2026 30°Ningbo Short Film Festival
Golden Snail Short Film Unit
Competition Rules
I. About the 30°Ningbo Short Film Festival
The 30°Ningbo Short Film Festival , launched in 2013, stands as Asia's seventh and mainland China's first professional short film platform certified by the Short Film Conference(SFC). Centered on the core values of "youth, internationalism, and avant-garde," it embraces a distinctive positioning of "internationalization, professionalism, and industrialization." The initiative is dedicated to discovering young visual creators with independent expression and innovative spirit, while building a multi-tiered support system for talent and works.
The 2026 30°Ningbo Short Film Festival is scheduled to take place in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province from September to October.
II. Submission Period
Film Submission Period: March 17, 2026 to June 30, 2026 (Beijing Time)
III. Eligibility Requirements
1. Applicants for the Golden Snail Short Film Unit Section of the 2026 30°Ningbo Short Film Festival must be creators holding full copyright to the submitted work or their authorized representatives, with no restrictions on nationality.
2. The submitted film should be completed after January 1, 2025.
3. Submitted films are not required to be premieres, but premiere films will be given priority consideration.
4. Prior to applying for this Short Film Week, the submitted film must not have been publicly screened or distributed outside of theatrical release channels. Public screening or distribution outside of theatrical channels includes but is not limited to: television networks, video-on-demand services, DVDs, and online platforms.
5. Films that have previously entered the competition at past Latitude 30°Ningbo Short Film Festival events, or have been publicly screened at past Latitude 30°Ningbo Short Film Festival events, are ineligible for competition.
IV. Registration Channels and Fees
No registration fees will be charged for this competition. The following 2 official registration channels are designated:
Channel 1: Follow the official WeChat public account "wdy0574" and reply with "TOUPIAN" to obtain registration information;
Channel 2: Visit the official website www.nbfestival.com to obtain registration information.
V. Categories and Awards
(I) Category Overview
The Golden Snail Short Film Unit submissions from around the world. Original films of any theme or genre, with a maximum runtime of 30 minutes (including opening and closing credits), are eligible. Accepted formats include Narrative Feature, documentary, experimental, and animation. Excluded are trailers, commercials, segments from feature films, unbroadcast television series clips, and unsold television programs.
(II) Honors and Support
|
Support Amount (RMB, tax included) | |
| Golden Snail Short Film | 60,000 RMB | |
| Special Jury short Film | 10,000 RMB | |
| Documentary Short Film | 10,000 RMB | |
| Experimental Short Film | 10,000 RMB | |
| Animated Short Film | 10,000 RMB | |
| Best Director | 10,000 RMB | |
| Best Scriptwriter | 10,000 RMB | |
| Best cinematographer | 10,000 RMB | |
| Best Editor | 10,000 RMB | |
| Best Actor | 10,000 RMB |
Supplementary Notes:
1. Final honors shall be collected by the participating representative; the distribution of prize money is unrelated to the organizing committee.
2. The amounts listed above are pre-tax; actual disbursement shall be based on post-tax amounts.
3. Award-winning works must mention "30°Ningbo Short Film Festival Award-Winning Work" in all subsequent external promotions or use the official laurel emblem provided by the organizing committee. Unauthorized modification of the emblem is strictly prohibited.
4. The organizing committee reserves the final right of interpretation.
VI. Submission Guidelines
(I) Submission Guidelines
1. Films must be original works featuring novel concepts and ingenious storytelling, and must comply with national laws, regulations, and copyright requirements.
2. Each entrant may submit multiple entries.
3. All submissions must include Chinese and English subtitles (Mandarin-language short films require both Chinese and English subtitles; foreign-language films must include at least English subtitles, with separate English subtitle files provided in .srt format).
(II) Format Requirements
1. Submitted films must be original outputs in high-definition video at 1080p or higher resolution, in mp4, mpg, or mov formats;
2. Bitrate shall not exceed 30M, and no additional watermarks are permitted on the footage;
3. If adding a watermark is necessary, please label it as "30°Ningbo Short Film Festival Review" or "Preview" in the upper right corner. No other watermark markings are allowed on the footage to avoid interfering with the review preview.
(III) Supplementary Materials
Application materials must include the following:
1. Application Form: Provide both PDF and Word versions;
2. Entry Authorization Agreement and Copyright Statement: Fully completed with handwritten signature; organizations must affix official seal. Submit as scanned copy or digital image;
3. Poster: One landscape and one portrait orientation in JPG format;
4. promotional video (trailer, behind-the-scenes footage, etc.): Maximum 2 minutes in length; acceptable formats include mp4, mpg, or mov;
5. Director's photos and production stills :1-2 portrait photos of the director and 3-5 production stills.
Please bundle all materials and works into a single package, upload them to Baidu Netdisk, and generate a download link (ensure the link remains valid long-term). Send the link to the official email address: nsff2026@163.com. The email subject line should follow this format: Work Type + Work Title + Full Name + Contact Information.
(IV) Substitution of Application Materials
Please complete the application form accurately and in full. The information provided will be used throughout the selection, evaluation, and awarding processes, as well as for corresponding information disclosures. Applicants shall bear responsibility for any inaccuracies or omissions resulting from improper completion of the form.
After submitting the application, if you need to replace the film source or modify application details, please send an email to nsff2026@163.com. Substitution of film sources is permitted only upon approval by the organizing committee.
(V) Unfinished Film Versions
Submitted films must be final cuts. No replacement versions will be accepted during the judging process. If submitting an unfinished version, clearly indicate the unfinished elements via a title card at the beginning of the film (e.g., "Music is temporary," "Color grading incomplete," "Visual effects unfinished," "Sound unprocessed," etc.). Films competing as unfinished versions that advance to the shortlist must submit a completed theatrical screening copy before the final judging.
(VI) Copyright Information
Entrants must guarantee that all music, sound, video footage, text, and other materials used in their films are either original creations or have been authorized by the original copyright holders. Documentary footage must obtain portrait rights and filming permissions from all subjects. Should any legal disputes arise from submitted films, entrants shall bear full legal responsibility. The organizing committee reserves the right to disqualify any film found to infringe upon copyright or portrait rights.
VII. Selection Process
Submitted films will undergo sequential evaluation by Selection Committee, Shortlist Committee, and Final Jury Committee. The Final Judging Committee will determine the ultimate award-winning films, with the final results announced at the awards ceremony.
VIII. Selection and Screening
(I) Selection Status
Upon receiving notification of selection, films must confirm participation in writing to the organizing committee within the specified timeframe. Once confirmed, films may not withdraw under normal circumstances. Should withdrawal occur due to exceptional circumstances, the production company shall bear all resulting consequences and liabilities.
(II) Screening Version
Shortlisted films must submit a DCP version for official screening (meeting commercial cinema technical specifications) to the organizing committee. Detailed DCP technical specifications will be provided during the shortlisting phase.
(III) Use of Materials
Upon a film's selection for the festival, the visual and textual information contained in its submission materials will be featured in the festival handbook, official website, and online and offline promotional materials. The organizing committee reserves the right to edit and publicly use the film information presented through official festival channels.
(IV) Attendance of Principal Creators
Should a film be selected for the festival, its principal creators must attend related events during the festival period, including screenings and post-screening discussions. (Specific requirements will be detailed in the selection notification.)
IX. Miscellaneous
By submitting an entry to the 2026 30°Ningbo Short Film Festival , the entrant acknowledges and accepts these regulations. The submitting party is obligated to ensure the legality of the film's submission to the 30°Ningbo Short Film Festival . The organizing committee reserves the final right to interpret the terms of these regulations. For any matters not covered herein, the organizing committee reserves the right to make amendments based on actual circumstances and will announce such changes as appropriate.
X. Contact Information
1.Official Email: nsff2026@163.com (China)
info@nbfestival.com (Overseas)
2.Contact Phone: 0574-87885139; 0574-87885136
3.Official Website: www.nbfestival.com
4.Official WeChat : wdy0574
Submission of films constitutes acceptance of all terms outlined in this Charter. The Organizing Committee reserves the final right of interpretation regarding the provisions herein.
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N I N G B O S H O R T F I L M F E S T I V A L
Website:：www.nbfestival.com
WeChat Account：wdy0574
Email：nsff2024@163.com
Telephone：+86-574-87885136
Website:：www.nbfestival.com
WeChat Account：wdy0574
Email：nsff2024@163.com
Telephone：+86-574-87885136
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