We are delighted to offer 18 awards of £100 to students from the University of Edinburgh and the Confucius Institute for Scotland attending the 3rd edition of MINT Chinese Film Festival in Keswick, Cumbria, 21-23 February 2025. If you are interested in Chinese & Asian cinemas and motivated to embark on an exciting festival journey in the Chinese New Year in the beautiful Northern England’s Lake District, then this is a fantastic opportunity for you!

Please carefully read the Award criteria and application instructions in this article and submit your application to us as soon as possible: the deadline is 16:00 on 15 February 2025.

The purpose and the coverage of the Award

The Mint Active Audience Award is supported by the Confucius Institute for Scotland, to motivate students from the University of Edinburgh  and the Confucius Institute for Scotland to explore this exciting cultural event and experience the diversity of Chinese and Asian cinemas. Our bursary awards are a contribution to the cost of travel and accommodation for those who are taking part in the festival. Please keep your travel, booking receipts and festival pass/tickets for subsequent reviewing purposes.

Award Criteria

You must be an enrolled undergraduate/postgraduate/PhD candidate/visiting student currently registered at the University of Edinburgh or be an enrolled student at the Confucius Institute for Scotland, to be eligible for an award.

The Mint Chinese Film Festival particularly welcomes participation and applications from women (cis/transgender/those identifying as a woman) and LGBTQ+ individuals/diverse sexualities.

In making awards, priority will be given to students who can demonstrate the following:

-a) that attendance at the festival is of particular relevance to your course of studies/intended future career, and/or you are interested in Chinese cinemas/gender issues/cross-cultural communications. Anything you think will demonstrate your interest is acceptable. It can be your enrolled courses/research/essays/film reviews/artworks/creative projects/short films/ticket receipts/reflections on these topics, or even a photo of you attending a film screening, a cultural event, a leisure trip, a research conference, a festival and so on!

- b) active participation in student societies and courses related to China, particularly those studying at the Confucius Institute for Scotland. 

- c) financial need - let us know why you need support for your travel and accommodation to participate in the Festival

Application deadline and instruction

Please apply by filling out the Application Form: https://forms.gle/CDpESB5S9UiaDs8A6 by 16:00 on 15 February 2025. Applications made after this time will not be considered.

Awards will be confirmed by email around 17 February and issued to recipients after the festival, on evidence of the purchase of a festival pass or film ticket(s) for the MINT Chinese Film Festival. Please make sure to keep receipts for festival tickets, travel and/or accommodation for internal review purposes, as any candidate who fails to provide such evidence will have their award withdrawn.

About the 2025 (3rd edition) Mint Chinese Film Festival

Mint Chinese Film Festival (MINT CFF) is the first women-organised Chinese film festival in the UK that focuses on cross-cultural communication and the representation of women. This film festival is a joint initiative between Edinburgh University alumnus Carol Rennie (MSc and PhD in Chinese Literature), the co-owner and director of the Keswick Alhambra Cinema, and Yixiang Shirley Lin (2022 MSc graduate in Film, Exhibition and Curation).

The 3rd edition of the MINT Chinese Film Festival returns to Keswick from Feb 21st to 23rd, 2025! We’re bringing over 30 of the best Chinese and Asian films, featuring curated film programmes and screenings, a festival gala, exciting UK, EU, and world premieres, director Q&As, and an inspiring curatorial workshop. Alongside the film festival, enjoy the first-ever outdoor Asian Arts & Craft Market, along with a series of complimentary cultural activities and lakeside walks involving MINTers, filmmakers, festival guests and the whole town: a full Chinese New Year extravaganza in Keswick! 

Watch the trailer to learn more about our selection of films and discover a fascinating encounter between Chinese and Asian cinema and the Lake District.

For more information about the festival programme, schedules, film selection, travel & accommodation, and ticketing, please visit our website unicornscreening.com

About 2025 Active Audience Award and Acknowledgement

2025 Mint CFF Active Audience Award is fully supported Confucius Institute for Scotland to motivate students University of Edinburgh and the Confucius Institute for Scotland to explore this exciting cultural event and the diversity of Chinese films and Asian cinema. In line with our mission and curatorial ethos, the Mint CFF encourages in particular women and sexual/gender diverse groups living in Scotland to participate in the 3rd edition of the Mint Chinese Film Festival in Keswick, exploring the diversity of Chinese cinemas and connecting with like-minded people.

Contact Info:

Festival team: mintcffteam@gmail.com

Organiser’s Info

Mint Chinese Film Festival, co-founded by Dr Carol Rennie and Yixiang Shirley Lin

Official Website: unicornscreening.com

Follow us on social media to stay tuned with full festival schedules and promotions

Instagram @mintchinesefilmfestival

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