CALL FOR ENTRIES NOW OPEN – PVIFF 2027

About the Festival

The Panda Vision International Film Festival (PVIFF) is an annual international film event for middle and high school students, hosted by Cogdel School Chengdu. The inaugural edition was held in 2025 in Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

The festival is open to filmmakers aged 19 and under from around the world, providing a professional platform for young creators to showcase their cinematic vision. The name "Panda Vision" pays tribute to Sichuan's most iconic symbol — the giant panda — representing curiosity, creativity, and global connection.

Past Editions

2025 – The Inaugural Festival

The first edition of PVIFF was held on May 8, 2025, attracting over 100 submissions from 7 countries, including China, Russia, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan. A total of 22 films were officially selected.

Notable Winners:

• Best Documentary & Grand Prize: Whence the Wind Blows (China–UK)

• Best Narrative: Buffoonery of Chris and Ostar (Kazakhstan)

• Best Experimental: Hey, How Are You? (Russia)

• Grand Jury Prize: Hider (China)

The inaugural festival not only celebrated remarkable student films but also established PVIFF as a pioneering international platform for young creators.

2026 – The Second Edition

On March 26, 2026, the second edition of the festival received an overwhelming 606 submissions from 64 countries and regions — a nearly fivefold increase from the first year. A total of 49 films were officially selected, representing over 20 countries.

The jury comprised 7 distinguished professionals from the fields of filmmaking, visual arts, and education, including award-winning director Lan Can zhao (Cannes and Berlin Film Festival awardee) and other renowned industry experts.

Notable Winners:

• Best Narrative, Best Editing, Best Cinematography & Grand Prize: Minotaur (United Kingdom)

• Best Documentary: Ride Through the Clouds (China)

• Best Experimental: Nameless Faces (China)

• Grand Jury Prize: Look Straight At Me (China)

• Best Social Impact Film: Foundation (Australia)

PVIFF 2027 – The Third Edition

The 3rd Panda Vision International Film Festival will take place on March 24–26, 2027 at Cogdel School Chengdu, Anren, Sichuan province, China.

Building on the success of the first two editions, this year's festival aims to expand its international reach and provide an even greater platform for young filmmakers worldwide.

Eligibility

Important: This festival only accepts films made by middle school and high school students. College and university students are not permitted to participate.

To be eligible, filmmakers must meet the following requirements:

• Age: 19 years old or younger at the time of their film's production

• School: Enrolled in middle school or high school at the time of production

• College and university students are not permitted to participate

Competition Categories

All films (national and international) may be submitted to only one of the following categories:

Please note:

• Public service announcements, commercials, and film trailers are not eligible

• AI-generated films are not accepted in any category

• All films must be original and include English or Chinese subtitles

Awards & Prizes

International Competition:

• Best Narrative Film / Best Documentary Film / Best Experimental Film / Best Animation Film

National Competition:

• Best Narrative Film / Best Documentary Film / Best Experimental Film / Best Animation Film

Special Achievement Awards:

• Best Editing / Best Directing / Best Performance / Best Cinematography

Top Honors:

• Grand Prize – Best film in the competition

• Grand Jury Prize – Second-best film in the competition

• Audience Choice Award – Selected by live audience voting

Special Awards:

• Best Social Impact Film

• Best Storytelling Award

• Special Jury Recommendation: Most Promising Filmmaker

Content Guidelines

All content must be suitable for a school audience.

The following are strictly prohibited in any form:

• Tobacco or vaping

• Drugs or drug paraphernalia

• Alcohol consumption or promotion

• Pornographic or sexually explicit material

Films that do not comply with these rules may be disqualified.

How to Submit Your Film

Step 1: Prepare Your Film

1. Upload your film to a cloud storage service (recommended: Google Drive, Baidu Disk, Dropbox, etc.)

2. Important: The film must remain accessible from the date of submission for at least one year after the festival ends

Step 2: Submit Your Application

International submissions can be made through the following channels:

1. Official Website: https://www.pandavisionfest.com/submit-your-film

2. FilmFreeway Platform: https://filmfreeway.com/PandaVisionFilmFestival

Step 3: Complete the Application Form

You will need to provide:

• Film details (title, duration, year of production, country, etc.)

• A 3-line synopsis – this will be used in the festival guide and promotional materials

• A download link from your cloud storage

Important Dates

Participant Support

All selected filmmakers will receive the following support:

• Accommodation: 2 nights in Anren Ancient Town (near the festival venue)

• Meals: All meals provided at Cogdel School Chengdu canteen during the festival

• Transportation: Free shuttle service from Chengdu Shuangliu (CTU) / Tianfu (TFU) International Airports and major train stations

• Visa: International participants may request an official invitation letter

Please note: The festival does not cover transportation costs (air, train, or bus tickets) to/from Chengdu, nor accommodation outside the official festival dates.

Contact Us

For any questions, please contact the Festival Organizing Committee:

Email: info.gpff@cogdel.com

Website: www.pandavisionfest.com

Your story deserves to be seen.

Submit your film today and step onto the international stage!

Cogdel School Chengdu | Panda Vision International Film Festival Organizing Committee