ifva Awards

【𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 & 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬】

1. Hong Kong Arts Centre ("HKAC") is the organiser of “The 30th ifva Awards” and “The 30th ifva Festival”.

2. Each entrant can enter multiple categories. However, each entry submitted may only enter one category.

3. Entries that have been showcased, entered, or have won prizes in other contests may also be accepted. However, entries that have been submitted to previous ifva Awards will not be accepted.

4. An entry duly submitted shall be final. No further revision or amendment and/ or exchange of version to the submitted copy shall be made.

5. Once the entry is submitted, no entrant is allowed to withdraw unless the written consent from Hong Kong Arts Centre.

6. Winning entries are assessed and decided by the jury panel of the respective categories.

7. HKAC and the jury panel reserve the right to, and may at their absolute and sole discretion, disqualify and entrant/ awardee that submits false, misleading, dishonest or untrue information and/ or failed to comply with the rules and regulations of this competition stipulated herein. The decision of HKAC and the jury panel shall be final and conclusive.

8. To ensure fairness, jurors are not allowed to take part in competition where he/ she is a member of the jury panel of any category, and staff of HKAC are not allowed to take part in the competition.

9. The organizer respects the jurors' professional judgment. If faculty or staff from ifva tertiary school partners serve as jurors for the Hong Kong Tertiary Students Group or International Tertiary Students Group, they must declare any potential conflict of interest arising from adjudicating works from their own institution during the judging process.

10. Entrants must acknowledge and agree the submitted entry upholds the laws of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, and does not violate any provisions of the National Security Law, including these pertaining to secession, subversion, terrorist activities and collusion with foreign entities.

【𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 】

(𝟭) 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗲

OPEN GROUP / ANIMATION / ASIAN NEW FORCE / AI CREATION / TERTIARY STUDENTS GROUP:
Earlybird deadline: 3 May 2026 (Sunday) 11:59 PM Pacific Time (PT) | USD20
Regular deadline: 31 May 2026 (Sunday) 11:59 PM Pacific Time (PT) | USD35
Last Call deadline: 21 June 2026 (Sunday) 11:59 PM Pacific Time (PT) |USD50

* An entry fee shall apply upon submission. This entry fee is not refundable under any circumstances.

YOUTH GROUP:
Last Call Deadline: 21 June 2026 (Sunday), 11:59 PM Pacific Time (PT) |No entry fee

(𝟮) 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀
Only uploaded video in FilmFreeway or Vimeo link is accepted. If an entrant submits an entry by uploading to FilmFreeway or Vimeo, the following requirements should be met:

a. Resolution: 1920 x 1080
b. Video codec: H.264
c. Bitrate: 4000kbps
d. Format: MOV or MP4
e. Size: not exceeding 10GB
f. DO NOT accept DVD or USB submission

For an entrant who submits an entry via Vimeo, the video link and password (if any) provided must remain valid from the date of submission until the date of announcement of finalists. An entry will not be considered if the link or the password is invalid for any reason.

(𝟯) 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲:
All entries MUST BE produced on or after 1 June 2024. Entries that have been submitted to previous ifva Awards will not be accepted.

(𝟰) 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀:
All entries must at least include English subtitles.

(𝟱) 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀:
Regardless of whether the entry is selected for screening, all entries must provide:

(a) An English and/or Chinese synopsis of no more than 150 words

(b) At least 3 film stills

(c) Identification document
- Open Group / Animation / Asian New Force / AI Creation Entrants* must upload a valid identification document with photo. (e.g. National ID card, passport).
- Youth Group Entrants* must upload a valid identification document (e.g. HKID card, passport, birth certificate) that provides proof of age and nationality. Student cards are not accepted.
- Tertiary Students Group Entrants* must upload a valid student card.
*In case there is more than one entrant to an entry, all joint-entrants should upload copies of their identification documents.

(d) Method statement (for AI Creation entrants only)
- AI Creation entrants must upload a method statement that includes a list of AI tools used and a description of the generation process. If any part of the production process did not involve AI, this must be clearly indicated. Entrants must be able to provide detail information about the production process when requested by the organiser.

【𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚】
Entries will be assessed in preliminary selection and final judging by the jury composed of industry professionals, based on the following criteria:

Short Film:
• Plot, theme and message
• Visual and directing style
• Craftsmanship behind the lens
• Originality and creative value

Animation:
• Plot, theme and message
• Visual and directing style
• Technical execution
• Originality and creative value

AI Creation:
• Plot, theme and message
• Visual and directing style
• Director’s ability to utilize AI software
• The role of human factors in the production process

The final list of finalists and award recipients will be decided by the jury, and the organiser reserves the right of final decision.

【𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐯𝐞】
1. Finalist works will be showcased during “The 30th ifva Festival”. There will be up to 10 finalists in each group.

2. HKAC, festival sponsors and partners are entitled to use up to 10% of the total running time of each finalist or up to 3 minutes of footage (whichever is longer) and the text and images provided in the application in any media for promotional purposes. Entrants shall not be entitled to claim copyright in respect of such use by HKAC.

3. For finalist, HKAC has the right to: Present the entry at “The 30th ifva Festival”; and arrange local and overseas non-commercial presentation and curate programme on online platform throughout 2026 and 2027 (on or before 31 December 2027), provided that HKAC shall have duly notified the entrants as such.

4. In accordance with the Film Censorship Ordinance (Cap. 392 of the laws of Hong Kong), the HKAC must submit all films and videos to be screened to the Office for Film, Newspaper and Articles Administration (OFNAA) for examination. For details about the Film Censorship Ordinance and Film Classification, please visit https://www.ofnaa.gov.hk/en/services/film_division/film_classification/index.html.

5. All finalists must be screened at the designated venues for “The 30th ifva Festival” after approval by the Film Censorship Authority and compete for awards at “The 30th ifva Awards”. Entries, if applicable, must be submitted to HKAC in high resolution (1920 x 1080) ProRes MOV format by 31 August 2026 (Monday). The screening version must be identical to the submission version.

6. HKAC has the final decision on the screening arrangement of the entries.

7. Any use of the entries for any commercial purposes will be subject to the conclusion of a separate agreement between the Organiser and the copyright owner of the particular Entry. The agreement will establish the terms for this use, including the distribution of any revenue or profits share from the commercial purposes of the entry.

8. Unless otherwise objected by the entrant in writing, HKAC has the perpetual right to keep one copy of each entry for educational, archival and research purposes.

【𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭】
1. All entrants must be the sole and exclusive owner of the copyright in the entry. If the copyright of an entry is owned by more than one person, or by a third person / party, please submit the entry together with authorisation letter(s) from all the copyright holder(s) of such entry to the ifva for the purpose of verifying its entry eligibility. Entries should not infringe any rights of any third party. The ifva shall not be liable for any damages caused by the entrants to any third party for the entrants’ infringement(s) of any rights of any third party. The entrants shall indemnify in full and hold the ifva and its staff harmless from any claims caused by such infringement.

2. All entrants should only use a third party’s music excerpts, images or film/video segments in the entry with the prior written consent of the relevant third party. Entrants must acknowledge any authorised use of music excerpts, images or film/video segments in the entry in accordance with relevant copyright laws. The organiser shall not be responsible whether directly or indirectly for any liability arising whatsoever or howsoever from any violation of any copyright laws. Entrants agree and undertake to accept and be responsible for all such liability arising therefrom.

3. For details about the Copyright Ordinance (Chapter 528 of the laws of Hong Kong), please visit www.legislation.gov.hk.