2026 12th China-EU Youth Film Festival
Call for Entries – Middle & High School Section
I. Festival Overview
Hosted by the EU-China Film Festival and based in Brussels, Belgium, the China-EU Youth Film Festival is dedicated to establishing a professional, open platform for global youth audiovisual exchange. We invite creators from diverse cultural backgrounds to express their independent understanding and unique perspectives of the world, fostering global dialogue and cultural engagement through moving images. Furthermore, the festival provides a cross-cultural showcase, enabling the works of young creators to resonate on the international stage.
The Middle & High School Section invites submissions of original audiovisual works from students currently enrolled in lower and upper secondary schools worldwide. With EU-China youth exchange as its core context, this section encourages students to use moving images to record authentic observations, respond to social concerns, and express their understanding of diverse cultures and global experiences. Through sincere and complete audiovisual creation, we aim to guide adolescents in building self-expression and public communication skills within a cross-cultural perspective.
II. Eligibility
Target Group: Open to students currently enrolled in lower or upper secondary schools (approximately 12–18 years old) from China (including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) and worldwide. (Entrants must be enrolled students at the time of work completion.)
Authorship: Works may be submitted by individuals or teams. Each creator or team may submit multiple works. All submitted works must be completed independently by students. Teachers may provide educational or creative guidance, but may not be credited as authors or co-directors.
Rights: All submitted works must be original. Entrants must confirm that they hold full copyright or have legally obtained the necessary authorizations. Submitted works must not infringe upon the copyrights, portrait rights, privacy rights, or other legal rights of any third party.
Content Policy: In principle, there are no restrictions on genre or subject matter. However, submitted works must not contain content that promotes or incites hatred, violence, terrorism, or extremism. Works must not include discriminatory expression, child sexual exploitation, or other serious violations of minors’ rights, and must not clearly violate public order, social ethics, or applicable laws and regulations.
III. Section Structure
Submissions must first be entered into a Primary Competition Unit (Main Competition OR Campus Audiovisual & New Media Section). If the content aligns with the Annual Theme or Sustainable Development focus, it may be submitted concurrently to the relevant thematic section.
1. Main Competition Section
Eligible Categories:
- Fiction Short Film
- Documentary Short Film
- Animation Short Film
- Experimental Short Film
2. Campus Audiovisual & New Media Section
Eligible Categories:
- Campus News Reports / Journalism
- Campus Micro-Dramas
- Public Service / Social Impact Short Films
- Short Video Works (including Series)
- AI Creative Audiovisual Works
3. Annual Theme Section
- 2026 Theme: “Cross-Cultural Understanding: Youth and the Connection with the World”
- Description: Encourages students to create works addressing topics such as cross-cultural exchange, multicultural experiences, and language/cultural differences.
4. Sustainable Development Special Section
- Focus: Encourages students to create works related to environmental protection, community action, human–nature relationships, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
5. Special Program: Primary School Audiovisual Showcase (Non-Competitive)
To encourage younger students to engage in audiovisual expression, the festival has established a Primary School Audiovisual Showcase and Official Recognition Program. This program focuses on exhibitions, exchanges, and the development of audiovisual literacy. Selected works and participating schools will receive official recognition certificates.
(Details regarding participation will be announced separately. Schools may contact the Organizing Committee for inquiries.)
IV. Awards: China-EU Lights & Shadows Awards
1. Main Competition Section
(One winning work per category)
- Best Fiction Short Film
- Best Documentary Short Film
- Best Animation Short Film
- Best Experimental Short Film
2. Campus Audiovisual & New Media Section
(3–5 winning works)
- Middle School Campus Audiovisual Creation Award
3. Annual Theme Section
(3–5 winning works)
- Annual Theme Audiovisual Creation Award
4. Sustainable Development Special Section
(3–5 winning works)
- Sustainable Development Audiovisual Creation Award
5. Special Award
- Student Jury Award
(Selected by a student jury composed of middle and high school representatives from shortlisted entries in the Main Competition Section.)
6. Organizational & Educational Awards (Application Required)
- Annual Campus Organization Award
- Annual Guiding Teacher Award
- Annual Campus Film Club Award
(Note: These awards are exclusively open to secondary schools and school-based organizations. Commercial training institutions and private education providers are NOT eligible. Application details will be announced separately.)
V. Submission Timeline
- Call for Entries: From now until May 25, 2026
- Shortlist Announcement: Mid-June 2026
- Award Ceremony: Late September 2026, Brussels, Belgium
VI. Submission Method
1. For Participants in China:
Please fill out the registration information via the official WeChat Mini-program of the festival and submit as instructed.
2. For Overseas Participants:
- Step 1: Contact the Organizing Committee staff to obtain the Entry Form.
- Step 2: Upload your video file to a cloud storage service (e.g., Google Drive, Vimeo, Dropbox).
- Step 3: Send the Download Link, completed Entry Form, Stills, and Poster to the official email: cneuyff@eucnff.com
3. Assistance:
If the above methods are not viable, please get in touch with the Organizing Committee via official channels for assistance.
VII. Technical Requirements
1. Duration
a. Fiction, Documentary, Animation, Experimental: Preferably no longer than 30 minutes.
b. Short Videos, Campus News, Micro-Dramas, AI Works: Preferably no longer than 15 minutes.
c. Series works may be submitted as a complete set (please indicate episode duration and overall structure).
2. Image Specifications
a. Recommended resolution: 1920×1080 (Full HD) or higher.
b. Minimum resolution: 1280×720 (HD).
c. Aspect ratio: Unrestricted.
3. File Format
a. Preferred: MP4 (H.264 codec).
b. MOV and other standard formats are accepted.
4. Audio
a. Dialogue, narration, and ambient sound must be clearly audible.
5. Equipment
a. Professional cameras or mobile devices are accepted.
b. No evaluative distinction is made based on equipment type.
6. Language & Subtitles
a. No language restrictions.
b. From the secondary review stage onward, bilingual Chinese–English subtitles are generally required (details to be announced).
7. Originality & Rights
a. Works must be original and copyright-cleared.
b. AI creative works must indicate the primary tools or methods used.
8. Submission Materials
a. Video file cloud link & password (must be valid for at least 365 days).
b. Basic work information and synopsis.
c. At least 3 horizontal stills (JPG/PNG).
d. 1 vertical poster (Recommended ratio 9:16).
e. Proof of Enrollment: Student ID or School Certificate (to be submitted after shortlisting).
VIII. Additional Notes
- Submission implies consent for the festival to use selected works for non-commercial screening, promotion, and archival purposes.
- Shortlisted works will be included in the festival’s annual screening and exchange program. The Committee will determine specific arrangements based on curation and venue conditions.
- The Organizing Committee reserves the right to conduct necessary technical processing without altering the essential content of the works.
- The Organizing Committee of the China-EU Youth Film Festival shall interpret matters not covered herein.
IX. Contact Information
China Office (Beijing):
+86 10 652 372 07
Europe Office (Brussels):
+32 471 75 35 65
Official Website: www.eucnff.com
Official Email: cneuyff@eucnff.com