Deadline: 6 February 2026
The Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) has grown into Malaysia’s largest-scale film festival, illuminating the cinematic landscape every July.
At MIFFest, emerging talents, experimental works, auteurs, and timeless classics are embraced with warmth, creating an inclusive space for diverse voices and stories. Guided by the spirit of “togetherness,” MIFFest looks beyond cinema, fostering partnerships that share a vision for a sustainable future where stories are cherished and shared.
The 9th Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) will be held from 18 to 25 July 2026 in the vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For eight days, the festival will welcome audiences from around the world to experience the power of cinema.
Awards for the Feature Competition include Best Film, New Hope Award, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. A Special Award, the Audience Choice Award, will be presented to films from both the Feature Competition and Non-Competition sections.
The festival’s Feature Competition (New Directors) is open to directors with three or fewer narrative feature films, including the submitted film, from any country and in any language, while the Feature Non-Competition is open to all new narrative feature films from aspiring filmmakers worldwide, regardless of language, genre, or country of origin.
Films must be completed in 2025 or 2026, with a minimum running time of 60 minutes, and must include English subtitles. The accepted screening formats include DCP or, in exceptional cases, video files in .mov or .mp4 format.
All entrants must complete the online submission form via the MIFFest website and include a secure online screener link that remains valid until 31 May 2026. Once selected, film details and press materials may be shared on the festival’s official platforms with the entrant’s consent. MIFFest’s selection decisions are final, and once a film is chosen, it cannot be withdrawn.
Selected films must provide a DCP, E-DCP, or approved digital screening file identical to the submission screener unless otherwise approved. MIFFest reserves the right to reject materials that fail to meet technical standards. Entrants are responsible for shipping costs to and from the festival, while MIFFest will cover return shipment after the event.
Screening schedules and venues will be determined solely by MIFFest, which may also use submitted synopses, stills, and trailers for promotional purposes. Selected filmmakers are encouraged to participate in Q&A sessions and press events. By submitting a film, entrants grant MIFFest the non-exclusive right to screen their work during the festival period while retaining full copyright ownership.
No submission fee is required for any category, and all submissions must be completed by Friday, 6 February 2026, 11.59pm (GMT+8).
For more information, visit MIFFest.
