The 28th Taipei Film Festival will take place from June 26 to July 11, 2026. Among its major competitive sections, the International New Talent Competition officially opens for submissions today. Filmmakers from around the world are invited to submit their works between February 6 and March 13, 2026.
Dedicated to discovering and supporting emerging filmmakers, the International New Talent Competition focuses on directors presenting their first or second narrative feature films. The section highlights bold new voices in contemporary cinema, embracing diverse storytelling approaches, visual languages, and aesthetic styles that reflect the creative vitality of a new generation.
Each year, the competition selects 10 films from hundreds of international submissions. Selected works compete for the Grand Prize (USD 10,000) and the Special Jury Prize (USD 5,000). Additional honors include the Audience Choice Award and the Taiwan Directors Guild Award, further expanding opportunities for international exposure and recognition.
In 2025, the 10 selected films represented 13 countries, underscoring the competition’s strong global reach. The Grand Prize was presented to Lithuanian director Laurynas Bareiša for Drowning Dry, while the Special Jury Prize went to Portuguese filmmaker Paula Tomás Marques for Two Times João Liberada. The Taiwan Directors Guild Award was awarded to Turkish director Seyfettin Tokmak for Empire of the Rabbits, and the Audience Choice Award was claimed by Taiwanese film Family Matters.
Following their premieres at the Taipei Film Festival, many of the selected and awarded films continued to screen at international film festivals worldwide, receiving strong critical acclaim and industry attention. Over the years, the International New Talent Competition has established itself as a vital platform for introducing emerging directors to the global film community.
With the 2026 call now open, the Taipei Film Festival warmly welcomes submissions from filmmakers with distinctive perspectives and original cinematic voices, and looks forward to discovering the next wave of international talent.
Submissions to the 2026 Taipei Film Festival International New Talent Competition are open from February 6 to March 13. The finalists will be announced in mid-May. For submission details, please go to https://www.taipeiff.taipei/en/intc. Moreover, the 28th Taipei Film Festival will take place from June 26 to July 11, 2026. For more information on TFF, please go to https://www.taipeiff.taipei/en/.
