Inspiring Asia is open to submissions across all genres, including animation, drama, documentary, and more. There are no restrictions on production methods; AI-generated films are also accepted.
Yes, if your film portrays a project/solution to the issue of youth mental well-being, please submit it under the Best Project category (which immediately qualifies you for Best Microfilm category tool). Please ensure that the solution shown is an existing project, as explained in Question 7.
Yes, you can submit multiple films. There is no limit on the number of entries, but please ensure that each film/project is submitted as a distinct entry with original content, not simply a re-edited or slightly altered version of another entry.
Yes, you can submit a film used for another competition, even if it has won an award.
There is no fixed format for films submitted under the Best Project Award. Your short film can take many forms — such as an introduction to your mission and model, a documentary highlighting real-life impact, a personal story from a volunteer or beneficiary, or a creative narrative inspired by true events. What matters most is that it conveys your project’s authenticity, communicates its purpose clearly, and helps the audience connect with why it matters.
The intention of the Best Project category is to support existing projects that are making an impact, so only ongoing or completed projects are eligible. However, existing organisations already working on the area of youth mental wellbeing that are looking to innovate or expand their work may also be eligible, and the film may feature new ideas.
We do not require a detailed budget breakdown, but we recommend sharing a clear explanation of how you would use the funds to scale your project and build your organisation’s capacity for further impact, if awarded.
Yes. Collaborations between two or more organizations are allowed, but only one organization should officially submit the work and only they will receive the prize.
We suggest that the collaborating organizations mutually decide which party will act as the primary applicant and represent the film throughout the festival process. For example, if a film company partners with an NGO to produce a film about the NGO’s work, the NGO should be the applicant for the Best Project Award and present the project if it reaches the final stages.
There are no geographical restrictions – films can also be produced outside of Asia! However, when submitting your film, please use the respective regional portals if you are based in China, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, or Vietnam or if your film is produced there or your team is based there. Your work will be processed through an in-country competition first before advancing to the Inspiring Asia rounds if selected. Applicants from other regions should use the direct (other regions) submission portal.
For the microfilm category, you can join as an individual or a group (even without a legal entity or organisational status). For the Project category, we strongly encourage participants to submit under a registered legal entity or NGO to help establish the project’s credibility. Student-led initiatives may also participate under their school.
No, to ensure inclusivity and diversity, we do not set an age limit for participants.
For the purpose of this competition, we are defining youth as individuals under 35 years of age, based on the upper age limit of Singapore and ASEAN’s definition of youth. This means that the individuals portrayed in the microfilms and being impacted by participants’ projects should fall under this age range. Should any submissions be contentions, this will be subject to the organiser’s verification, at their discretion.
You will be notified of the results through the contact email you provided upon registration at the following stages:
Exact dates for the release of results will be updated closer to the time. Additionally, entries that quality for the Semi-final and Grand Final will be published on the event website and Facebook Page.
You can find them on our website under the tabs for the respective year’s festival.
After the competition, selected films may be stored, shared online, and screened at various offline events and venues to further promote their social impact ideas and engage wider communities, based on permission granted by participants to the organisers. This includes granting a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license for the abovementioned purposes.
However, intellectual property rights for the film remain with the participant. Detailed terms and conditions can be found in the Participant Terms and Conditions Regarding Copyrights form, which will be sent to participants after registration if they enter the Inspiring Asia rounds.
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