9FilmFest

Overview

**9FilmFest — 13th Annual Edition** For over a decade, 9FilmFest has stood as a distinctive platform for short-form cinema, dedicated to discovering and celebrating bold, original voices from around the world. Now entering its 13th year, the festival continues its mission while embarking on an exciting new chapter. Founded in Bangkok in 2011, 9FilmFest emerged from the spirit of the original Bangkok Film Festival (est. 1998), the first international film festival in Thailand. From its beginnings, 9FilmFest has been committed to supporting independent filmmakers and uncovering unique, overlooked, and undiscovered short films that deserve to be seen. **In 2026, 9FilmFest expands internationally for the first time, presenting a special edition in Bayport, New York (Long Island).** This new setting brings the festival’s global vision to a fresh audience, creating a bridge between East and West while maintaining the festival’s original spirit and curatorial identity. ## 🌍 **A Festival for Discovery** 9FilmFest welcomes submissions from all genres and styles, embracing narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, and hybrid forms. The festival remains committed to championing: * emerging filmmakers * unconventional storytelling * bold artistic voices * overlooked cinematic works Each submitted film is **viewed in full**, honoring the time, effort, and vision of every filmmaker. ## 🎯 **The “Lucky 9” Selection** At the heart of 9FilmFest is its unique tradition: 🎯 The “Lucky 9” Finalists & Screening Program While 9FilmFest features a diverse, full program of officially selected films screening throughout the festival, our core competition builds toward a unique tradition: 👉 Exactly 9 films are elevated as Official Award Finalists Honoring the cultural significance of the number 9 in Thailand—symbolizing progress and moving forward—this highly curated group represents the ultimate contenders for the festival's top awards. Every selected film enjoys a vibrant audience screening, but only 9 chase the final trophies. This reflects the cultural significance of the number 9 in Thailand and ensures a highly curated, intimate, and meaningful festival experience. --- ## 🏆 **Awards & Recognition** Selected films compete across a range of categories, including: * Best Film * Best Director * Best Script * Best Cinematography * Best Animation * Best Experimental Film * Best Actress * Best Humanity Film Winners receive official 9FilmFest laurels and recognition for their creative achievements. --- ## 🎥 **A Unique Festival Experience** The 13th edition will present its selected films in an intimate screening environment in BluePoint, New York, continuing the festival’s tradition of creating a close connection between filmmakers and audiences. 9FilmFest is not a high-volume festival — it is a **carefully curated showcase**, where every selected film receives focused attention and appreciation. --- ## 🤝 **Community & Connection** Beyond screenings, 9FilmFest fosters a collaborative and supportive environment where filmmakers can: * connect with fellow artists * engage with audiences * build lasting creative relationships Q&A sessions and informal discussions are an essential part of the experience. ## 🌟 **Our Mission** 9FilmFest exists to: * support filmmakers * celebrate creativity * provide a platform for discovery * give overlooked films the attention they deserve --- ## 🎬 **Submission Information** * Films must be **40 minutes or under** * Films must be completed after **January 1, 2020** * All genres and styles are accepted Submissions are handled through FilmFreeway. Please review full rules and regulations for details. --- ## ✨ **A New Chapter** After 12 successful years in Bangkok, 9FilmFest enters a new phase — bringing its global community, curatorial vision, and passion for independent cinema to new audiences. We invite filmmakers and audiences alike to be part of this exciting evolution.

Last updated Sep 12, 2026

Legitimacy Analysis

Trust Signals

Festival Details

FilmFreeway communityGold festival

• Filmmaker

  Awesome Film Festival! Super supportive of Indie Filmmakers and super committed to the Art of Filmmaking.

• Filmmaker

  We are so grateful for the opportunity to premiere our film at the 12th annual 9FilmFest in Bangkok! What a wonderful community of film lovers. Thank you!

• Filmmaker

  9FilmFest is really cool fest! The Southeastern Asia's greatest zone BKK's Sukhumvit is the base of it! Many coolest cultures start there. Also Asian films of the hyper mode come out from there!

• Filmmaker

  Very glad to have had my film ‘Curse of the INfluencers’ show here! The team were great!

• Filmmaker

  Thanks a million for selecting Silvergirl and the Planet Chokers for a gold cup win! Your festival is top class. I was thrilled to be part of it. Let me explain why the movie exists. Climate communication ranks 20th in all climate solutions currently deployed. 20th! People know more about solar panels (which ranks first) than the crisis itself. To help redress this, I've created something unique in climate communication. Silvergirl & the Planet Chokers offers a brand new solution which would reverse the crisis if implemented. I used to be a crime novelist, published in multiple languages. I would write characters into a corner which readers would see as impossible to get out of. So I wrote them a way out. Our planet is in a corner which seems impossible to get out of. So I wrote it a way out. I did this because if movies can be seen as offering brand new solutions (I'm not talking about driving less, flying less or heating less or any of the things we already know about - which aren't working) then people will watch them. If I can write new solutions, so can other writers. My movie never mentions the climate crisis on purpose. It’s allegorical, rather like Animal Farm is allegorical even though it’s about the Soviet Union, which it never mentions. The film industry won't support climate crisis movies, unless they're post-apocalyptic. Post-apocalyptic's no good. We need solutions which tell us how to prevent us from getting post-apocalyptic. We need solutions which enable us to remain pre-apocalyptic. So I created Silvergirl, probably the world's first climate superhero, with her own universe, her own superpowers and her own alien background. I wrote the script, the music, the lyrics, the songs and made the entire film myself without any previous experience or institutional funding. I hadn't a clue how to do it when I started last November. I made it in 5 months, at 95 minutes long. You yourself may not be tuned into the climate crisis, but there are those who are, and my journey may prove of particular interest to them. If writers can see that brand new solutions will gain traction, they will write them. That's my ambition. Please have a look this example of using the entertainment world to help in the communication battle to spread greater awareness. We need to get it to shoot up from 20th place to 1st. That's why it's so important you're supporting this! youtu.be/BX-8a_Nh0nk

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