Festival start: 24 April 2025
Festival end: 29 April 2025
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€
[International Competition]
- Grand Prix: 10,000,000 KRW (approx. 7,200 USD) and a trophy
- Excellence Award: 5,000,000 KRW (approx. 3,500 USD) and a trophy
- Jury Prize: 2,000,000 KRW (approx. 1,300 USD) and a trophy
- Audience Award: a prize and a trophy
- NETPAC Award (for one Asian film from Competitions): a prize and a certificate
※ Grand Prix will be eligible for consideration in the Animated Short Film or Live Action Short Film categories of the Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the movies comply with the Academy rules.
※ Other prizes will be announced. Details may be subject to change.
Rules & Regulations for Submission
1. Organization
The Busan International Short Film Festival (hereinafter “BISFF”) is hosted by Busan International Short Film Festival Steering Committee.
2. Goals
The purpose of BISFF is to discover and introduce outstanding short films directed around the world. Moreover, BISFF aims to bring the world’s latest and hidden gem-like shorts into the spotlight. The 42nd Busan International Short Film Festival will introduce and award various short films completed after 2024. Regulations are made for understanding and consultation in the entry between the festival and the person who submits the film to the festival.
3. Festival Introduction
The 42nd Busan International Short Film Festival will take place April 24th-29th 2025 in Busan, Korea.
BISFF is a qualifying festival for:
- Academy Awards - Oscars® (Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences)
- Premios Goya (Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España)
- Canadian Screen Awards / Prix Écrans Canadiens (Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television / Académie Canadienne du Cinéma et de la Télévision)
- British Academy Film Awards - BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)
4. Awards
- Grand Prix: 10,000,000KRW (approx. 7,200 USD) and trophy
- Excellence Award: 5,000,000KRW (approx. 3,500 USD) and trophy
- Jury Prize: 2,000,000KRW (approx. 1,300 USD) and trophy
- NETPAC Award (for one Asian film from Competitions): a prize and a certificate
※ Grand Prix will be eligible for consideration in the Animated Short Film or Live Action Short Film categories of the Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the movies comply with the Academy rules.
※ Other prizes will be announced. Details may be subject to change.
5. Submission Guidelines
- Films completed after January 1st, 2024
- Maximum running time: 30 minutes (including ending credits)
- All categories: Fiction, Animation, Documentary, Experimental
- International film entries must be a Korean premiere
※ No limitation on the number of films per entrant.
[Deadlines & Fees]
- Opening submissions: Oct 1st, 2024
- Regular deadline: Nov 6th, 2024 / €11
- Final deadline: Jan 6th, 2025 / €15
※ Our submission platforms add their own fee
※ If the entrant does not submit the entry form and the preview copy (online screener) within the due date, the entry will be canceled.
[Submission Procedure]
Applications must be submitted via a submission platform and the preview copy (online screener) must be uploaded.
The following materials must be attached to the online submission:
- 1 film poster
- 3 still images from the film
- 1 photo of the director(s)
- 1 uploaded video file of the film
※ All non-English speaking films must have English subtitles.
※ Each entry must indicate the record of previous festival screenings and awards.
6. Selection
1) The films for the Competition sections will be selected by the festival program team and the preliminary jury.
2) The list of selected films will be notified on March 12th, 2025, on the festival website (www.bisff.org). Entrants will be notified individually as well.
3) Once a film has been selected, it cannot be withdrawn from the selected program; all rights and responsibilities are under the entrants to screen at BISFF 2025.
4) The program team may also select submitted films for BISFF 2025’s non-competitive sections.
7. Publication Authorization
1) Excerpts from the submitted films which will be selected as finalists can be used for the festival publicity. The total duration of the film excerpts (EPK clips) is within 30 seconds.
2) All submitted materials can be used for publication on BISFF 2025’s catalogue, website, and social networks.
8. Screening Copies
1) The screening format should be DCP or MOV (ProRes 422). Non-English films must have burnt-in English subtitles. In the case of other screening formats: screening may exceptionally be possible only upon agreement between entrants and BISFF.
2) All the screening copies of the selected films must arrive at the BISFF office no later then March 27th, 2024 (BISFF will not pay for the delivery). When you send materials by post, please make sure to mark all materials: “NO COMMERCIAL VALUE - FOR CULTURAL PURPOSE ONLY”
3) All the screening copies will be returned to the address which is indicated on the entry form within 4 weeks after the festival (BISFF will pay for the return courier).
9. Archive
1) The films will be archived in the form of DCP and MOV (ProRes 422), with the consent of the copyright holders, in order to screen the films for one year after the festival.
2) If the copyright holders do not agree, BISFF will not keep the film in its archive.
10. Screening after BISFF
1) BISFF has a right to hold additional screenings of the finalists and awarded films only within film events hosted by BISFF. In this case, BISFF will get permission from the copyright holders in advance.
2) Under the distribution agency agreement with the copyright holders, BISFF may distribute the films through online media after the festival.
11. Agreement
It is assumed that regulations are in force once the copyright holders (directors, film distributors, agents, or producers) submit their films and register their films’ information via the online submission platforms.
12. Others
1) Entrants must clear all copyrights related to the screening and will take full responsibility for any copyright issues that may occur. Also, if a dispute arises with an awarded film due to unresolved copyright issue, the festival has the right to cancel the award.
2) Due to force majeure, the festival schedule and screening method may be changed. In this case, BISFF will notify the entrants. If any changes occur after the selection of the competition is confirmed, BISFF shall inform the copyright holders or distributors of the contents for consultation.
3) The festival reserves all rights to decide upon matters under the agreement with the entrants that are not discussed in the above regulations
International Competition
Short Films 30'< (2024+)
Fee-3%
Standard11€10.67€
06 Nov 24
Late15€14.55€
06 Jan 25
Submissions deadline
06 Jan 25
Save up
0.45€
Submit
Entry Requirements
- Films completed after January 1st, 2024
- Maximum running time: 30 minutes (including ending credits)
- All categories: Fiction, Animation, Documentary, Experimental
- International film entries must be a Korean premiere
※ No limitation on the number of films per entrant.
Korean Competition
Short Films 30'< (2024+)
Fee-3%
Standard9€8.73€
06 Nov 24
Late13€12.61€
06 Jan 25
Submissions deadline
06 Jan 25
Save up
0.39€
Submit
Entry Requirements
- Films completed after January 1st, 2024
- Maximum running time: 30 minutes (including ending credits)
- All categories: Fiction, Animation, Documentary, Experimental
International · Korean Competition
Short Films 30'< (2024+)
Fee-3%
Standard20€19.4€
06 Nov 24
Late28€27.16€
06 Jan 25
Submissions deadline
06 Jan 25
Save up
0.84€
Submit
Only for Korean films
[Entry Requirements]
- Films completed after January 1st, 2024
- Maximum running time: 30 minutes (including ending credits)
- All categories: Fiction, Animation, Documentary, Experimental
- International film entries must be a Korean premiere
※ No limitation on the number of films per entrant.
Festhome holds accountable fees festivals by holding the payment of the fees of most newer festivals until they have viewed the submissions, held their festivals and other methods.