Art Includes Short Film Contest 2025
Contest Theme: “Empowering Disabilities Inclusion”
Presented by DIA Academy & SOS Missions Bhd
In partnership with acclaimed commercial film director Barney Chua
Festival Overview
The Art Includes Festival is a bold celebration of creative inclusion, where artists of all backgrounds and abilities come together to express, challenge, and inspire. Anchored in the spirit of “Celebrating Diversity, Embrace in Equality,” the festival features performances, exhibitions, workshops, and a vibrant creative marketplace, all centered on showcasing the work of persons with disabilities (PWD) from Malaysia and ASEAN. In 2025, for the first time, the festival proudly launches its Short Film Contest — a platform for student filmmakers to highlight stories that matter. This year’s contest theme is: “Empowering Disabilities Inclusion” Through this contest, we invite young creatives to explore issues of disability, access, belonging, empowerment, and representation — and to tell these stories with authenticity, imagination, and purpose.
Contest Period
- Submissions Open: 1 September 2025
- Submission Deadline: 15 November 2025, 12:00 AM (Malaysia Time)
- Screening of Finalists: 7 December 2025 (tentative), 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Dialogue in the Dark, Level 6 GMBB KL
Eligibility
- Open to all Malaysians except for Professionals.
or ASEAN. - Each team must consist of 3 to 5 members.
- Participants may only join one team.
- No prior filmmaking experience is required.
Short Film Requirements
- Theme: All films must be based on “Empowering Disabilities Inclusion”.
- Duration: Minimum 3 minutes, maximum 5 minutes (including credits).
- Format: MP4 or MOV (HD resolution strongly recommended).
- Language: Any language is accepted. Non-English films must include English subtitles.
- Originality: Films must be original, unreleased, and produced by the registered team.
- Content Guidelines:
- Must be suitable for public viewing
- Cannot include hate speech, discriminatory content, or explicit material
- Any use of copyrighted material (music, footage, etc.) must be licensed or credited
Prizes
Total prize pool: Over RM10,000 in cash and product vouchers
- Top Prize: RM 5,000
- 1st Runner-Up: RM 2,500
- 2nd Runner-Up: RM 1,000
- 3 x Consolation Prizes: RM 500 each
The Top 10 shortlisted films will be screened during the Art Includes Festival.
Judging Criteria
Submissions will be judged on the following:
- Relevance to Theme: Empowering Disabilities Inclusion
- Originality and Creativity
- Storytelling and Structure
- Technical Quality (cinematography, sound, editing)
- Social Impact and Inclusivity
The panel of judges includes filmmakers, educators, disability advocates, and arts professionals.
All decisions are final.
The Juries
1. Barney Chua – Founder of Mojo Films
2. Alvin Teoh – Chief Creative Officer of Naga DDB Tribal
3. Datin Seri Sunita Rajakumar – Chairperson, Climate Governance Malaysia
How to Submit
- Go to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJVMfPGc67-BnZQ8_ZhI4xfVj8YTxc-sixm955Yq0udiGkow/viewform?usp=header
- Read the full guidelines, prepare your film and submit it with the required info:
- Submit your completed entry by 15 November 2025, 12:00 AM
Only complete entries received before the deadline will be considered.
Terms & Conditions
- No entry fee is required.
- Each team may submit only one film.
- Participants grant the organizers non-commercial rights to screen, promote, and share the film as part of the festival and its outreach.
- Filmmakers retain full ownership of their work.
- The organizers reserve the right to amend rules, deadlines, or screening venues with prior notice.
- Films that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified.
- Prize Fund Allocation: Cash Awards are subject to a minimum of 50 entries, as stipulated by the Sponsors. If the number of entries falls below this minimum target, the Cash Awards will be reduced proportionally to the entries received. The Organizers reserve the right to determine the revised Cash Awards if the minimum target is not achieved by the closing date.
Contact
For any questions or help:
Let your film become a voice for inclusion.
Tell the story that only you can tell.
Join the Art Includes Short Film Contest 2025.