Micro Film Festival 2025

Call For Submissions

Youth Mental Well-Being

To Be Seen:
Stories that Illuminate,
Solutions that Empower

Grand Final
25 October 2025 | Singapore

This call is for Direct Submissions—ONLY for participants OUTSIDE the Regional Competitions held in China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam

If you are NOT based in one of these regions, you are welcome to submit your entry through this Direct Submission portal.

THEME: Youth Mental Well-Being

Youth mental health is one of the most urgent yet overlooked challenges in Asia today. Globally, around 20% of young people experience anxiety, and nearly one in four show symptoms of depression. Many struggle in silence—facing emotional isolation while access to care remains uneven across the region.

New in 2025, Inspiring Asia introduces Regional Film Festivals in countries including China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam —each serving as a gateway for local voices to shine on a continental stage. 

The Inspiring Asia Micro Film Festival 2025 invites filmmakers, students, NGOs, and changemakers to engage with this year’s theme: Youth Mental Well-being, under the shared call to action: To Be Seen.

We welcome both personal stories and organizational voices. Whether you are an individual with lived experience or part of a team working on community-based solutions, your micro film can bring youths’ lived experiences to light, challenge stigma, and inspire empathy and action.

Official website:  www.inspiringasia.org

Platform Partner

Anchor Partner

Call for participation: participate, inspire, transform

Award Categories & Prizes

The Inspiring Asia Micro Film Festival presents two main award categories:

Best Micro Film Award

Recognizes excellence in storytelling, cinematography, and thematic expression. It is awarded to the filmmaking team as a means of supporting their continued creative work and contribution to social storytelling.

Best Project Award

Honors impactful public good initiatives that are presented through micro film. This award is given to nonprofit organizations or social enterprises to help sustain or scale their projects related to youth mental well-being.

Inspiring Asia Grand Final

Top entries from direct submission will advance to the main Inspiring Asia competition in Singapore  to compete for top honors and prizes.

  • Best Micro Film Award – USD $50,000
  • Best Project Award – USD $100,000

Submission Guidelines

Film Submission Requirements

  • Format: MP4 / MOV / AVI
  • Aspect Ratio:  16:9 widescreen – 720p / 1080p / 4K
  • Duration: 2 – 7 minutes (recommended 5 minutes)
  • File Size: 100MB – 5GB
  • Language: No restrictions, but non-English films must include English subtitles.
  • Additional Submission Materials
    • Film posters: one in landscape and one in portrait
    • Film stills: minimum of three high-resolution images

Category-Specific Requirements

Best Micro Film Award

  • All submissions to either category are automatically considered
  • Production Team Information: Names and roles of key team members (e.g., director, producer, cinematographer)
  • Film Synopsis: Brief description of the story, creative vision, and message
  • Optional Materials: Teaser trailer, director’s statement, etc.

Best Project Award (Optional)

To apply for the Best Project Award, submit a micro film along with the following materials:

  • Project Introduction: Overview of the project’s purpose and objectives
  • Organization Overview: Basic information about the organization behind the project
  • Implementation and Outcomes: Overview of the project’s execution, progress, and overall impact
  • Supporting Materials (Optional): Additional documents that provide further insights or validation of the project’s effectiveness

How to Submit

  • Download the Submission Form (PDF) to prepare your information and materials in advance. 
  • Upload your film and supporting materials before August 15 2025

Judging Criteria

Each submission will be evaluated based on:

Best Micro Film Award

  • Filmmaking Quality
  • Storytelling
  • Social Impact
  • Thematic Expression
  • Creativity & Originality

Best Project Award

  • Transformative Impact
  • Innovation
  • Communication of Social Issue
  • Sustainability
  • Scalability

Copyright & Licensing

  • By submitting a film, the participant confirms they are either the copyright holder or are authorized to submit on behalf of the rights holder(s).
  • The festival is granted a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide non-commercial license to use the submitted film and materials for festival-related purposes. This includes reviewing, screening, promoting, and sharing the work in public communications and media, both online and offline.
  • Copyright remains with the original rights holder(s).

Key Dates

June 2025

Call for Submissions

Submission Portals Open

August 22, 2025

Submission Deadlines

Final Deadline for Direct Submissions

September 2025

Direct Submission Judging & Advancement

Advancement List Announced

October 10, 2025

Inspiring Asia Film Festival

Semi-Final & Jury Review (Inspiring Asia Main Competition)

October 25, 2025

Inspiring Asia Film Festival

Grand Final & Awards Ceremony (Singapore)

Contact Us

contact@inspiringasia.org

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