding Artistic Contribution 最佳艺术贡献奖
Recognizing excellence in cinematography, editing, sound design, or production design. Includes a certificate.
授予在摄影、剪辑、声音设计或美术指导等技术与美学领域展现出杰出造诣的作品。获奖者将获得证书一份。

New Perspective Award 最佳创新视角奖
For works demonstrating avant-garde experimentation or breakthroughs in cinematic language and contemporary themes. Includes a certificate.
授予在电影语言、跨学科表现或当代议题挖掘上具有先锋实验精神与突破性的作品。获奖者将获得证书一份。

II. Special Award 特别奖项
New & Ambitious Award 格物鼎新奖
Partner: China Contemporary Animation Art Archive (CCAERM) 中国当代动画艺术资料馆
Awarded by an independent jury of animation specialists, invited by CCAERM, to an outstanding animated short. Includes a €150 cash prize and an invitation for the work to be archived in the CCAERM collection. The award-winning film will be invited to an academic screening at the CATS Library, Heidelberg University. A travel stipend of €100 will be granted to the director upon attendance.
格物鼎新奖授予一部入围竞赛的动画短片，由中国当代动画艺术资料馆（CCAERM）委任的独立评审团评选颁出，秉持“以学养艺、破旧立新”的授奖标准，旨在鼓励亚洲动画行业的学者型艺术家及其创新。获奖动画短片将获得150欧元奖金，并受邀收录中国当代动画艺术资料馆馆藏。获奖动画短片还将受海德堡大学CATS图书馆中国动漫数据库的邀请，前往海德堡大学进行一次学术放映，导演可另外获得100欧元的差旅补助。

III. Audience Award 观众选择奖
Decided through voting by the onsite audience in Berlin. The film with the highest average rating across all screenings will receive the official certificate.
由柏林线下放映现场观众投票产生。综合每场放映的得票率，排名第一的影片摘得，获奖者将获得官方证书一份。

SELECTION & JURY 评选流程

All entries will be reviewed by the Selection Committee for initial and secondary screenings to determine the official selection.
所有报名影片将经由选片委员会进行初审及复审，并最终确定入围结果。

An international Jury, invited by the NewGen team and composed of filmmakers, scholars, critics, and art professionals, will decide the winners of the official competition awards.
入围影片将由评委会审阅，并决定短片竞赛单元官方奖项的归属（特别奖项与观众选择奖除外）。选片委员会及评委会由影展组委会邀请人选出任，由电影人、电影学者、影评人、艺术领域专业人士等组成。

Special awards are selected by an independent third-party jury appointed by the festival’s special partners.
特别奖项由影展特别合作方委任的第三方独立评审团评选得出。

The Audience Award is determined by votes from viewers at the in-person screenings in Berlin; the film with the highest overall approval rating across all screenings takes the top prize.
观众选择奖由柏林线下放映时现场观众投票决定，综合每场观众喜爱得票率，排名第一的影片摘得。

Any individual involved in the production or distribution of a competing film is ineligible to serve on the Jury or Selection Committee to ensure impartiality.
参赛影片之演职人员或任何与影片有直接利益关系的人士，不得担任该年度选片委员会或评委会成员，以确保评审过程的公正与独立。

Rules & Terms

Maximum 30 minutes (including opening and closing credits).
影片时长不得超过30分钟（包括完整片头片尾演职人员字幕时长）

No restrictions on genre or form.
无类型或形式的限制

Films must demonstrate a clear connection to Asia. The core film crew (Director, Writer, Producer, or lead Cast) must be of Asian descent/heritage (including the global Asian diaspora), OR the film’s theme must deeply engage with Asian culture, social issues, or cross-cultural dialogues.
报名影片需具有明显的亚洲关联性：核心主创（导演、编剧、制片人或主演之一）为亚裔（含全球各地的亚裔散居群体）； 或影片主题深度涉及亚洲文化、社会现状及跨文化对话。

Non-English language films must include English subtitles.
非英语对白影片必须附有英文字幕。

Films must have been completed on or after January 1, 2025.
影片需在2025年1月1日后完成制作。

Works previously submitted to past editions of NewGen are ineligible.
曾报名往届 NewGen 柏林青年电影节的作品不具备参赛资格。

There is no premiere requirement; however, World or German Premieres will be given priority during the selection process.
影展不设首映门槛，但世界首映/德国首映的影片在评选过程中会被优先考虑。

Submissions must be made via FilmFreeway. Applicants may submit multiple works; a separate fee is required for each entry. Submission fees are non-refundable.
报名者须在FilmFreeway平台填写报名表并提交参赛作品。报名者可以提交多部作品，所有报名者都须为每部作品缴纳报名费。报名费用缴纳后，费用将不予退还。

Early Bird: April 6 – May 17, 2026 | €5
Standard: May 18 – July 31, 2026 | €10
(All times are based on Berlin time/CEST)
∗早鸟报名：2026年4月6日 - 5月17日，报名费 5 欧元
∗标准报名：2026年5月18日 - 7月31日， 报名费 10 欧元
以柏林时间CEST为准。

Humanitarian Waiver: We are deeply committed to artists in regions affected by conflict, humanitarian crises, or extreme economic hardship. Based on our humanitarian stance, filmmakers from such regions may apply for a fee waiver. Please email festival@bngff.com with a brief description of your circumstances.
我们深切关注全球范围内受冲突、人道主义危机或极端经济困境影响的艺术家。基于人道主义立场，来自上述地区（如受战争影响或处于社会动荡中）的电影创作者，可申请免除报名费用。请发送申请邮件至festival@bngff.com，并在邮件中简要说明您的情况。NewGen 致力于消除创作障碍，确保每一个声音都能被听见。

Once submitted, no revisions or new versions will be accepted. Major edits (e.g., re-cutting, color grading) must be requested via email before July 31, 2026. Acceptance is at the discretion of the festival team.
影片成功报名后，组委会原则上不再接受任何形式的版本替换。若影片发生重大内容改动（如重新剪辑、调色或混录），报名者须在2026年7月31日（标准报名截止日）前通过邮件联系组委会。组委会保留是否接受新版本的最终决定权。

Applicants must provide valid contact details. Notification of selection results will be sent via email.
请报名者填写真实有效的联系方式。评选结果将通过官方电子邮件统一通知。请报名者留意收件箱，以免错过入围确认及后续协作要求。

Following the official announcement of the shortlisted entries, applicants shall, in principle, not be permitted to withdraw their submitted films.
入围结果正式公布后，报名者原则上不得撤回参赛影片。

Selected films are required to grant the festival the right to at least one theatrical screening in Berlin during the 2026 edition.
凡入围作品，报名者须授权 NewGen 柏林青年电影节在当届影展期间，于德国柏林地区进行至少一次的公开线下放映。

By submitting, you authorize the festival to use film excerpts (up to 10% of total runtime or 3 minutes), stills, and trailers for promotional purposes (online/offline).
入围者须授权组委会无偿使用影片片段（不超过全片时长的10%或3分钟）、海报及剧照，用于影展宣传、手册制作及媒体报道。

Submission constitutes full acceptance of all rules and regulations. The NewGen team reserves the right of final interpretation for all matters not covered herein.
提交报名申请即视为参赛者已阅读、理解并完全同意本简章中的所有条款、条件及准则。NewGen 柏林青年电影节组委会对本简章及评选过程中的未尽事宜保留最终解释权。
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  • Carl Joseph Lara

    We love everyone at Berlin NewGen Film Festival. The programming is beautifully curated, and the jury is incredible. The festival team is supportive and communicative, making the entire experience seamless. Would love to be back soon in the future.

    November 2024
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