China-EU Youth Film Festival
Founded by the China-EU Film Festival, the China-EU Youth Film Festival is the only bilateral youth film festival co-supported by China and the European Union. Since its inception in 2015 under the framework of the China-EU High-Level People-to-People Dialogue, it has served as a cultural bridge through film, fostering mutual understanding of China’s authentic and multidimensional image among European and global audiences. The festival actively supports the development of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. Marking the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations in 2025, the 11th edition will continue to invite young creators, middle school, and primary school students from China, Europe, and worldwide to submit original audiovisual works. Through selection, screening, and award ceremonies, the festival will deepen China-EU cultural dialogue, showcase the credible, lovable, and respectable image of Chinese youth, and jointly envision a future of harmonious coexistence and shared prosperity.
I. Festival Timeline
- Submission Period: March 20 – July 10, 2025
- Shortlist Announcement: July 28, 2025
- Winner Announcement: August 10, 2025
- Screenings & Creator Exchange:
- Europe: October 2025
- China: August–November 2025
- Award Ceremony: October 2025 (Brussels, Belgium)
II. Judging Process
The 11th edition will undergo three rounds of evaluation: preliminary, secondary, and final review. The organizing committee will announce the shortlist on official channels (WeChat, Weibo, Facebook) after the preliminary and secondary reviews. Finalists from China, Europe, and globally will compete in the final round, judged by panels from both regions. The winners will be announced post-final review.
III. Award Categories
The festival features the following sections and awards:
- Main Competition | China-EU Cultural Wave Awards
- Grand Jury Prize
- Best Feature Film
- Best Director
- Best Documentary
- Best Animated Film
- Cine-V Section | China-EU Light & Shadow Awards
- Best Short Video
- Best Commercial Film
- Cine-WE Section | China-EU Light & Shadow Awards
- Best AI Short Film
- Best International Communication Work
- High School Section | China-EU Light & Shadow Awards
- Best High School Film
- Best Outstanding Student Club
- Best Outstanding Organization
- Special Theme | Symbiosis & Sustainable Development
- Best Sustainability Film
- Best Life Narrative
- Best Ecological Observation Documentary
IV. Submission Requirements
- Themes: Open, excluding content related to pornography, violence, or racial discrimination.
- Eligibility:
- Youth Group: Creators aged 18–35 (at time of creation).
- High School Group: Creators currently enrolled in middle or high school.
- Participants:
- Chinese (including Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan) and international creators meeting the above group criteria. Youth group not limited to students.
- Creators must be core team members; co-authors may apply jointly.
- Formats:
- All genres (feature, documentary, animation, experimental, short, Vlog, promo, AI films, etc.).
- Technical Specs:
- H264 encoding, MP4/MOV format.
- Short videos ≤5 minutes; total size ≤1GB (series ≤10 minutes across 1–3 entries).
- Other formats ≤40 minutes; file size ≤4GB.
- Subtitles: Finalists must include Chinese/French or Chinese/English bilingual subtitles.
V. How to Apply
- China-based Applicants: Submit via the official WeChat platform “EU-CHNFILM” or contact organizers for forms and upload links.
- Submission Methods:
- Upload works to cloud storage and send download links + forms + stills/posters to eucnff@eucnff.com or eucnff@hotmail.com.
- Contact organizers directly if issues arise.
VI. Contact Information
- China Office:
- Phone: +86-10-65237207
- Address: Room 202, Unit 4, Building 7, Qi Jiayuan Diplomatic Residence Compound, No. 9 Jianguomenwai St., Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
- Online Channels:
- Email: eucnff@eucnff.com, eucnff@hotmail.com
- WeChat: EU-CHNFILM
- Weibo: @中欧青年电影节
- Facebook: China-EU Youth Film Festival
- Instagram: @EU-China Film Festival
- LinkedIn: China-EU Youth Film Festival
- Twitter (X): @eucnyff2015