The 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival “Golden Coconut Awards” Regulations

I. Introduction

The 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIIFF) is co-hosted by China Media Group and the People's Government of Hainan Province. The festival is dedicated to strengthening international film cultural exchange and cooperation, promoting the development of the film industry, and encouraging film creation. The "Golden Coconut Awards" competition, organized by China Media Group, will be judged by a jury composed of domestic and international film professionals, who will select outstanding filmmakers and works with artistic merit from the films shortlisted in the main competition.

II. Related Schedule

1. The 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival will be held in Sanya, Hainan Province, on December, 2025.

2. The deadline for submitting films for the 2025 “Golden Coconut Awards” competition is 24:00 (Beijing Time), September 1, 2025.

3. The list of selected films is expected to be announced in early November, and the award winners will be revealed at the Festival’s closing ceremony.

III. Qualification for Participation in the competition

(A) Feature Film Competition

1. Fictional feature films completed after October 1, 2024, are eligible. Chinese films must have a public screening license (Dragon Seal) issued by the National Film Administration and must not have been theatrically released in mainland China.

2. Minimum running time: 70 minutes.

3. Screening format: The films must be available in DCP (Digital Cinema Package), the standard for commercial cinema screenings, if selected.

(B) Feature Documentary Competition

1. Documentaries completed after October 1, 2024, are eligible. Chinese films must have a public screening license (Dragon Seal) issued by the National Film Administration and must not have been theatrically released in mainland China.

2. Minimum running time: 70 minutes.

3. Screening format: The films must be available in DCP (Digital Cinema Package), the standard for commercial cinema screenings, if selected.

(C) Short Film Competition

1. Short films completed after October 1, 2024, are eligible. Films must not have been publicly screened in mainland China.

2. Running time: 10 to 40 minutes.

3. Preferred screening format: DCP (Digital Cinema Package) meeting commercial cinema projection standards.

Ⅳ. Qualification for Participation in the Panorama

1.  Panorama section of Hainan Island International Film Festival is devoted to screening excellent films from all over the world. It aims to provide a platform for filmmakers worldwide to showcase and exchange cinematic art and to connect the global film industry. Furthermore, adhering to the concept of ‘Year-round Screening, Island-wide Screening, Films for Everyone’, we will keep on the simultaneous screening both in cinema and outdoors which showcases the distinctive Hainan Island characteristics.

2. The submission of the Panorama section this year will also open to all applicants online via the HIIFF official website. The final line-ups for the Panorama section will be determined by the committee and will be confirmed in writing with the applicants before the release of the official announcement.

3. The films that meet the following standards can participate in the selection of the Panorama section of the 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival:

(1)Feature films, documentaries, animated films, etc. 

(2)The films must not have been publicly released in the Chinese Mainland. Preference will be given to the films completed after January 1, 2024.

(3) The duration of the films must be more than 70 minutes (except for VR, XR, and AIGC films);

(4) The films must be available in DCP (except for VR, XR, and AIGC films), the standard for commercial cinema screenings, if selected. 

V. Submission Guidelines

1. Films must be submitted within the designated submission period through the official Festival website (https://www.hiiff.net/enhiiff/main.shtml), with all required fields completed and a screener copy uploaded.

2. Submitters are responsible for the accuracy of the information provided. Incomplete or inaccurate entries may be disqualified.

3. Screener specifications:

- Format: MOV or MP4

- Minimum resolution: 1920×1080

- Maximum file size: 4GB

- Watermarks are allowed

- If the film’s original language is not English, English subtitles must be provided. Chinese-language films not in Mandarin must include both Chinese and English subtitles.

- The screener must match the final version of the film. Any discrepancies may lead to disqualification.

4. Films submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. Once submitted, films may not be withdrawn.

5. World or regional premieres will be given preference under the same conditions.

6. No submission fees will be charged. Submitters must be the film’s production company, distributor, or an authorized representative and must ensure that the film complies with all laws and regulations, with no infringement on third-party rights. Submission implies acceptance of these regulations. The Festival Committee shall not be held liable for any disputes arising from violations.

7. The Festival reserves the right to disqualify any film that does not comply with Chinese laws or cultural policies.

8. The Festival Committee reserves the right to interpret and amend these regulations.

VI. Jury &Awards

1. The jury for the “Golden Coconut Awards” will consist of domestic and international film and cultural professionals with a deep passion for cinema and strong artistic judgment. Individuals associated with the production or distribution of shortlisted films may not serve on the jury.

2. The “Golden Coconut Awards” consist of the following 10 awards and prize amounts:

- The Best Picture: CNY 150,000

- The Grand Jury Prize: CNY 100,000

- The Best Director: CNY 100,000

- The Best Actor: CNY 80,000

-The  Best Actress: CNY 80,000

- The Best Scriptwriter: CNY 50,000

- The Best Visual Effects: CNY 50,000

- The Best Chinese Contribution of the Year: CNY 50,000

- The Best Documentary: CNY 50,000

-  The Best Short Film : CNY 30,000

3. If a single award is granted to multiple recipients, the prize money will be divided accordingly.

4. All prize money is subject to applicable taxes under the laws of the People's Republic of China.

5. Prize money will be transferred to individual or designated accounts, and the payment method does not affect ownership of the prize, which is determined by the winner(s).

6. Depending on the quality and number of entries, the jury and organizing committee may grant a “Jury Special Mention” and a “Festival Special Mention” in the Documentary and Short Film categories. Only one film per category may receive each honorary mention.

VII. Selected Films

1. Selected entrants will be notified by email and must confirm participation within seven (7) business days. Once confirmed, films may not be withdrawn.

2. The official shortlist will be published in early November. Until then, entrants must keep the selection confidential.

3. Selected films must submit required materials as instructed (e.g., DCP, subtitles, trailers, posters, synopses, stills, director bios/photos, crew list, screening agreement).

4. Selection implies permanent authorization for the Festival to use the film's materials (text, images, music, footage, etc.) for promotion and events.

5. Films must be made available for screening until the conclusion of the Festival. Entrants are responsible for shipping screening copies to the designated address, while return costs will be covered by the Festival.

6. With written approval, the "Golden Coconut Awards" logo may be used for promotional purposes by selected and winning films. The logo may not be altered in any form and must be used in its original design.

7. Each selected film will receive an official certificate.

VIII. Supplementary Provisions

The final interpretation of these regulations rests with the Organizing Committee of the 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival.