Entries open for Alternativa Film Awards 2024

The Alternativa Film Awards honor films that bring change to the world and society while appealing to a broad audience. The Awards present an alternative system for recognizing filmmakers from developing industries and provide a platform for exchanging experiences. The Awards offer monetary and symbolic prizes to filmmakers who are yet to be widely recognized and aim to make them more visible on a global scale.

The Alternativa Film Awards celebrate films that excel artistically and have the potential to make a significant societal impact. By impact, they mean the positive changes that have occurred or may occur as a result of the film’s distribution or distribution strategy. These changes can affect individuals, local communities, public opinion, and societies both in the region of film production and beyond.

The Alternativa Film Festival marks an evolution of the project, showcasing the awards nominees to a wide audience. It will present free public screenings of all the nominated titles in the lead up to the awards ceremony in November.

Award Mission

• To strengthen the ties between cinema and social change.
• To find brave new voices and amplify them on a global scale.
• To support filmmakers who need it most by providing resources and networking within the international community.

Award Categories

• Spotlight
  • This award recognizes a film highlighting a topic or story that would have otherwise remained below the public’s radar. It emphasizes the importance of bringing overlooked social issues to the forefront on screen.
• Future Voice
  • This award is given to a filmmaker who has the potential to contribute to change, both in the film industry and in society in general. The award aims to support new talent and is given for a first or second feature.
• Alter
  • This award recognizes a film that encourages social change. The award is given to a film that addresses critical issues (human rights, migration, environment, etc.) and has the potential to impact society.
• Nativa 
  • This award goes to a film that touches on national or cultural identity topics. The award is given for representing a country or a region and putting that place or community on the map.
  • Nomination for filmmakers from Southeast Asia
• Shorts Awards
  • For two short films produced in the Focus Region. The award aims to support individuals who boldly forge their own paths by creating films that have a clear impact vision.
  • Special award for filmmakers from Southeast Asia
• Resonance
  • A special award for a film that has achieved outstanding success with the audience. This award does not carry a monetary reward.

Award Information

• The total prize fund of the Alternativa Film Awards 2024 is 100,000 USD. The monetary prize for the Awards winners in the Spotlight, Future Voice, Alter, and Nativa awards is 20,000 USD each. The monetary prize for the two Shorts Awards winners is 10,000 USD each.
• The Organizer of the Alternativa Film Awards covers transportation costs and accommodation in a hotel. Details will be announced to the nominees after the announcement of nominated films.
• Award Values:
  • Courage: They dare people to follow a path of their own.
  • Empowerment: They support local communities by giving them a voice in the film industry.
  • Cooperation: They foster respectful dialogue and collaboration within the industry and among different cultures.
  • Openness and transparency: They are transparent about the work and encourage others to do the same.
  • Inclusiveness: They provide equal opportunities and strive to eliminate discrimination.
  • Social impact: They promote positive social change through the films and filmmakers they support.
  • Involvement: They look for engaged cinema that aims to speak to a wide audience worldwide.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Selection Committee considers featurelength films created by directors from Asian countries and areas. The definition of Asian сountries and areas has been based on culture and heritage rather than politics, borders, or boundaries and includes Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, DPRK (North Korea), East Timor (Timor-Leste), Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, the Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen.
  • The Selection Committee considers short films exclusively from the Focus Region of Southeast Asia, including Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor (Timor-Leste), Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.
• The following categories of films made by directors from Southeast Asia are eligible for Alternativa Film Awards: Feature-length films: fiction and animation (minimum duration of 60 minutes); documentary and hybrid (minimum duration of 40 minutes).
  • Short films: fiction, animation, documentary, and hybrid (maximum duration of 40 minutes).
• The following categories of films made by directors from other Asian countries and areas are eligible for Alternativa Film Awards.
  • Feature-length films: fiction and animation (minimum duration of 60 minutes); documentary and hybrid (minimum duration of 40 minutes).

Language

• Applications can only be submitted in English.

For more information, visit Alternativa Film project.