The Asian Film Awards Academy today announced that the third edition of its International Film Camp will be held in September 2026 and is now open for submissions for short film projects from young Asian filmmakers.

Organised by the Asian Film Awards Academy, with support of the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), the Film Development Fund (FDF) of the Hong Kong SAR Government, and Sands China Limited, and Shaw Studios as sponsors, the International Film Camp (IFC) 2026 will take place from 18 to 22 September in Macau.

Submissions in the form of short synopsis, treatment, director’s track record and other details can be made on-line until the deadline of midnight 7 August 2026.

Last year over 400 applications were received for 16 places in the film camp. Successful candidates will be brought to Macau for an intensive five-day camp of mentorship, panel discussions, and masterclasses by professionals. At the end of the camp, all 16 participants will present their projects to a panel who will then award eight (8) of the filmmakers with HKD300,000 each to make their short films.

Asian Film Awards Academy Chairman, Dr. Wilfred Wong Ying Wai explained that “the purpose of the camp is to enable young filmmakers from Asia to step up their game both artistically and professionally. The IFC sessions are designed to give the young filmmakers a better knowledge of the international and regional market and industries. The IFC aims to inspire their creativity and boost their skills and confidence in achieving their career goals.”

Veteran producer and film festival executive Roger Garcia will return as Director of the IFC. “The IFC is a through-put process – filmmakers come to the camp with their short film project scripts, budgets and schedules. They develop these projects with advice and help from their mentors and refine them to the point of presentation for funding and production. In order to maintain some kind of communality, we also set a theme for each year. This year the theme is “when strangers meet”. I hope it will fire up the imaginations of young filmmakers!”


How to Apply: International Film Camp 2026

The third International Film Camp will take place from 18 to 22 September 2026 at the integrated resorts operated by Sands China in Macao. Over five intensive days, selected participants will engage in a range of activities, including one-on-one mentorship sessions with veteran filmmakers, masterclasses, and panel discussions. Participants are expected to arrive in Macau on 17 September, and depart on 23 September 2026.

A pitching session at the end of the camp will give all 16 selected filmmakers the chance to present their short film projects to a panel of industry experts. Eight (8) participants will each be awarded a production grant of HKD 300,000 (approx. USD 38,000) to produce a 15–20-minute short film, to be completed by December 2026.

The theme this year is “When Strangers Meet”. Applicants are invited to develop short film concepts inspired by stories of encounters and consequences —revealing the ways young Asian creatives perceive and interpret relationships.

Applications open NOW and close at 11:59 p.m. (Hong Kong Time) on 7 August 2026.

Emerging filmmakers are welcome to apply. Key eligibility criteria include being between the ages of 21 and 40, of Asian nationality or origin, and having experience in short film or video production. Applicants must not have directed more than one feature-length film and should demonstrate strong creative potential. Following the application review and interview process, 16 eligible applicants who successfully pass the interview will be selected to attend the third International Film Camp.

To apply, candidates must submit a résumé (including that of their key team members, such as the producer), a one-page synopsis, a one-page statement outlining the project and the applicant’s career goals, a rough production budget, and a demo reel of their previous work. For full application details, please visit the “International Film Camp” webpage.