Call for Submissions - The 19th Busan International Video Art Festival
Type
Biennial/Festival, Competition, Exhibition
Category
Film, Video
Status
Open for Applications
Deadline
June 22, 2025
Application Fee
Free
Host
Busan International Video Art Festival
Location
Seoul, Korea, South
The Busan International Video Art Festival (BIVAF) is pleased to announce the call for submissions for the upcoming 19th International Video Art Festival. The submission period will be open from June 9 to June 22, 2025. Starting this year, the Busan International Video Art Festival will conduct separate reviews and selection processes for the "International Competition" and "Korean Competition" sections. A final prize winner will be chosen from a combined shortlist of both sections.
We kindly ask all interested applicants to carefully review the submission guidelines provided below and to submit their works through the designated application form. Please note that submission link will be available starting June 9, 2025.
▶ Submission Rules & Regulations: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11KkhOkYN87L1f3EBQypQZiu8HF-emRzg/view?usp=drive_link
▶ Submission Link - [International Competition]: https://forms.gle/Jcd75J39LV2LtTxH6
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The 19th Busan International Video Art Festival
Submission and Selection Rules & Regulations
1. About
Busan International Video Art Festival (BIVAF) serves as a platform to support global artists and present unique perspectives and untold stories in contemporary video art. With a focus on showcasing the latest trends, BIVAF amplifies voices that are often overlooked in mainstream international art events held in Busan. In particular, BIVAF supports artists who critically engage with contemporary socio-political issues and explore video as a visual medium.
2. Festival Dates & Venue
The main exhibition of the 19th Busan International Video Art Festival will be held from September 2 to 26, 2025, at Space Heem (3, Sumi-ro 50beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan). Information regarding partner venues throughout Busan and the Gyeongnam region will be announced at a later date. Please note that detailed schedules for each venue are subject to change.
3. Programs (Sections)
The programs of the Busan International Video Art Festival consist of competitive and invited sections as follows:
a. Competitions
1) International Competition: This section seeks to identify and showcase significant trends in contemporary video art, as articulated through the perspectives of artists and filmmakers who engage in a profound inquiry into the pressing issues of our time.
2) Video Art Busan: This section presents newly produced works by video artists and filmmakers based in Busan, Ulsan, or the Gyeongnam region. The selected works demonstrate distinguished formal and thematic qualities or undertake a critical exploration of local agendas.
3) Korean Competition: This section aims to highlight prominent movements within contemporary Korean video art, as observed through the perspectives of artists and filmmakers who offer insightful reflections on the present era.
b. Invited Section
1) Thematic Relay: This section invites and showcases works that foster expansive contemplation on the annual theme, curated in collaboration with guest curators active across various regions both domestically and internationally.
4. Submission Schedule & Application
a. Period: June 9 to 22, 2025 (Korean Standard Time)
b. How to apply: Google Form *Please note that submission links differ by sections.
■ International Competition: https://forms.gle/RFJzNWSohVjUvAKN7
■ Video Art Busan: https://forms.gle/kf5arDgivRafYZWHA
■ Korean Competition: https://forms.gle/ATvNG4SJWEWNXKTq9
c. Submission fee: Free
5. Eligibility
a. All submissions must be video artworks produced after January 1, 2023.
b. Each artist/filmmaker may submit only one work.
c. Submissions for the International Competition and Korean Competition must not have been exhibited or screened more than three times within South Korea.
d. Submissions for the Video Art Busan section must meet at least one of the following criteria. Selected applicants will be required to provide documentation verifying eligibility. For collaborative works, at least one artist/filmmaker must meet at least one of the following criteria:
* The artist/filmmaker has a registered address in Busan, Ulsan, or the Gyeongnam region.
* The artist/filmmaker is currently enrolled as a student in a school located in Busan, Ulsan, or the Gyeongnam region.
* The artist/filmmaker has exhibited or screened video artworks at least three times in Busan, Ulsan, or the Gyeongnam region within three years prior to the submission deadline.
e. Submissions for the Korean Competition must meet at least one of the following criteria. Selected applicants will be required to provide documentation verifying eligibility. For collaborative works, at least one artist/filmmaker must meet at least one of the following criteria:
* The artist/filmmaker is a citizen of the Republic of Korea.
* The artist/filmmaker is a person defined by the Act on the Entry and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans and holds an Alien Registration Card or a Resident Registration Certificate for Overseas Koreans.
* The artist/filmmaker has resided in Korea for more than five years as of the submission deadline and has exhibited or screened video artworks at least five times within South Korea.
f. Applicants must complete the application form via the Google Form link and submit a screener (YouTube, Vimeo, or other cloud link).
g. Submitted screeners must be identical to the final version to be exhibited and screened at the 19th Busan International Video Art Festival if selected.
6. Selection
The selection of screening works will be conducted through two rounds of review. The first round will be conducted by the 19th BIVAF Committee and one external expert. The final round will be conducted by the 19th BIVAF Committee and two external experts. A prize winner will be selected from among the works chosen in the International and Korean Competitions combined. Results of the selection will be individually notified to applicants and will be available from late July 2025 on the Busan International Video Art Festival website and social media channels. Reasons for non-selection will not be provided.
a. International Competition: Approximately 5 works selected
b. Video Art Busan: Approximately 3 works selected
c. Korean Competition: Approximately 5 works selected
d. Prize Winner: One work will be selected from the combined International and Korean Competition entries.
e. Prize: KRW 1,000,000
7. Use of Selected Works’ Materials
The Busan International Video Art Festival may use the information of selected artists and works provided in the application for event management, promotion, and catalog production.
8. Other Regulations
a. Completion of submission implies agreement to the Busan International Video Art Festival (BIVAF) submission regulations.
b. If any information provided in the application is found to be false, BIVAF reserves the right to cancel the selection.
c. If selected applicants in the Video Art Busan and Korean Competition sections fail to submit documentation verifying eligibility, BIVAF may cancel their selection.
d. BIVAF is not responsible for any disadvantages in the review process caused by missing or incorrect screener links or passwords.
e. Information, screeners, and exhibition copies submitted are solely for use in the 19th Busan International Video Art Festival and BIVAF will make every effort to prevent leakage of submitted materials.
We kindly ask all interested applicants to carefully review the submission guidelines provided below and to submit their works through the designated application form. Please note that submission link will be available starting June 9, 2025.
▶ Submission Rules & Regulations: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11KkhOkYN87L1f3EBQypQZiu8HF-emRzg/view?usp=drive_link
▶ Submission Link - [International Competition]: https://forms.gle/Jcd75J39LV2LtTxH6
―
The 19th Busan International Video Art Festival
Submission and Selection Rules & Regulations
1. About
Busan International Video Art Festival (BIVAF) serves as a platform to support global artists and present unique perspectives and untold stories in contemporary video art. With a focus on showcasing the latest trends, BIVAF amplifies voices that are often overlooked in mainstream international art events held in Busan. In particular, BIVAF supports artists who critically engage with contemporary socio-political issues and explore video as a visual medium.
2. Festival Dates & Venue
The main exhibition of the 19th Busan International Video Art Festival will be held from September 2 to 26, 2025, at Space Heem (3, Sumi-ro 50beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan). Information regarding partner venues throughout Busan and the Gyeongnam region will be announced at a later date. Please note that detailed schedules for each venue are subject to change.
3. Programs (Sections)
The programs of the Busan International Video Art Festival consist of competitive and invited sections as follows:
a. Competitions
1) International Competition: This section seeks to identify and showcase significant trends in contemporary video art, as articulated through the perspectives of artists and filmmakers who engage in a profound inquiry into the pressing issues of our time.
2) Video Art Busan: This section presents newly produced works by video artists and filmmakers based in Busan, Ulsan, or the Gyeongnam region. The selected works demonstrate distinguished formal and thematic qualities or undertake a critical exploration of local agendas.
3) Korean Competition: This section aims to highlight prominent movements within contemporary Korean video art, as observed through the perspectives of artists and filmmakers who offer insightful reflections on the present era.
b. Invited Section
1) Thematic Relay: This section invites and showcases works that foster expansive contemplation on the annual theme, curated in collaboration with guest curators active across various regions both domestically and internationally.
4. Submission Schedule & Application
a. Period: June 9 to 22, 2025 (Korean Standard Time)
b. How to apply: Google Form *Please note that submission links differ by sections.
■ International Competition: https://forms.gle/RFJzNWSohVjUvAKN7
■ Video Art Busan: https://forms.gle/kf5arDgivRafYZWHA
■ Korean Competition: https://forms.gle/ATvNG4SJWEWNXKTq9
c. Submission fee: Free
5. Eligibility
a. All submissions must be video artworks produced after January 1, 2023.
b. Each artist/filmmaker may submit only one work.
c. Submissions for the International Competition and Korean Competition must not have been exhibited or screened more than three times within South Korea.
d. Submissions for the Video Art Busan section must meet at least one of the following criteria. Selected applicants will be required to provide documentation verifying eligibility. For collaborative works, at least one artist/filmmaker must meet at least one of the following criteria:
* The artist/filmmaker has a registered address in Busan, Ulsan, or the Gyeongnam region.
* The artist/filmmaker is currently enrolled as a student in a school located in Busan, Ulsan, or the Gyeongnam region.
* The artist/filmmaker has exhibited or screened video artworks at least three times in Busan, Ulsan, or the Gyeongnam region within three years prior to the submission deadline.
e. Submissions for the Korean Competition must meet at least one of the following criteria. Selected applicants will be required to provide documentation verifying eligibility. For collaborative works, at least one artist/filmmaker must meet at least one of the following criteria:
* The artist/filmmaker is a citizen of the Republic of Korea.
* The artist/filmmaker is a person defined by the Act on the Entry and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans and holds an Alien Registration Card or a Resident Registration Certificate for Overseas Koreans.
* The artist/filmmaker has resided in Korea for more than five years as of the submission deadline and has exhibited or screened video artworks at least five times within South Korea.
f. Applicants must complete the application form via the Google Form link and submit a screener (YouTube, Vimeo, or other cloud link).
g. Submitted screeners must be identical to the final version to be exhibited and screened at the 19th Busan International Video Art Festival if selected.
6. Selection
The selection of screening works will be conducted through two rounds of review. The first round will be conducted by the 19th BIVAF Committee and one external expert. The final round will be conducted by the 19th BIVAF Committee and two external experts. A prize winner will be selected from among the works chosen in the International and Korean Competitions combined. Results of the selection will be individually notified to applicants and will be available from late July 2025 on the Busan International Video Art Festival website and social media channels. Reasons for non-selection will not be provided.
a. International Competition: Approximately 5 works selected
b. Video Art Busan: Approximately 3 works selected
c. Korean Competition: Approximately 5 works selected
d. Prize Winner: One work will be selected from the combined International and Korean Competition entries.
e. Prize: KRW 1,000,000
7. Use of Selected Works’ Materials
The Busan International Video Art Festival may use the information of selected artists and works provided in the application for event management, promotion, and catalog production.
8. Other Regulations
a. Completion of submission implies agreement to the Busan International Video Art Festival (BIVAF) submission regulations.
b. If any information provided in the application is found to be false, BIVAF reserves the right to cancel the selection.
c. If selected applicants in the Video Art Busan and Korean Competition sections fail to submit documentation verifying eligibility, BIVAF may cancel their selection.
d. BIVAF is not responsible for any disadvantages in the review process caused by missing or incorrect screener links or passwords.
e. Information, screeners, and exhibition copies submitted are solely for use in the 19th Busan International Video Art Festival and BIVAF will make every effort to prevent leakage of submitted materials.