I. Purpose:
The New Taipei City Government, in order to promote the domestic documentary film industry and support documentary filmmaking, has established the New Taipei City Documentary Award. Through a call-for-submissions format, the award encourage documentary directors and students in film-related programs to create original works and provide filming grants, thereby fostering diverse contemporary perspectives.
In addition, to support environmental documentary filmmaking and raise public awareness of environmental issues, the award collaborate with the Seeing · Chi Po-lin Foundation to establish the Chi Po-lin Environmental Documentary Award. Films focusing on environmental issues in Taiwan are eligible to submit for this award concurrently.
II. The Organizer:
New Taipei City Government, Department of Information
III. Co-Organizer:
Seeing · Chi Po-lin Foundation.
IV. Submission Theme:
A. The topic may be freely chosen, but must not involve specific commercial promotion..
B. For submissions also applying for the Chi Po-lin Environmental Documentary Award, the film must primarily focus on environmental issues in Taiwan, referring to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including but not limited to the following areas:
1. Clean Water Resources: Water pollution, wastewater treatment, water scarcity and utilization efficiency, watershed conservation, and other water-related ecosystem issues.
2. Sustainable Energy: Greenhouse gas issues from fossil fuels, nuclear energy issues, limitations in the development of renewable energy, and other related environmental issues.
3.Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Industrial pollution, illegal factories on farmland, transportation and other sustainability issues in infrastructure.
4.Sustainable Cities and Communities: Urban heat islands, urban pollution, and issues related to land use planning.
5. Sustainable Production and Consumption: Waste management, pollution caused by agricultural and industrial production, and sustainable production and consumption practices.
6. Climate Change Mitigation: Measures for early warning, disaster reduction, response, and recovery from climate-related hazards such as droughts and extreme weather.
7. Marine Ecology: Marine ecosystems, marine debris and nutrient pollution, overfishing, and other related issues.
8. Terrestrial Ecology: Forest development and management, habitat destruction, poaching, illegal harvesting, and biodiversity loss caused by invasive species.
V. Eligibility:
A. At least one of the directors (co-directors) or producers must be a citizen of the Republic of China (Taiwan), have experience in short films or longer formats, and the director must be listed as the primary applicant.
B. Applicants recommended by film festivals or film-related institutions/organizations that have previously collaborated with this event must submit a recommendation letter and are exempt from the nationality requirement above.
C. Applications must be submitted in an individual’s name. Only directors (codirectors) or producers of the submitted film may apply; corporate entities may not submit. Each director may submit an unlimited number of films.
D. If the applicant is a minor (under 18 years old before the submission deadline), legal guardian consent is required along with a signed Guardian Consent Form (Attachment: Parental Legal Guardian Consent Form).
VI. Registration Notice:
A. Type of Film: Documentary.
B. Production Specifications: HD or above.
C. Originality Requirement: Submitted films must be created by the participants and be in the planning or production stage. Completed films are not eligible. The organizer and co-organizers reserve the right to disqualify films that violate these rules.
D. Application Website: https://www.doc.ntpc.gov.tw
E. Submission Deadline: March 2, 2026 (Monday). Online submissions will be accepted from January 1, 2026, until March 2, 2026, 23:59 (Taiwan Time).
F. Participants must complete the online application form, and the primary applicant must sign the Consent Form (Attachment 1). Applicants who wish to apply for the Chi Po-lin Environmental Documentary Award must indicate this on the online form.
G. Required Documents:
(A) Proposal Document, including:
1. Creative origin and purpose
2. Film logline and theme description
3. Story synopsis
4. Introduction of subjects, locations, and events
5. Shooting schedule and budget
6. Preliminary research materials such as references, photos, clips, news, etc.
7. Introduction of director and team
8. Description of previous works
(B) Audio-Visual Materials:
1. A clip of the proposal film under 3 minutes (with Chinese and English subtitles).
2. A self-edited highlight reel of the director’s previous works under 3 minutes
These materials can be provided either (A) via download link or (B) by mailing a DVD. The method must be indicated on the application form.
(C)If using option (A) download link: Files must be in MP4 format, uploaded to a cloud service or video platform with password protection. Provide the link and password via email to
(D)The link and password must remain valid and unchanged until the preliminary results are announced to avoid affecting the review process.
(E)If using option (B) mailed DVD: Clearly mark the DVD with the “Participant’s Name” and “Film Title” and mail it to arrive by March 2, 2026 (postmark valid) to: New Taipei City Government, Department of Information 6F, News Administration Section, No. 161, Sec. 1, Zhongshan Rd., Banqiao District, New Taipei City 220242 (Attn: New Taipei City Documentary Award Submission Team)
VII. Judging Procedures and Criteria:
The competition will be conducted in three stages: Preliminary Review, Public Proposal Session (Second Review), and Final Review:
A. Stage 1- Preliminary Review:
(A) The preliminary review will take place in late March 2026. A professional jury will select up to 24 films from the New Taipei City Documentary Award submissions and up to 6 films from the Chi Po-lin Environmental Documentary Award submissions to advance to the Public Proposal Session. A single film may be selected for both award simultaneously.
(B) Judging Criteria: Completeness of the proposal, feasibility of execution, relevance of the theme, and team resources/experience.
(C) The shortlisted films will be announced at 12:00 noon on March 31, 2026, on the official website of the New Taipei City Documentary Award (https://www.doc.ntpc.gov.tw/) and the Facebook page “感動．無所不在” (https://www.facebook.com/NewTaipeiCityDocumentary), and shortlisted participants will be notified individually.
B. Stage 2- Public Proposal Session (Second Review):
(A) The Public Proposal Sessions will be held on April 30 (Thu), May 1 (Fri), and May 2 (Sat), 2026. Participants must present their proposal and creative concept in person to the jury. After a public Q&A session, the jury will select up to 12 outstanding films from the New Taipei City Documentary Award preliminary selection and up to 1 outstanding film from the Chi Po-lin Environmental Documentary Award preliminary selection. A single film may be selected for both awards. Proposal rules and locations will be announced on the “感動．無所不在” Facebook page.
(B) Judging Criteria: Proposal content, communication skills, and performance during the Q&A session.
(C) Each shortlisted film will have 7 minutes for the presentation (including trailer) and 8 minutes for jury Q&A.
(D) After the Public Proposal Session on May 2, 2026, an Outstanding Film Announcement Event will be held to announce the selected films.
C. Stage 3- Final Review
(A) Submission of Completed Film: Films must be completed and submitted via cloud link by email to
(B) Judging Criteria: Completeness of proposal execution, storytelling creativity, potential for future development, and professional capability.
(C) Films entering the final review must be edited into a 15-to-30-minute television version. The end credits must indicate:
- For New Taipei City Documentary Award: “本片獲新北市紀錄片獎 優選影片 / New Taipei City Documentary Film Award”
- For Chi Po-lin Environmental Documentary Award recipients: “This film won the New Taipei City Documentary Award and the Zeppelin Environmental Documentary Award. / New Taipei City Documentary Film Award, Chi Po-lin Documentary Award”
Films shorter than 15 minutes or longer than 30 minutes will not be considered for final scoring. 4. The final review will take place in early Oct
(D) The final review will take place in early October 2026, where a professional jury will select the top 3 winners and 1 Jury Special Award. Results will be announced at the award ceremony.
VIII. Award and Grants:
A. Outstanding Films Selected from the Public Proposal Session (Second Review):
Each selected film may receive a filming grant of NT$350,000. The primary applicant (director) and co-applicants will each receive a Certificate of Outstanding Film. Films submitted to both awards may receive grants for both. The filming grant will be disbursed in two installments:
1. First Installment: Within 2 weeks of the announcement of the selected films, the team must submit the primary applicant’s identification and other required documents. The organizer and coorganizers will then disburse NT$200,000 following the statutory procedures.
2. Second Installment: The team must submit the completed film, a trailer under 5 minutes, stills, film description, and signed authorization forms (Attachments 2 & 3), along with the primary applicant’s identification and other required documents. Once verified by the organizer and co-organizers, NT$150,000 will be disbursed within one month after the award ceremony.
3. For recipients without a domestic bank account in Taiwan, foreign currency conversion will be based on the closing cash exchange rate of USD to TWD announced by Bank of Taiwan on the day of the Outstanding Film Announcement Event. International transfer fees shall be borne by the recipient.
B. Final Review – Top 3 Winners and Jury Special Award:
(A) First Place: 1 winner, prize money NT$100,000, 1 trophy, and certificates for the primary applicant (director) and co-applicants.
(B) Second Place: 1 winner, prize money NT$80,000, 1 trophy, and certificates for the primary applicant (director) and co-applicants
(C) Third Place: 1 winner, prize money NT$60,000, 1 trophy, and certificates for the primary applicant (director) and co-applicants.
(D) Jury Special Award: 1 winner, prize money NT$30,000, and certificates for the primary applicant (director) and co-applicants.
(E) Winning teams must submit the primary applicant’s identification and other required documents. The organizer will disburse prize money after verification.
IX. Copyright and Licensing:
A. The copyright of all films in this competition belongs to the directors.
B. Teams whose films are selected in the public proposal review must grant the Organizer and Co-organizers a non-exclusive, royalty-free, non-commercial license, including the following:
(A) Authorization for stills, clips of up to 5 minutes, and film descriptions to be reproduced, transmitted, publicly screened, broadcasted, and used for non-commercial promotional purposes by the Organizer. This includes, but is not limited to, the official website of the series, official social media pages, YouTube channels, and related promotional materials. For winners of the Qi Bai Lin Environmental Documentary Award, the above materials must also be licensed to the Co-organizers for reproduction, transmission, public screening, broadcasting, and non-commercial promotional use.
(B) Provision of a 15- to 30-minute version suitable for television broadcast (not exceeding 30 minutes) for public broadcast and screening by the Organizer on New Taipei City cable TV public channels, at the competition’s premiere event, or for other noncommercial purposes. For winners of the Qi Bai Lin Environmental Documentary Award, the film must also be provided to the Coorganizers for public broadcast and screening during environmental documentary promotion and public interest events.
X. Supplementary Provisions:
1. Copyright and Authorization Guarantee:
Participants shall warrant that they hold the copyright, or have obtained authorization from the copyright holders (including music licenses), for the submitted film as well as for any promotional materials such as clips, text, and stills provided to the Organizer and Co-organizers for event promotion. If any third-party likenesses are used, participants must have legally obtained the rights to use such likenesses without infringing personality rights. Participants shall bear full legal responsibility for any breach of the foregoing warranties or any violation of applicable laws, and shall compensate the Organizer and Coorganizers for all related losses.
2. Consequences of Legal Violations:
If participants violate any applicable laws as mentioned above, in addition to bearing legal responsibility, the Organizer and Co-organizers may reclaim any awarded certificates, filming grants, prizes, certificates of merit, and trophies.
3. Judging Discretion:
At any judging stage, if the jury determines that a submitted proposal or film does not meet the required standard, awards may be withheld.
4. Supervision Workshop:
To provide guidance and support for filmmaking, a supervision workshop will be held. Directors and team members of selected films must designate at least one person to attend. The date, time, and location of the workshop will be individually notified to each selected film team.
5. Promotion and Screening Attendance:
To assist with the promotion of selected films, directors and team members of all selected films must designate at least one person to attend film screenings and post-screening discussions organized by the Organizer. Winners of the Qi Bai Lin Environmental Documentary Award must designate at least one person to attend screenings and discussions hosted by the Seeing Qi Bai Lin Foundation. Specific details will be arranged by the Organizer, Co-organizers, and selected film teams.
6. International Film Opportunities:
Selected films with suitable themes may be supported in participating in international documentary submission activities.
7. Marketing Support for Growth Films:
For selected films that have previously won the New Taipei City Documentary Award and continue development into feature-length films for theatrical release, marketing support will be provided according to separate regulations.
8. Tax Withholding:
Prize money is subject to income tax in accordance with tax law. For prizes exceeding NT$20,000, the Organizer and Co-organizers shall withhold 10% tax. For non-resident individuals of the Republic of China (Taiwan), 20% tax shall be withheld. If multiple participants are listed for the same film, the first listed participant on the registration form (i.e., the director) shall be recognized as the prize recipient and taxpayer for the prize money, and relevant tax withholding provisions shall apply to this individual.
9. Non-return of Materials:
All submitted registration materials and films, whether selected or awarded or not, will not be returned.
10. Interpretation and Amendments:
In the event of any ambiguity or matters not covered in these regulations, the Organizer reserves the right to make final amendments and interpretations.
11. Agreement to Rules:
Participation in the competition constitutes acceptance of and compliance with these regulations.
