Founded in 2013, the Shenzhen International Film Festival encourages and supports filmmakers to enhance their passion and interest in film creation through more exchanges, broaden their horizons and learn more creative methods and skills. The mission and goal of the Shenzhen International Film Festival is to encourage the creation of outstanding film productions, to seek and support young film and television talents, to cultivate high-quality film and television creative projects, to promote the integrated development of the film and television industry and the new media industry, and to strengthen cultural exchanges, international exchanges and cooperation.

The festival has four main sections: screenings, presentations, forums and a film carnival. By appealing for excellent films and film projects, it attracts worldwide attention to Chinese films, promotes exchanges between domestic and foreign filmmakers and industry professionals, and integrates resources to improve the production environment for Chinese films.

Our goal is to provide a showcase for different types of films from around the world each year, to promote independent film-making of artistic value, to recognize and appreciate new perspectives and forms of expression, to create a space for inspiration, and a platform that promotes cross-boundary dialogue with the contemporary art and technology world. Our programs deal with contemporary social and aesthetic relevance and represent the power and influence of independent cinema.

Awards & Prizes

With more than 15 award categories, contestants can also receive multiple nominations in multiple events. All festival nominees and winners were selected by juries made up of film industry professionals from China, Europe, the United States and Canada.
Awards and Prizes:
Best feature film
Best Short Film;
Best Producer;
Special Award for Best Performance;
Best Foreign Film;
Best Short Narrative;
Best Music Video;
Best Documentary Feature;
Best screenplay;
Best Documentary Short;
Best Student Film;
Optimum experiment;
Best Animation;
Best Director;
Best Actor;
Best Actress;
Best Film Audience;
Best Actor Audience Award;
Best Actress Audience Award;
... ...

Rules & Terms

1.We accept films of all styles, media and genres, and films of any length of time. Format movies must be submitted through an online filter if the size is less than 5GB or DCP. The trace number, movie title, movie category, and run time must be clearly marked on the DCP. Please avoid putting labels on the cover. Submitted copies will not be returned.
2.Films must have English subtitles.
3. Selected films for the competition section must be completed after March 1, 2020. Movies submitted for previous editions of the festival cannot be submitted again, even in a new version.
4. Films selected in international competitions shall not be shown in China or in other film festivals in mainland China. World/international premieres are favored.
5 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jule Körperich

    Thank you so much for the price of Best animated film for our film "The way to a man's heart" at our lovely festival! Hope to see you one day in real life!

    November 2022
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  • Giuseppe Zanni

    Hello!
    We received nominee award for Best Cinematography 2022 -a Category not listed at time of subscription, thank You Committee !
    On the event day unfortunately screenings weren't available online to us.
    We have received Certification of Award and opportunity to receive Trophy at our cost: expedition was a bit articulate to complete.
    We would appreciate receiving some Press Coverage of the Event, in any European language or Chinese of course

    November 2022
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  • Martha McGrath

    Great festival. Team were very responsive to questions. I was very pleased to have my film win an award. The festival is very welcoming to international filmmakers.

    November 2022
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  • Kenjo McCurtain

    Ummm they haven't screened any films as far as I can tell and haven't replied with any info via email when asked for it. They've also issued a poorly designed and hastily written list of films that have won their 'award' categories (of which there are many) on their website. They at least have given out digital certificates which is more than most festivals. But is another of a growing number of film festivals that essentially do nothing promote or support independent filmmaker's films.

    November 2021
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  • Christian Monnier

    Très chouette festival :) Très honoré d'avoir reçu un prix pour notre film.

    November 2021
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