These are four Asian film festivals with open calls you cannot miss, don’t waste your time and submit!

Note: This article is aim towards Asian Filmmakers, please note that some of the festivals here don’t accept non-Asian films. We tried to focus on Class A film festivals with FREE submission. We also select film festivals from different countries because some have country Premiere Status (meaning that the film must have their premiere at that particular festival). We do have other festivals for you to send your movies, please follow the link after this publication.

11th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival
Date: September 19th – 26th, 2019
Place: Goyang City and Paju City, Korea
Accepts: Documentaries (Shorts and Features)
Submission Fee: FREE
Deadline:
– International and Asian Competition: May 15th, 2019
– Korean Competition-Youth Competition: June 9th, 2019

The DMZ International Documentary Film Festival is probably one of the best festivals to send your docs in Asia. It provides opportunities for young and new filmmakers from Korean and Asia. The festival accepts docs completed after January 1st, 2018. Entrants must have a choice 1 section per 1 film. They accepts docs in MOV ProRes 4:2:2 HQ, DCP, Mpeg4, Blu-ray, HDCAM (HDV) format (no 16mm or 35mm). They also require your doc to be subtitled in English. Non-korean filmmakers can submit their films via Withoutabox, for Korean filmmakers things are a little bit easier since they can submit directly via their website. This festival does give Cash Awards and they don’t have entry fee! REMEMBER: International and Asian filmmakers can send their productions until May 15th. So, hurry up people!

You can read more about this festival here: DMZ Call for Entry

24th Busan International Film Festival
Date: October 3rd – 12th, 2019
Place: Busan, South Korea
Accepts: Features, Shorts, Documentaries, Animation
Submission Fee: FREE
Deadlines:
– Feature Films – June 26th, 2019
– Short Films – July 31st, 2019

The Busan International Film Festival is probably one of the Top 3 festivals in Asia, especially for independent filmmakers. Their organizers have built one awesome festival that supports and encourage young and new filmmakers from Asian. This festival accepts Features, Shorts, Documentaries and animation films. It is very important that your film MUST have their premiere there since they give priority to Word or International Premiere. Films must have been completed after October 2018. Films must have English subtitles and should be in DCP(D-Cinema), 35mm, HDCAM, or (Digi)Beta format. Submission forms can be downloaded from the website. This festival have two deadlines so please be careful, feature films will be accepted until June 26th and short films until July 31st. There is NO submission fee.

You can read more about this festival here: Busan Call for Entry

32nd Tokyo International Film Festival
Accepts: Feature Films (over 60 minutes)
Submission Fees:
– From April 19th to May 31st: FREE!!
– From June 1st to July 13th – ¥ 3,000 JPY ($27 USD)
– Deadlines:
Earlybird Deadline – May 31st, 2019
Late Deadline – July 12th, 2019

The Tokyo International Film Festival is another Class-A festival you cannot miss. Since 1985 it has grown to become one of the biggest film festivals in Asia. TIFF seeks out excellent films from around the world and brings them to Tokyo, where filmmakers and film fans can enjoy them, meet emerging filmmakers, and be inspired. Please note that this festival ONLY accepts Feature Films completed after January 1st, 2019. World and International Premieres have priority and if you are Japanese the film must be World Premiere at the festival. Submissions can be done via their website and they must have English subtitles. Please be advised that until May 31st there is NO submission fee, BUT after that date they will charge you $ 27 USD. The final deadline is on July 12th, 2019.

You can read more about this festival here: TIFF Call for Entry

30th Singapore International Film Festival
Date: November 21st – December 1st, 2019
Place: Singapore
Accepts: Feature & Short Films
Submission Fees:
– Early Bird Submission (April 15 – August 4th): Submission Fee Waived
– Regular Submission (August 5th – 19th): $25 USD
Deadline: August 19th, 2019

Lastly the festival we want to talk about is the Singapore International Film Festival, Singapore’s longest running festival. Since 1987 it has been focusing on showcasing international films and providing a global platform for the best of Singapore and Southeast Asian cinema. Films should be completed after June 1st, 2018. Only Asian feature films and Southeast Asian Short films are considered for Competition. They will give priority to World, International and Asian Premieres. Submissions can be done via heir website. Until August 4th there is NO submission fee, after that date and until August 19th the festival will charge $ 25 USD. Please bear in mind that this festival also is accepting films in pre-production stages for their Southeast Asian Film Lab.

You can read more about this festival here: Singapore Call for Entry