Shine a Light on Youth Mental Well-Being
The Mental Health Film Festival Singapore (MHFFS), in collaboration with Inspiring Asia, has launched the Inspiring SG Micro Film Competition 2025 under the theme “To Be Seen”.
The initiative aims to spotlight youth mental health, encouraging filmmakers of all ages to tell stories that highlight resilience, care, and community support.
According to the festival’s Instagram page, the competition invites films that “unearth the hidden struggles of youth mental health, giving spotlight to the resilience, care, and community that carry them through.”
It seeks stories that have been silent for too long, aiming to make them visible, heard, and felt.
Awards and Opportunities
Winners of the competition can earn significant recognition and cash prizes. The Grand Prize winner will receive USD 5,000, while five finalists will each get USD 1,000.
Top entries will also advance to the Inspiring Asia Grand Finals, where participants can compete for:
- Best Micro Film – USD 50,000
- Best Project – USD 100,000
Regional awards are also part of the competition, giving filmmakers the chance to be recognised in countries including Singapore, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand.
Regional prizes include:
- Regional Award for Best Film – USD 5,000
- Regional Best Film Finalists – USD 1,000 each
- Regional Award for Best Project – USD 10,000
- Regional Best Project Finalists – USD 2,000 each
Submission Details
Films must be between 2 and 7 minutes in duration and submitted in MP4, MOV, or AVI format (16:9, 720p–4K). Additionally, non-English films must include English subtitles.
Submissions should include:
- Poster (A1, 300dpi)
- At least three high-resolution stills
- Film synopsis
- Key crew details
For filmmakers interested in applying for the Best Project Award, additional materials such as a project introduction, organisation overview, and implementation outcomes must also be submitted.
Optional materials like teaser trailers or director statements are welcome.
The competition encourages diverse storytelling, including lived experiences, imagined scenarios, or stories inspired by others, aiming to spark empathy, challenge stigma, and drive real-world change across the region.
Key Dates
The submission deadline is 22 August 2025.
Participants can submit their films via FilmFreeway and learn more about the competition at mentalhealthfilmfest.sg or Inspiring Asia.
The festival serves as a platform for youth voices in Asia, allowing filmmakers to transform hidden struggles into stories that illuminate and empower.
As MHFFS and Inspiring Asia put it: “Behind every struggling smile is a story worth seeing. Once hidden, now seen. Once silent, now heard.”
More from Wake Up Singapore:-
“I Went Insane and Woke Up in a Hospital Bed” — Kevin’s Journey Through Mental Health
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