4th MINT Chinese Film Festival 2026 Competition & Awards
The MINT Chinese Film Festival remains dedicated to encouraging the participation of female and creators of diverse identities. We are committed to illuminating multifaceted cinematic expressions and fostering profound cross-cultural perspectives. This year, the number of women and non-binary or gender-anonymous filmmakers has seen a significant increase, accounting for over 50% of the total entries. Meanwhile, the new generation of filmmakers is flourishing with remarkable momentum. Creators born after 1995 account for more than 71%, infusing the 2026 MINT CFF with the vibrant and dynamic perspectives of Gen Z. An inclusive intercultural creative ecosystem, profound and incisive cinematic expressions, and powerful, widespread new Asian voices—all representing our steadfast commitment and enduring vision for Chinese and Asian cinema.
During the global submission period from November to December 2025, the 4th MINT Chinese Film Festival received a total of 538 outstanding works from countries and regions across Asia, North America, Europe, and beyond. This year, we expanded our curatorial focus beyond Chinese cinema to include films made in or about broader Asian stories, making Asian films the dominant force in this year's entries. We are dedicated to encouraging submissions from female-, non-binary-, and LGBTQ+ identifying creatives, as well as emerging film talents every year. Our aim is to showcase more creative and avant-garde independent Chinese and Asian films and talented filmmakers in UK cinemas.
Continuing the "Asian Sparks" section within our Feature Film Competition, we further extend it to include a Short Film Competition, aiming to discover more outstanding works rooted in Asian cultural soil. Meanwhile, the existing competition section "C-Film in Focus" within the Feature and Short Film Competitions will continue to focus on Chinese films, fostering connections between outstanding Chinese films, filmmakers, and the global audience.
2026 Juries Announcement
In response to the initiative to elevate the international standing of Asian women filmmakers and continuing MINT CFF's focus on creators of diverse identities, this year we have specially invited eight international directors, film scholars, producers, distributors, and critics to comprise our expert jury. They will play a crucial role in voting and judging the winners of the Feature and Short Film Competitions within the "C-Film in Focus" and "Asian Sparks" sections. The Audience Choice Award, meanwhile, will be decided by the public vote. Director Lúcia Nagib, Chair of the Feature Film Jury, will attend the festival in-person to watch films and vote for the winners. We are proud to introduce the incredible jury of the 4th MINT Chinese Film Festival Competitions!
