BRING YOUR SHORT FILM TO LIFE!
• Pitch your short film project on the theme of “When Strangers Meet”
• 16 successful applicants will spend a week in Macau in mid-September 2026 (travel and accommodation provided).
- • Enjoy one-on-one mentoring with industry professionals.
- • Participate in masterclasses and panels to enhance your filmmaking skills.
- • Network with veterans and peers
- • Engage in pitching sessions to present your ideas.
- • Eight winners will receive HK$300,000 (approx. US$38,000) each to create their short film, with a length of 15-20 minutes.
- • Complete the short film by December 2026.
- • Opportunity to screen at international film festivals.
International Film Camp:
Date: September 18 to 22, 2026
Internation Film Camp Introduction
International Film Camp (IFC), a groundbreaking initiative aims to nurture and empower the next generation of Asian filmmakers. Organised by the Asian Film Awards Academy, with patronages of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the Film Development Fund, Sands China Limited, and supported by Shaw Studios, Tencent Miora and Netshort, the IFC will provide a unique platform for emerging filmmakers to interact with industry professionals, gain valuable insights into the creative and commercial aspects of cinema, and receive production funding and distribution opportunities through the Asian Film Awards Academy.
Scheduled to take place from September 18 to 22, 2026, at the integrated resorts operated by Sands China, the IFC promises to be a transformative experience for aspiring filmmakers. Open to talented individuals aged 21 to 40 from Hong Kong, Macao, Greater China, and the wider Asian region, the camp will offer a comprehensive curriculum designed to enhance their skills and knowledge.
One of the key highlights of the IFC is the opportunity for participants to submit proposals for a short narrative fiction film centered around the theme of “When Strangers Meet”. Applicants will be required to submit a treatment, director’s statement, and production plan, along with a five-minute sample reel of work or works directed by the applicant. A select group of around 30 candidates will be shortlisted for online interviews conducted by a distinguished panel of industry experts. Ultimately, 16 filmmakers will be chosen to attend the IFC.
Content
During the Camp, film industry professionals will be appointed as mentors to share their valuable experiences with the participants. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to engage in panel discussions and masterclasses covering various aspects of the industry, such as directing, scriptwriting, editing, producing, funding, distribution, and more. This will provide valuable insights and knowledge to enhance their understanding of the film industry.
At the end of the camp, the 16 filmmakers will pitch their short film projects to a panel which will then award 8 filmmakers a production grant of HK$300,000 (approx. US$38,000) each to make their short film.
To promote the works of the emerging filmmakers and enable their projects to reach a wider audience. The Asian Film Awards Academy will curate feature-length anthologies of the short films produced during the IFC and, showcase them in its prestigious Asian Cinerama annual touring programme. Additionally, the Asian Film Awards Academy will be ready to assist filmmakers in submitting their individual short films to relevant film festivals, amplifying their reach and exposure within the industry.
Film Festival Selection
The International Film Camp is proud to see projects from past editions achieve remarkable success at major film festivals worldwide, shining brightly on the global stage. Dedicated to fostering bold and original storytelling, IFC empowers creators to bring their visions to the world. From top competition sections in Europe to premier film festivals across Asia, the outstanding achievements of our alumni showcase the remarkable talent, diverse perspectives, and boundless creative power of Asia’s next generation of filmmakers.
50th Toronto International Film Festival – 「Short Cuts」
A South Facing Window
Mongolia | Drama | Mongolian | Digital | 20 min
DIRECTOR: Lkhagvadulam PUREV-OCHIR
SCRIPTWRITER: Lkhagvadulam PUREV-OCHIR
PRODUCER: Oyundari KHURELBAATAR
78th Locarno Film Festival – Special Mention and Junior Jury Awards
A South Facing Window
Mongolia | Drama | Mongolian | Digital | 20 min
DIRECTOR: Lkhagvadulam PUREV-OCHIR
SSCRIPTWRITER: Lkhagvadulam PUREV-OCHIR
PRODUCER: Oyundari KHURELBAATAR
38th Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival – International Competition
Ride Your Horse
Mainland China | Drama, Comedy | Mongolian, Putonghua | Digital | 30 min
DIRECTOR: SONG Dongxu
SCRIPTWRITER: SONG Dongxu
PRODUCERS: MA Jingchao, ZHANG Puzhongtian
56th Tampere Film Festival – Best Fiction
A South Facing Window
Mongolia | Drama | Mongolian | Digital | 20 min
DIRECTOR: Lkhagvadulam PUREV-OCHIR
SSCRIPTWRITER: Lkhagvadulam PUREV-OCHIR
PRODUCER: Oyundari KHURELBAATAR
19th FIRST International Film Festival – Competition
Ride Your Horse
Mainland China | Drama, Comedy | Mongolian, Putonghua | Digital | 30 min
DIRECTOR: SONG Dongxu
SCRIPTWRITER: SONG Dongxu
PRODUCERS: MA Jingchao, ZHANG Puzhongtian
27th Far East Film Festival – 「Made In Hong Kong: A Pair Of Shorts」
Once Upon A Time There Was A Mountain
Hong Kong | Drama | Cantonese, Mandarin, Urdu, Hakka | Digital | 20 min
DIRECTOR: TO Chun Him
SCRIPTWRITER: TO Chun Him
PRODUCER: LAM Kee To
Sweet, Sour and Bitter
Hong Kong | Drama | Cantonese, Mandarin | 4K Digital | 20 min
DIRECTOR: LEE Chak Hang
SCRIPTWRITER: LEE Chak Hang
PRODUCER: Fruit CHAN
43th Busan International Short Film Festival
A South Facing Window
Mongolia | Drama | Mongolian | Digital | 20 min
DIRECTOR: Lkhagvadulam PUREV-OCHIR
SSCRIPTWRITER: Lkhagvadulam PUREV-OCHIR
PRODUCER: Oyundari KHURELBAATAR
48th Drama International Short Film Festival – KIDDO
Once Upon A Time There Was A Mountain
Hong Kong | Drama | Cantonese, Mandarin, Urdu, Hakka | Digital | 20 min
DIRECTOR: TO Chun Him
SCRIPTWRITER: TO Chun Him
PRODUCER: LAM Kee To
48th Asian American International Film Festival – Shorts
Once Upon A Time There Was A Mountain
Hong Kong | Drama | Cantonese, Mandarin, Urdu, Hakka | Digital | 20 min
DIRECTOR: TO Chun Him
SCRIPTWRITER: TO Chun Him
PRODUCER: LAM Kee To
Stanley KWAN Invites You to IFC
CHAN Hing Kai Invites You to IFC
Ronald LAM and Yukki TAI Invites You to IFC
Catherine CHAU and Joey WU Invites You to IFC
HO Miu Ki Invites You to IFC
Lawrence KAN Invites You to IFC
TAM Wai Ching Invites You to IFC
Elizabeth TANG Invites You to IFC
WONG You Nam Invites You to IFC
CHU Wan Pin Invites You to IFC
Alan LO Invites You to IFC
Organiser
Patronages
Sponsors
Supporters
Asian Film Awards Academy
The Asian Film Awards Academy was founded by Busan, Hong Kong and Tokyo International Film Festivals in 2013 with the shared goal of celebrating excellence in Asian cinema. Aiming to promote and recognize Asian films and its talents, AFAA highlights, strengthens and develops Asian film industry through the annual Asian Film Awards and several year-round initiatives.
The Asian Film Awards was inaugurated in 2007, where members of AFAA are drawn from its past nominees and winners. Members vote for the Asian Film Awards and participate in various AFAA activities involving film professionals and audiences in Asia and around the world.
www.afa-academy.com
Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency
Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, formerly known as Create Hong Kong is established in June 2024 and is a dedicated office set up by the HKSAR Government under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. It provides one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative industries with a mission to foster a conductive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate the development of arts, cultural and creative sectors as industries.
Film Development Fund
The Film Development Fund (FDF) was first set up by the Government in 1999 to support projects conducive to the long-term development of the film industry in Hong Kong. Since 2005, the Government has injected a total of $1.54 billion into FDF to support Hong Kong’s film industry along four strategic directions, namely nurturing talent, enhancing local production, expanding markets and building audience. In the past, FDF has supported a number of film productions and other film-related projects through various film production funding schemes and other film-related project schemes.
https://www.fdc.gov.hk
Sands China Limited
Sands China Limited (Sands China or the Company) is incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability and is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEx: 1928). Sands China is the largest operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The Company’s integrated resorts on the Cotai Strip comprise The Venetian® Macao, The Plaza® Macao, The Parisian Macao and The Londoner® Macao. The Company also owns and operates Sands® Macao on the Macao peninsula. The Company’s portfolio features a diversified mix of leisure and business attractions and transportation operations, including large meeting and convention facilities; a wide range of restaurants; shopping malls; world-class entertainment at the Cotai Arena, The Londoner Arena, The Venetian Theatre, The Parisian Theatre, the Londoner Theatre and the Sands Theatre; and a high-speed Cotai Water Jet ferry service between Hong Kong and Macao. The Company’s Cotai Strip portfolio has the goal of contributing to Macao’s transformation into a world centre of tourism and leisure. Sands China is a subsidiary of global resort developer Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS).
www.sandschina.com
Shaw Studios
Funded through the Sir Run Run Shaw Charitable Trust, Shaw Studios is the crowning achievement of its founder Mr. Run Run Shaw, legendary film and television pioneer and respected philanthropist. It is home to over one thousand Chinese classic films and hosts one of the largest and most advanced film facilities in Asia, with a full-service film and digital, picture and audio production and post-production facility, including theatrical Dolby Atmos studio and Dolby Vision colour grading suite.
www.shawstudios.hk
A DRINK ON ME
Chinese Mainland | Social Drama | Cantonese, Putonghua | Digital | 15 min
Director: Lenti LIANG
Scriptwriter: Lenti LIANG
Producers: ZHANG Fan, Sol YE
A real estate agent and a laid-off delivery rider cross paths twice, between the revelry of the night and the rush of everyday life, never knowing who the other truly is in reality.
AFTER-SALES SERVICE FOR VIOLENCE
Chinese Mainland | Drama | Kazakh| Digital | 15 min
Director: ZHANG Ziwei
Scriptwriter: ZHANG Ziwei
Producer: WANG Yang
One night in Urumqi, two young strangers connect through a malfunctioning arcade boxing machine.
FOLDING MAINLAND – WINNER
Chinese Mainland｜Social, Drama, Comedy｜Putonghua｜Digital｜17 min
Director: QU Zhizheng
Scriptwriter: QU Zhizheng
Producers: Grégoire DEBAILLY, HUANG Xufeng
Feng Xiao partied wildly with his friends all night. After returning home, he learned that his father had been “optimized” by AI.
GIRI – WINNER
Hong Kong｜Drama｜Putonghua, Cantonese｜Digital｜15 min
Director: WONG Ka Ki
Scriptwriter: YEUNG Leung Chuen
Producer: WONG Ka Ki
A mountain recluse’s solitude is disrupted by a woman searching for a missing man, as an elusive myth of a white lake blurs the boundaries between grief, memory, and belonging.
GOOD MORNING
Macao | Social Experiment | Cantonese, Putonghua | Digital | 15 min
Director: Niko HO
Scriptwriter: Jacky MOK
Producer: Sabrina HO
Hearing strange noises care or self-preserve? Peephole fantasies. If nothing happened, our panic reveals not the neighbour, but our own fear and indifference.
GRAFTLINGS
South Korea | Drama, Suspense | Korean | Digital | 18 min
Director: Ashlan June
Scriptwriter: Ashlan June
Producer: Hayoung GHIM
A newly released convict comes home hoping to bury her past and make peace with her mother, only to find her buried by a stranger.
IMITATION – WINNER
Hong Kong | Coming-of-Age | Cantonese | Digital | 20 min
Director: Erica KWOK Chung Yee
Scriptwriter: Erica KWOK Chung Yee
Producer: FUNG Wai Sze
Moving between four washrooms across Hong Kong, fifteen-year-old Moon quietly imitates the strangers around her, imagining who she might one day become.
RED CANDY
Sri Lanka | Drama | Tamil, Sinhala | Digital | 18 min
Director: Bavaneedha LOGANATHAN
Scriptwriter: Bavaneedha LOGANATHAN
Producer: Bavaneedha LOGANATHAN
When tragedy forces a lonely eight-year-old girl into the path of the feared gangster woman in her apartment, two broken strangers slowly become each other’s family.
THE WAY HOME
Singapore | Drama | English, Putonghua | Digital | 16 min
Director: Christine SEOW
Scriptwriter: Christine SEOW
Producer: WONG Xiao Xuan
When a recently released ex-convict spends a day alone with the daughter he’s never met, an awkward outing to Sentosa becomes an unexpected journey from strangers to father and child.
TOWER – WINNER
Macao | Drama | Cantonese, Putonghua | Digital | 18 min
Director: CHAN Chon Sin
Scriptwriter: YE Shi Zhao
Producer: HONG Heng Fai
Min travels to Macau to meet her online friend Zhong. Wandering through the city together, they try to form a connection and understand each other.
UNDER A BURNING SUN – WINNER
Chinese Mainland | Road Movie, Youth | Putonghua | Digital | 25 min
Director: BO Hanxiong
Scriptwriter: BO Hanxiong
Producer: LUO Qiujun
After escaping a roadside service station, a young woman joins a drifting youth collective, where two life-changing encounters with strangers force her to choose between belonging and dignity.
UNPROVEN
Hong Kong | Drama | Cantonese, English | Digital | 20 min
Director: LAW Yik Man
Scriptwriter: LAW Yik Man
Producers: Chandra Shekhar VYAS, Asli FERHATOGLU
A Pakistani student rehearsing his LGBTQ asylum testimony meets a Hong Kong migrant in a Vancouver laundromat, where their encounter forces both to confront truths about identity, memory, and belonging.
WE CAME BACK TO STRANGERS, DAD – WINNER
Kyrgyzstan | Coming-of-Age | Kyrgyz | Digital | 20 min
Director: Ilimbek MAKSATBEKOV
Scriptwriter: Ilimbek MAKSATBEKOV
Producer: Amina SATAROVA
A family’s return to the village for dad’s school reunion forces a young boy to see his father and the world through a lens he never expected.
WHAT REMAINS OF THE ORDINARY – WINNER
Bangladesh | Drama | Bengali | Digital | 15 min
Director: Shubha Kumar PAUL
Scriptwriter: Shubha Kumar PAUL
Producer: Barkat Hossain POLASH
An airport cargo handler paid to escort a dead migrant worker’s body home is mistaken for his friend, drawing him into a family’s grief that transforms his understanding of loss and belonging.
WHERE THE SORROW OVERFLOWS
Hong Kong | Drama, Fantasy, Realism | Nepalese, Cantonese, English | Digital 4K | 20 min
Director: Nadia CHUI
Scriptwriter: Nadia CHUI
Producer: Steve LI
Driven by an untraceable water seepage, a grieving Nepali mother and a guilt-ridden caregiver clash, only to discover the phantom water weeping from their deepest traumas.
YESIMDE – WINNER
Kazakhstan | Psychological Drama | Kazakh, Russian | Digital | 12 min
Director: Ainamkoz YEMZHAROVA
Scriptwriter: Ainamkoz YEMZHAROVA
Producer: Aruzhan DOSSYMKOZHA
Saule finds herself alone at home with a mysterious woman while her son and grandchildren are away abroad.