As an ongoing part of the conference, KArtsCon is committed to encouraging, supporting, and showcasing the work of emerging filmmakers. We see short-form cinema as a space for experimentation, risk-taking, and clarity of vision. It is a great medium where ideas can be tested and voices can be heard without excess or constraint.
This year’s conference will feature a curated festival of short shorts drawn from a wide range of genres and approaches. Each work may be no longer than eight minutes, including credits. We welcome live action, animation, documentary, dance and performance-based work, fine art and conceptual films, and music videos. Comedy and drama are equally encouraged; laughter and sorrow can both be forms of release, reflection, and connection. Both speak meaningfully to this year’s conference theme,
All submissions must be original works. We are unable to accept advertising or promotional films, previews, excerpts from feature-length films, unaired episodes of established television series, unsold pilots, or works incorporating previously copyrighted material.
While the films themselves do not need to explicitly reference the conference theme, participating artists are asked to reflect on their process and intent.
- Artists attending the conference will deliver a brief spoken statement (no more than three minutes) addressing how conversation(s) shaped the work, or how the work stimulates conversation.
- Artists not attending in person must submit a recorded statement (one to two minutes) discussing how the theme informed their work. This should be provided as a separate video file.
Each artist may submit up to two works.
Submission Timeline
- 18 April 2026 – Film summaries due
- 29 May 2026 – Rough cuts of works in progress due (.mp4 or convertible formats)
- 26 June 2026 – Final deadline for all accepted works
Final submissions must include the highest-resolution version of the film, a finalised artist biography, and the required statement (video or written, depending on attendance). Artists attending the conference should submit a brief written statement in place of a recorded one.
Through this programme, KArtsCon aims not only to present finished work, but to foster thoughtful exchange between artists, audiences, and ideas still in motion.