The Universal Martial Arts Film Festival (UMAFF) showcases films that explore the martial practice, philosophy, aesthetic and spirituality.

The Universal Martial Arts Film Festival (UMAFF) encourages an emerging generation of filmmakers whose films treat various aspects of the field of the martial arts; those of the arts of combat and the arts of health. The purpose being to collect and to protect the memory, to educate the public, to share and to pass on the knowledge.

The Universal Martial Arts Film Festival (UMAFF) is open to filmmakers and spectators worldwide.

A preliminary committee will watch the films and select the finalists.

Then, a jury panel composed of known and respected personalities from the worlds of cinema and Martial Arts will offer an award for each category.

After this first step, the films will be screened to March 15th, 2024 until March 31th, 2024 on the festival website.
The festival Members will may vote for the People's Choice Award.

- BEST FICTION FILM AWARD
- BEST DOCUMENTARY AWARD
- PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD
- BEST SCRIPT AWARD
- BEST ACTRESS AWARD
- BEST ACTOR AWARD
- BEST MUSIC AWARD
- JURY AWARD

Submissions will be opened on May 7th, 2022.

SUBMISSION DEADLINES

The submissions process will close
on January 15th, 2023.

All filmmakers will be notified via e-mail no later than February 15th, 2023 with the selection results.

SUBMISSION FORMAT

- For the selection process, the Universal Martial Arts Film Festival accepts only Secure Online Screeners.

SCREENING FORMAT

- Fims selected will be screened on the festival website across the Secure Online Screener (Viméo, Youtube, Daylimotion...). Only the Members of the Jury and the festival
Members will be authorized to watch the films.

ELIGIBILITY & SELECTION

- Films are selected on the basis of achievement in form and content.
- Films must have been completed after January 2019.
- Short films must have a run time inferior to 59 min. Feature films must have a run time superior to 59 min.
- Films must be in their original version.
- Films in a language other than English must be subtitled in English or French.
- Industrial, advertising and instructional films are not eligible.
- The same applies to racist, obscene,excessively violent and propagandistic films.
- Available press materials must be shipped to the Universal Martial Arts Film Festivall upon notification of selection.
- Upon selection, the entrant grants permission for use of all publicity materials (including preview DVDs) to be used for promotional purposes.
- Upon selection, the entrant is required to send a trailer of his movie to the festival.
- Multiple submissions are welcome.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Tina Zhang

    Thank you for the "Official Selection" for our documentary film "WHirling Circles"! We are so happy and appreciate your special film festical for martial arts film, which give this unique kind film an opportunity to display their work. I highly recommend this film festival for their great communication, professional and effective work, really the film festival to submit your work if you are making martail arts films!

    Thank you!
    Tina Chunna Zhang

    May 2023
  • Tobiasz Wałkiewicz

    Thank You for selection, special jury award for "Art of Crossing" and for answering on every question.

    April 2023
  • Cenk İzgören

    On behalf of the " Kafes İki Savaş Arasında" film crew, thank you.

    April 2023
  • Charles A. Sanchez

    Great festival! Thanks a lot and see you next year.

    April 2021
  • Aurélien Mathieu

    Great Festival and Team ! Thanks a lot !

    June 2020