Eligibility and Selection Criteria

The applicant MUST be the copyright owner of the submitted material, or is authorised to act on behalf of the copyright owner of the submitted material:

1. A full-length (running time of 70 minutes or longer) live-action film project;
2. With a proposed budget and not fully financed;
3. Third-party funding permitted, without affecting copyright ownership.
4. Display a high market potential for the Asian and/or international market(s);
5. Exhibit both artistic and commercial qualities;
6. At script development or pre-production stage.

Required materials:

Applicants must complete the online application form(https://asianstories.hafapplication.com), which includes the following:

1. Completed online project submission form;
2. One-sentence synopsis (30 words in English; 60 words in Chinese);
3. Synopsis (100 words in English; 150 words in Chinese);
4. Director’s or scriptwriter's statement (100 words in English; 150 words in Chinese);
5. Director's biography and filmography (100 words in English; 150 words in Chinese);
6. Scriptwriter's biography and filmography (100 words in English; 150 words in Chinese);
7. Producer’s or production company profile and filmography (if any) ;
8. Treatment (1,000 words in English; 2,000 words in Chinese);
9. At least 15 consecutive scenes from the script;
10. Original project proposal;
11. Budget plan (live-action feature film template);
12. Director's previous work, rough cut video or footage of project (Online streaming links only. Provide up to 3 links valid until 31 December 2026. Include passwords if applicable.); and
13. Submission fee.

*Once you begin an application, you have a five-day modification period to log in and revise, supplement or complete your submission. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Privileges & Conditions:

1. The completed project will be screened at the Hong Kong International Film Festival; and
2. Asian Stories will provide round-trip travel (home country–Hong Kong) and hotel accommodation for two representatives of each selected project based outside Hong Kong.

Important Notes:

1. All submissions and supporting materials shall comply with the above eligibility and selection criteria;
2. One submission form is for one project submission only;
3. Submission fee is applied to each application and is non-refundable;
4. For Chinese-language project submissions, all supporting materials must be submitted in both English and Chinese;
5. All submissions must adhere to entry character limits;
6. Unpaid submissions or submissions missing any required materials will not be processed;
7. Materials and information supplied will be treated as confidential and will be used by Asian Stories committee and its designated personnel;
8. All materials submitted will not be returned;
9. Please specify in the project submission form if the project has been/ will be presented in other project markets;
10. Selected Project will be notified by January 2027;
11. Asian Stories reserves final decision rights;
12. Prior to production, selected project must sign production and usage-rights agreements.

Please send email at asianstories@hkiff.org.hk for further enquiry.