Overview
The Seoul International Women's Film Festival (SIWFF) is Asia's largest women's film festival. The 28th edition runs August 20 to 26, 2026, at Megabox Sinchon and the Korean Film Archive (KOFA) in Seoul. SIWFF received 4,115 submissions from 125 countries for its 2026 edition, including 2,309 competition entries. The festival operates under the slogan "Let's see the world through women's eyes" and programs fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental films by women directors.
SIWFF is the primary festival platform for women filmmakers targeting the Korean and Asian markets. The Discovery competition section, for first or second feature films by women directors of any nationality, received 462 submissions from 84 countries in 2026. The Asian Shorts competition received 1,796 submissions from 77 countries. The I-Teens section, for Korean short films by female directors born after 2007, received 51 submissions.
Submissions are free of charge through the SIWFF entry website or FilmFreeway. The deadline for the 28th edition was April 21, 2026, with notification on July 9, 2026.
Key Sections
- Discovery - international competition for first or second feature films by women directors of any nationality. Grand Award: KRW 12,000,000 (~$8,800 USD). Excellence Award: KRW 6,000,000 (~$4,400 USD)
- Asian Shorts - competition for short films by directors of Asian nationality or ethnic identity. Daphnelia Grand Award: KRW 8,000,000 (~$5,900 USD). Excellence Award: KRW 4,000,000 (~$2,900 USD)
- I-Teens - competition for Korean short films by female directors born after 2007. Grand Award: KRW 1,000,000 (~$735 USD). Excellence Award: KRW 500,000 (~$370 USD)
- Korean Competition - new films by Korean women directors (non-competitive and competitive selections)
- Feminist Collectives - films made by domestic and foreign production communities of women, exploring feminist film histories
- Special Programs - thematic programs on film histories, the film industry, and gender issues
- Queer Women's Cinema - films addressing LGBTQ+ women's experiences from feminist and queer perspectives
Submission Details
SIWFF accepts submissions through its entry website or FilmFreeway. Entry is free of charge.
Submission deadlines for the 28th edition (2026):
- All films: April 21, 2026, 18:00 KST
- Notification: July 9, 2026
Eligibility requirements:
- Films must be directed by a woman, or at least one woman director for co-productions
- Films must present various aspects of life from a woman's perspective or provide insight into gender issues
- Films completed after January 1, 2025
- Feature films: 40 minutes or longer. Short films: under 40 minutes
- All genres accepted: fiction, documentary, animation, experimental
- Discovery: first or second feature-length film by a director of any nationality
- Asian Shorts: director must have Asian nationality or ethnic identity
- I-Teens: Korean short films by a female director born after 2007
- Non-English dialogue films require English subtitles
- Online screeners must remain valid until August 31, 2026
Contact: SIWFF program team at program@siwff.or.kr or +82-2-583-3599.
Past Winners
The 28th edition (2026) selected 8 Discovery finalists from 462 submissions across 84 countries, an acceptance rate of approximately 1.7%. The finalists represented 15 countries.
Discovery 2026 finalists:
- Goose Game (dir. Carla Badillo, Mexico)
- Dua (dir. Blerta Basholli, Kosovo/Switzerland/France) - won SACD Award at Cannes Critics' Week
- Akashi (dir. Mayumi Yoshida, Japan)
- Yongjugol (dir. Hong Ji-yeon, South Korea)
- One Woman One Bra (dir. Vincho Nchogu, Kenya/Nigeria) - won Sutherland Award at BFI London Film Festival
- Phantom School (dir. Simab Gul, Pakistan)
- Short Summer (dir. Nastia Korkia, Germany/France/Serbia) - won Lion of the Future at Venice
The Asian Shorts competition selected 20 finalists from 1,796 submissions (1.1% acceptance). The I-Teens competition selected 6 finalists from 51 submissions. The 2024 Discovery Award winner was 78 Days (dir. Emilija Gasic, Serbia). The 27th edition (2025) opened with Sunshine (dir. Antoinette Jadaone, Philippines), which won the Crystal Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Notable Alumni Films and Where They Ended Up
SIWFF functions as both a premiere platform and a regional showcase. Several Discovery finalists and winners have arrived with strong international pedigrees and used SIWFF to build Asian audience awareness.
Dua (2026 Discovery finalist) world premiered at Cannes Critics' Week, won the SACD Award, and was selected as Kosovo's entry for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards. SIWFF provided its Asian festival platform.
One Woman One Bra (2026 Discovery finalist) world premiered at Venice's Biennale College Cinema, won the Sutherland Award at BFI London Film Festival, and had its North American premiere at Tribeca. SIWFF marked its Asian debut.
Short Summer (2026 Discovery finalist) won the Lion of the Future for best first feature at Venice, then won the Gold Hugo at the Chicago International Film Festival.
Sunshine (2025 opening film) won the Crystal Bear at Berlin before opening SIWFF. The film later received theatrical distribution in the Philippines through Project 8 Projects.
Submission Tips Specific to This Festival
SIWFF's Discovery section is the most competitive entry point for international filmmakers. With 462 submissions and 8 finalists, the acceptance rate is 1.7%. The selection committee favors films that expand the horizons of women's narratives and cinematic aesthetics. First or second features with a strong personal vision and feminist perspective align with the festival's curatorial focus.
The 2026 selection committee noted that many finalists examine the 1990s and 2000s retrospectively while addressing contemporary themes of discrimination, isolation, and displacement. Films that connect personal stories to broader historical or political contexts tend to resonate with programmers.
Submissions are free, which removes the financial barrier. Take advantage of this by submitting through both the SIWFF entry website and FilmFreeway. Ensure your online screener remains valid through August 31, 2026.
For Asian Shorts, the director must have Asian nationality or ethnic identity. The section received 1,796 submissions in 2026, making it even more competitive than Discovery at 1.1% acceptance. The I-Teens section is one of the few festival competitions anywhere dedicated to teenage filmmakers.
Industry Reputation Notes
SIWFF is the largest women's film festival in Asia. Its closest peers are the Creteil International Women's Film Festival in France and the Frauen Film Festival in Germany. SIWFF differentiates itself through its I-Teens competition for teenage women directors, a section no other major women's film festival offers.
Compared to the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), which programs a broader range of Asian cinema, SIWFF has a narrower curatorial focus but a deeper commitment to women directors. BIFF attracts more sales agents and distributors. SIWFF attracts filmmakers, feminist scholars, and Korean film industry professionals focused on gender equity.
The festival does not host a formal film market. Industry activity centers on panel discussions, networking events, and the Feminist Collectives program. The festival's value lies in audience engagement, critical attention, and building a Korean and Asian audience base.
Awards / Accreditation
- Discovery Grand Award - KRW 12,000,000 (~$8,800 USD) for best first or second feature by a woman director
- Discovery Excellence Award - KRW 6,000,000 (~$4,400 USD)
- Daphnelia Grand Award (Asian Shorts) - KRW 8,000,000 (~$5,900 USD) for best Asian short film by a woman director
- Asian Shorts Excellence Award - KRW 4,000,000 (~$2,900 USD)
- I-Teens Grand Award - KRW 1,000,000 (~$735 USD) for best Korean short film by a teenage woman director
- I-Teens Excellence Award - KRW 500,000 (~$370 USD)
- Audience Prize - determined by audience voting during the festival
If more than one winner is selected in a single category, the prize money is divided equally among the winning works.
SIWFF is not FIAPF-accredited and does not hold Academy Award qualifying status. The festival's awards carry weight within the Asian women's cinema community and the Korean film industry.
Watch
What Filmmakers Should Know
SIWFF is the most important dedicated women's film festival in Asia. The 28th edition in 2026 selected 8 finalists for the Discovery competition from 462 submissions across 84 countries, an acceptance rate of approximately 1.7%. The Asian Shorts competition selected 20 finalists from 1,796 submissions (1.1% acceptance). The I-Teens competition selected 6 finalists from 51 submissions.
The festival covers round-trip shipping costs for screening copies when filmmakers use the courier service officially designated by the festival. For non-Korean dialogue films, the festival produces Korean subtitles at its own cost. The festival also offers online and IPTV screening options for selected films during the festival period, with the filmmaker's consent. The 2026 edition programmed films that span multiple continents, with many selections examining the 1990s and 2000s retrospectively while addressing contemporary themes of discrimination, isolation, and displacement.
Festival History
SIWFF was founded in 1997 in Seoul, at a moment when Korean society was undergoing rapid changes in gender relations. The festival emerged from the Korean women's film movement and the broader feminist cultural activism of the 1990s.
Over 28 editions, SIWFF has grown from a domestic Korean event into the largest women's film festival in Asia. The 2026 edition received 4,115 total submissions from 125 countries. The Discovery competition alone received 462 submissions from 84 countries in 2026, up from 394 submissions from 86 countries in 2025.
The festival has consistently programmed films that address gender, diversity, and human rights from feminist perspectives. Its Queer Women's Cinema section, Feminist Collectives program, and I-Teens competition for teenage women directors separate it from other women's film festivals globally. SIWFF is organized with connections to Korean feminist organizations and women's studies programs, giving the festival an activist dimension alongside its cinematic programming.
See Also
To calculate the return on your festival submission spending, use the Festival ROI Calculator. To estimate your probability of acceptance based on festival tier and film characteristics, use the Festival Acceptance Odds Estimator. For festival circuit planning, see Film Festival Strategy. For women in filmmaking, see Independent Filmmaking Strategies. For Korean cinema markets, see International Film Markets.
