부산국제단편영화제 - Busan International Short Film Festival (43)

Festival start: 23 April 2026      Festival end: 28 April 2026

Launched in 1980, our festival, the first of its category in South Korea, has grown and evolved from the Korean Short Film Festival, to become the Busan Asian Short Film Festival in 2000 and eventually the Busan International Short Film Festival in 2010 (www.bisff.org).

Taking place late April at the Busan Cinema Center, BISFF delivers a dozen awards in three competitive sections (International Competition, Korean Competition and Operation Kino) while also presenting several curated, non-competitive sections including: Guest Country, Korean Shorts, Asian Shorts, Prism, 3D Cinema, etc.

BISFF is a member of the Short Film Conference (http://shortfilmconference.com/) and of the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific Cinema https://netpacasia.org). In 2018, it became South Korea’s first Oscar®-qualifying festival.

Cash Prizes: 16,000€

The Grand Prix winners of both International and Korean Competitions will qualify for consideration in the Short Film (Live Action/Animation) categories of the Academy Awards - Oscars®.
In total, 10 awards will be presented, with prizes amounting to approximately KRW 28,000,000 in cash and Prizes.
Award categories and prize amounts are subject to change at the discretion of the Festival.

1) International Competition
- Grand Prix: KRW 10,000,000 & Trophy
- Excellence Award: KRW 5,000,000 & Trophy
- Jury Special Mention: KRW 2,000,000 & Trophy
- Audience Award: Prize & Trophy

2) Korean Competition
- Grand Prix: KRW 5,000,000 & Trophy
- Excellence Award: KRW 3,000,000 & Trophy
- Jury Special Mention: KRW 1,000,000 & Trophy
- Best Performance Award: Certificate & Prize
- Audience Award: Certificate & Prize

3) Asian Films
- NETPAC Award: Certificate & Prize

BUSAN INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2026
Rules & Regulations for Submission
International Competiton

1. Organization
The Busan International Short Film Festival (hereinafter “BISFF”) is hosted by Busan International Short Film Festival Committee.

2. Goals
BISFF seeks to discover, present, and promote outstanding short films from Korea and abroad, thereby fostering the development of short films and contributing to the diversity of film culture.
The 43rd edition will introduce and award short films completed after January 2025. These regulations define the terms of entry to ensure mutual understanding between the Festival and applicants.

3. Date
The 43rd Busan International Short Film Festival will be held in Busan, Korea, from 23 to 28 April 2026 (6 days).

4. Competition Sections
BISFF hosts two official competition sections:
1) International Competition
A curated selection of short films from around the world demonstrating strong artistic and aesthetic qualities. awards: Grand Prix, Excellence Award, and Jury Award.
2) Korean Competition
A curated selection of Korean short films of outstanding artistic merit. awards: Grand Prix, Excellence Award, Jury Award, and Best Acting Award.

5. awards
- The Grand Prix winners of both International and Korean Competitions will qualify for consideration in the Short Film (Live Action/Animation) categories of the Academy awards - Oscars®.
- In total, 10 awards will be presented, with prizes amounting to approximately KRW 28,000,000 in cash and prizes.
- Award categories and prize amounts are subject to change at the discretion of the Festival.
1) International Competition
- Grand Prix: KRW 10,000,000 & Trophy
- Excellence Award: KRW 5,000,000 & Trophy
- Jury Special Mention: KRW 2,000,000 & Trophy
- Audience Award: Prize & Trophy
2) Korean Competition
- Grand Prix: KRW 5,000,000 & Trophy
- Excellence Award: KRW 3,000,000 & Trophy
- Jury Special Mention: KRW 1,000,000 & Trophy
- Best Performance Award: Certificate & Prize
- Audience Award: Certificate & Prize
3) Asian Films
- NETPAC Award: Certificate & Prize

6. Eligibility
1) Films must have been completed after January 2025.
2) Running time must not exceed 30 minutes (00:30:00), including credits.
3) All genres, themes, and formats are eligible.
4) Films submitted to the International Competition must be Korean Premieres.
- World Premiere: First public screening worldwide
- International Premiere: First screening outside the country of production
- Asian Premiere: First screening in Asia
- Korean Premiere: First screening in Korea

7. Submission
1) deadlines
- Submissions open: 13 October 2025
- International Competition deadline: 5 January 2026
- Korean Competition deadline: 15 January 2026

2) Platforms
All submissions must be made exclusively through BISFF’s official submission platforms.
Submissions made via unapproved platforms or payment methods will be invalid, and the Festival assumes no responsibility for any resulting disadvantages.

- Festhome — International & Korean Competition (section-specific deadlines)


3) Required Materials
- Screening file (max. 5GB)
- 1 director’s photo, 3 stills, 1 official poster
- Complete and accurate film information, director’s biography, and awards history (as required by the platform)
- Screening file must be identical to the final film; replacement after submission is not permitted
- Submitted files and materials will not be returned

4) Entry Fees
- Regular
: 9 Nov 2025 - International: €11 / Korean: €9
- International
: 5 Jan 2026 - €15
- Korean
: 15 Jan 2026 - €13

5) Refund Policy
- Submission is deemed complete upon upload and payment confirmation.
- Once complete, entries cannot be withdrawn and fees are non-refundable.
- Fees will not be refunded for submissions that fail to comply with these regulations or are made via unauthorized platforms.

8. Selection
1) Selection is conducted by the BISFF Programming Team and Preselection Committee.
2) Official selections will be announced on 5 March 2026 via the BISFF website and by individual notification.
3) Selected films must be screened as scheduled and cannot be withdrawn at the request of the filmmaker or rights holder.
4) Competition entries may be reallocated to non-competitive sections.

9. Revocation of Selection
Selection may be cancelled if:
1) Submitted information is found to be false.
2) Any member of the creative team has been convicted of a criminal offense or is under prosecution for sexual crimes.
3) Any team member engages in conduct deemed harmful to public order, decency, or the Festival’s values (e.g., harassment, violence, defamation, hate speech).


10. Screening Materials
1) Screening copies must be delivered in DCP or MOV (ProRes 422) format. Other formats require prior approval.
2) All non-Korean and non-english dialogue must be subtitled in english.
3) Screening copies must arrive by 23 March 2026 (shipping costs borne by the submitter).
4) Screening copies will be returned within 4 weeks after the Festival (Festival covers return shipping). online submissions will not be returned.

11. Promotional Use
1) BISFF may produce promotional trailers of selected films (max. 30 seconds).
2) Submitted materials may be used for the Festival catalog, website, and promotional purposes.

12. Archive
1) With the consent of the rights holder, BISFF may retain a digital copy (DCP or equivalent) of selected films for archival purposes, held for up to one year post-Festival.
2) Archiving will not proceed without explicit consent.

13. Post-Festival Screenings
1) Awarded and selected films may be screened in BISFF-organized domestic and international showcases, subject to prior agreement with the rights holder or distributor.
2) BISFF may arrange further distribution through online or other media only under a separate written agreement with the rights holder or distributor.

14. Agreement
Completion of online submission constitutes full and binding acceptance of these regulations by the filmmaker or rights holder.

15. Miscellaneous
1) Entrants are solely responsible for copyright clearance. BISFF bears no responsibility for disputes, and screenings or awards may be revoked in such cases.
2) BISFF reserves the right to alter festival dates, format, or screenings due to force majeure. Entrants will be notified of changes; in case of confirmed selections, rights holders will be consulted.
3) Matters not covered herein shall be determined by mutual agreement between BISFF and the entrant.

16. Contact
Submission – Busan International Short Film Festival
Email: submit@bisff.org | Tel: +82-51-714-1220 | Office Hours: Weekdays 13:00–16:00 (KST)