2026 12th Taiwan International Children’s Film Festival (TICFF) Submission Guidelines

I. BASIC INFORMATION

Taiwan International Children’s Film Festival (TICFF) is a biennial event founded by Taiwan Public Television Service (PTS) in 2004 and the first film and television festival in Asia dedicated entirely to children aged 4 to 12.

The 12th edition of TICFF is scheduled from late March to early April 2026 in Taipei. We are calling for entries with a cash prize of US$24,500 in total for extraordinary productions of dramas, animations, and TV/web series.

SUBMISSION PERIOD: March 1st – August 15th, 2025
 

II. ELIGIBILITY

  1. Submissions must be suitable for children aged 4 to 12 and completed between September 9th, 2023 and August 15th, 2025.
  2. Only completed works can be submitted; we do not view works in progress.
  3. We do not accept commercial advertisements.
Categories Length note
Best Dramatic Feature 40 min. or longer  
Best Dramatic Short Under 40 min.  
Best Animated Feature 40 min. or longer Animation must figure in no less than 75% of the picture’s running time. Any animation technique is accepted.
Best Animated Short Under 40 min.
Best TV/Web Series Under 60 min. Productions should be presented in a series of 3 or more episodes. Please submit only ONE best episode.



III. SUBMISSION

Complete the registration procedure for your film or episode on the platform, submit your work to FilmFreeway (https://filmfreeway.com/TICFF), and make the payment to finalize the submission.

Notes:

  • Once submitted, entries may not be withdrawn from participation in the festival after the call for entries closes.
  • Every production can only be submitted to ONE category.
  • If the work is eligible for two or more categories, please select the one you deem most suitable. We do not help you change the category of your submission.
  • Submissions with an original language other than English or Mandarin Chinese must be subtitled or dubbed into English.
     

IV. FEES

Categories Early-Bird (before June 15th, 2025) Regular (from June 16th to August 15th)
Best Dramatic Feature US$ 25 US$ 40
Best Dramatic Short US$ 15 US$ 25
Best Animated Feature US$ 25 US$ 40
Best Animated Short US$ 15 US$ 25
Best TV/Web Series US$ 15 US$ 25



V. AWARDS & PRIZES

  • COMPETITION
    1. Best Dramatic Feature
    2. Best Dramatic Short
    3. Best Animated Feature
    4. Best Animated Short
    5. Best TV/Web Series
    6. Taiwan Award
    7. Special Jury Award
  • Up to 5 finalists per category will be selected by the Jury. Each finalist will receive a nomination certificate.
  • One winner per category receives a US$3,500 cash prize (tax included) and a trophy. In the event of a tie, the cash prize will be divided equally between the two winners.

Notes:

  • The winner of the Audience Award receives a trophy with no cash prize.
  • Any Taiwan-produced or Taiwan-involved submission from competition categories is automatically eligible for the Taiwan Award. You do not need to submit twice.
  • Bulk submissions (submitting over 5 films) are available. Please write to ticff.ptsoffice@gmail.com.



VI. ANNOUNCEMENT OF FINALISTS & WINNERS

The complete list of finalists will be announced on January 1, 2026, on the TICFF website (www.ticff.org.tw). Winners will be announced after the festival concludes (April 2026).



VII. JUDGING PROCESS

  • Stage 1 – Preliminary Selections
    • A panel of judges, consisting of professionals from Taiwan’s film, television, and education sectors, will conduct an initial selection process. They will assess submissions based on the festival’s objectives, production quality, creative expression, and suitability for young audiences. A selected percentage of entries will advance to the next stage.
  • Stage 2 – Finalist Selections
    • A panel of judges, composed of domestic professionals in filmmaking, television production, and education, will select up to 5 finalists for each category. Finalists will be publicly screened during the festival and compete for awards.
  • Stage 3 – Jury Decision (Final Selections)
    • For final selections, the original panel of judges from the finalist selections (Stage 2) will be joined by two international judges. During the festival in April 2026, the panel will convene a meeting to decide the winners. If no finalist meets the final selection criteria, the organizer reserves the right to withhold the award.

Submissions will be judged based on the following criteria：

  1. Production skills and aesthetics.
  2. Relevance to children.
  3. Effectiveness in presenting and developing children’s perspectives and global outlook.
  4. Creativity of content and techniques.
     

VIII. SCREENINGS

If your entry enters the final round, you irrevocably grant TICFF the right on a no-fee basis to exhibit your entry physically and publicly 3 times within Taiwan during the festival and for a period of 4 weeks thereafter.

Finalists will be notified by the Festival Office. Upon receiving the notification, the finalist needs to deliver the following materials before November 20th, 2025:

No. Item Description
1. Screening copy For finalists in Best Dramatic Short, Best Animated Short, and Best TV/Web Series, please submit HD digital files.   For finalists in Best Dramatic Feature and Best Animated Feature, please submit DCP along with HD digital files.
2. Complete dialogue list In English AND the original language, ideally, use a .srt file.
3. Synopsis Under 250 words. Please write from a child’s perspective. The text should be simple, engaging, and easy to understand. Please feel free to use everyday language and fun expressions, avoiding overly complex vocabulary. Imagine speaking directly to a child in a natural and conversational tone.
4. Trailer and dialogue list for the trailer HD files (.mov or .mp4). Ideally, .srt file for the dialogue list.
5. Poster 300 dpi or better (.jpg or .tiff).
6. Stills x5
7. Director photo x1
8. Director’s statement Under 300 words.
9. Participation Agreement, signed The agreement will be attached to the finalist notification email.
  • Participants must bear incoming shipping costs to the Festival.
  • Digital delivery of the DCPs is preferred. If the DCP is protected by KDM, the opening of the same is requested from the date of shipment of the copy to March 31st, 2026.
  • TICFF has the right on a no-fee basis to exhibit your entry 3 times within Taiwan during the festival and for a period of 4 weeks thereafter. Consent will be obtained from the participant for any extra screening.
     

IX. You agree to the 2026 Taiwan International Children’s Film Festival (TICFF) Submission Guidelines by submitting entries.
 

X. FESTIVAL OFFICE

Taiwan International Children’s Film Festival (Public Television Service Foundation)
Tel: +886-2-2633-2000 #8037
7F, 50, Lane 75, Section 3, Kang-Ning Road Taipei, Taiwan 11485
Email：ticff.ptsoffice@gmail.com
Website: http://www.ticff.org.tw