Introduction

From its very first edition, RECIF aims to showcase a selection of short fiction films from diverse backgrounds, created by filmmakers with varied experiences and perspectives.

The festival seeks to highlight both the works of established directors and those of emerging talents, whether they are amateurs or professionals.

For us, taking a first step into filmmaking and presenting a fully realized film hold equal value. After all, every professional was once a cinephile with a dream of cinema.

Discover the different competition categories below and select the one that best suits your project and experience.

We invite you to review the participation requirements for each competition.

PACIFIC SELECTION

Have you directed a short fiction film in the Pacific ? Take part in the first edition of RECIF’s Pacific Selection, alongside Caledonian films.

• Competition open to filmmakers from Pacific countries: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Kiribati, Northern Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Norfolk Islands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Easter Island, Pitcairn Islands, French Polynesia, Solomon Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.
• Maximum duration: 60 minutes.

ALWAYS SHORTER

Is your approach to short films classic, quirky, conceptual, or highly creative ? Take this opportunity to present an ultra-short film !

• Competition open to residents of New Caledonia and New Caledonians living abroad.
• Maximum duration: 5 minutes.

YOUNG TALENTS

Are you in school, attending specialized courses, or simply passionate about cinema and under 20 years old ? Participate in the Young Talents competition, whose 2025 theme is “Tradition and Modernity.”

• Competition open to residents of New Caledonia.
• Maximum duration: 10 minutes.

1 2 3 PITCH

Are you under 26 and eager to embark on a fiction film project ? Present your film idea to convince the jury and benefit from working sessions with a producer !

• Competition open to residents of New Caledonia.
• Presentation duration: 7 minutes.

1 2 3 FILM

Boost your creativity by making a fiction film in just 48 hours at the festival’s opening ! The theme will be revealed on the day, so stay connected.

• Competition open to residents of New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna.
• Duration: limited by the short production time.

SCRIPT READING RESIDENCY

Share your screenplay before filming to refine its narrative structure and test the effectiveness of your dialogues.

• Residency open to residents of New Caledonia.
• 2 sessions per year.

ALWAYS SHORTER

Registrations & streaming link submission : April 29 – September 8, 2025
Film submission deadline (including other required materials listed below) : no later than October 10, 2025

We invite you to review the rules and participation conditions of the RECIF festival before submitting your film.

Eligibility

The competition is open to fiction films made in or outside New Caledonia , either by a director residing in New Caledonia or a New Caledonian production company.

If the film has been made without the support of a local production company and the director is no longer residing in New Caledonia, you must contact the festival. The festival will evaluate the project’s connection to New Caledonia before confirming its eligibility.

Maximum duration : 5 minutes

PRE-SELECTION PHASE

Original title * :

Year of production * :

The film must not have been produced before November 2023.

The film can’t have been submitted previously to the La Foa Film Festival.

Estimated duration * :

Filming locations (list cities) * :

Pitch * : (Max. 400 characters, including spaces. This text will be used for public presentation ; do not provide a full summary.)

Director

Last name * :

First name * :

Only one submission per director is allowed per edition and type of competition.

Executive producer (if applicable)

Last name :

First name :

Company :

Co-Production :

A producer may submit multiple films.

Primary contact

Last name * :

First name * :

Phone * :

Email * :

Role :

City * :

Country * :

Upon registration, a streaming version of the film must be made available for the pre-selection committee :

Viewing Link * : (must remain active until September 30, 2025)

Password :

Registration will only be validated once all required materials are received.

No registrations finalized after September 8, 2025, will be accepted for the RECIF 2025 festival selection.

Do you have additional details regarding your film or registration? :

I certify that the above information is accurate.

I have read and accept the rules and conditions of participation for the RECIF 2025 festival.

IF SELECTED

If your short film is selected for the ALWAYS SHORTER category, you will be notified by email no later than October 3rd.

Upon receipt of the notification, you will be invited to complete the second part of the form.

The required format is HD MPEG4 H264.

Films must be submitted to the festival no later than September 8th via a WeTransfer, Dropbox, or OneDrive link.

Film download link :

Each film must be identified by the title provided at the time of registration.

No film submitted after October 10th, 2025, will be considered for the RECIF 2025 festival selection.

A 30 to 45-second excerpt is requested for promotion on the RECIF festival’s social media and those of its partners.

Each excerpt must be identified by the title provided at the time of registration, followed by the word "excerpt".

Excerpt download link :

Submit two high-resolution photos taken from the film edit :

(These must be in PDF, PNG, or JPEG format, and must not exceed 10 MB per file).

The official selection will only be confirmed once all these elements have been received.

DECLARATION OF AGREEMENT.
I certify that the information provided above is accurate.

I have read and accept the rules and conditions of participation for the RECIF 2025 festival.

I agree to the non-commercial screening of my film as part of the 2025 edition, from November 10 to December 15, 2025, in New Caledonia, during public or school screenings.

I authorize the festival to use an excerpt from my film and the two photos for non-commercial purposes.

I authorize the festival to share my main contact details with professionals or organizations requesting a screening.

I authorize the festival organizers to include my film in the RECIF Archive Fund. The film’s producers will always be contacted in case of screenings beyond the first edition of RECIF.

YOUNG TALENTS

Registration : from April 29 to October 1, 2025

Film submission (including other required materials listed below) : no later than October 1, 2025

We invite you to consult the rules and conditions of participation for the RECIF festival before submitting your film.

Eligibility

The competition is open to fiction films (animated films accepted) produced in New Caledonia as part of :

a school program
a holiday camp
a specialized workshop offering audiovisual activities
individual projects created by participants under 20 years old as of the festival closing date (November 15, 2025)

Only one submission per group is allowed.The festival may contact the project leader or the institution regarding this rule.

Maximum film duration : 10 minutes
Theme of the competition : “Tradition and Modernity”

Original title * :

Year of production *:

The film must not have been produced before November 2023.

Only one submission per group is allowed per edition and type of competition.

Film duration * :

Pitch * : (Max. 500 characters, including spaces. This text will be used for public presentation ; do not provide a full summary.)

The film can’t have been submitted previously to the La Foa Film Festival.

School or other

Name * :

City * :

Education level * : (Primary, Middle School, High School, Other)

Professional mentor * : (if applicable)

Executive producer(if applicable)

Last name :

First name :

Company :

Co-production :

Project Leader

Last Name * :

First Name * :

Phone * :

Email * :

Role :

City * :

The required format is HD MPEG4 H264.
Films must be submitted to the festival no later than September 8th via a WeTransfer, Dropbox, or OneDrive link.

Film download link :

Each film must be identified by the original title.

No film submitted after October 1st, 2025, will be considered for the RECIF 2025 festival selection.

A 30 to 45-second excerpt is requested for promotion on the RECIF festival’s social media and those of its partners.
Each excerpt must be identified by the original title, followed by the word "excerpt".

Excerpt download link :

Submit two high-resolution photos taken from the film edit :
(These must be in PDF, PNG, or JPEG format, and must not exceed 10 MB per file).

Registration will only be validated once all required materials are received.

The official selection for the RECIF 2025 festival will be announced by October 27, 2025.

If you wish to provide further details about your film or your registration

I certify that the above information is accurate.

I confirm that all minors appearing in the film have parental consent. The festival is not liable for any legal claims made by a film participant or legal representative.

I have read and accept the rules and conditions of participation for the RECIF 2025 festival.

IF MY FILM IS SELECTED :

I agree to its screening as part of the 2025 edition, from November 7 to December 15, 2025, in New Caledonia, without compensation, for public and school screenings.

I authorize the festival to use an excerpt of my film and two photos for non-commercial purposes.

I authorize the festival to share the main contact details from the registration form in case of a screening request from a professional or organization.

I authorize the festival to include my film in the RECIF Archive Fund. The film's production team will always be consulted before any screening outside of the first edition of RECIF.

1 2 3 PITCH IT !

You’re under 26 and eager to embark on the adventure of making a fiction film ?

Take part in 1 2 3 PITCH IT !
Get support for writing and developing your project, along with guidance from a producer !

Registrations open : April 29, 2025

Preparation workshop : September 10, 2025 (optional but recommended)

Registration deadline & submission of materials : no later than October 23, 2025

Confirmation of participation : no later than October 31, 2025

Competition : Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 1:30 PM at the FOL / Kari Veo space (Noumea)

For more information : tournages@province-sud.nc

We invite you to review the rules and participation conditions of the RECIF festival before registering.

Eligible projects for this competition must be :

fiction film projects planned to be produced in New Caledonia
led by an author or director residing in New Caledonia
the must applicant be under 26 years old by the festival’s closing date (November 15, 2025)
amateur projects are welcome

Not accepted :

projects already supported by a producer
projects previously submitted to the La Foa Film Festival

Proposed title *

Estimated duration *
(must not exceed 10 minutes)

Pitch *
(max. 400 characters, including spaces – this text will be used for public presentation, so it should not be a full summary)

Note of Intent *

Is the participant the author or the director?

The authorThe director

Last name *

First name *

City *

The winning project will receive:

A financial grant of 125 000 XPF for the author or director
Mentorship from a producer during the writing and development phase

If the short film project receives additional development support, the financial grant will be awarded to :

The authorThe director

No applications submitted after October 23, 2025, will be considered for the RECIF 2025 festival selection. Applications must be complete to be validated.

Competition participation confirmation will be sent by October 31, 2025.

I have read and accept the rules and conditions of participation for the RECIF 2025 festival.

1 2 3 FILM !

Registrations : April 29, 2025 – October 24, 2025

Submission deadline : no later than October 24, 2025

Participation confirmation : no later than October 27, 2025

Meeting information : October 30, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Theme announcement : Saturday, November 8, at 10:00 AM

Film submission deadline : Monday, November 10, at 10:00 AM

We invite you to review the rules and participation conditions of the RECIF festival before registering.

Amateur or professional filmmakers residing in New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and Wallis and Futuna are eligible to participate in this competition.

A project leader must be designated as the official contact person for the festival.

REGISTRATION

Main contact (one per team)

Last name *

First name *

Phone *

Email *

Occupation

City * :

Country * :

Submit a preliminary list of team members

No registration submitted after October 24, 2025 will be considered for the RECIF 2025 festival selection.

Participation confirmation for each team will be sent no later than October 27, 2025.

An information meeting will be held on October 30, 2025 (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM).

The film’s theme will be announced on Saturday, November 8, at 10:00 AM, via email to each main contact and on the festival’s Facebook page.

After receipt of these elements, your registration will be validated by email no later than October 27, 2025.

I hereby certify on my honour that the above information is accurate.

I hereby certify that any minors filmed have parental consent. The festival is not liable for any legal action brought by a film participant or legal representative.

I have read and accept the rules and conditions of participation for the RECIF 2025 festival.

FILM SUBMISSION

Have you participated in the competition and wish to submit your film ?

We invite you to complete the second part of the form.

The required format is HD MPEG4 H264.

Films must be submitted to the festival no later than November 10th, before 10:00 AM (New Caledonia time) via a WeTransfer, Dropbox, or OneDrive link.

Film download link :

Each film must be identified with the name of the main contact.

At the same time, the final list of team members and their roles must be submitted.

Click here to submit the list.

Late submissions will result in disqualification from the competition. Teams outside of New Caledonia must account for time zone differences. Please refer to the New Caledonia time zone.

No film sent after 10:00 AM on November 10th, 2025 will be considered for the RECIF 2025 festival selection.

Submit at the same time two high-resolution photos taken from the film edit :
(These must be in PDF, PNG, or JPEG format, and must not exceed 10 MB per file).

A 30 to 45-second excerpt is also requested for sharing on the RECIF festival's and its partners' social media platforms.

Each excerpt must be identified with the name of the main contact followed by the word “excerpt.”.

Download link for the excerpt:

The official selection will only be confirmed once all these elements have been received.

DECLARATION OF AGREEMENT.
I certify that the information provided above is accurate.

I have read and accept the rules and conditions of participation for the RECIF 2025 festival.

I agree to the non-commercial screening of my film as part of the 2025 edition, from November 10 to December 15, 2025, in New Caledonia, during public or school screenings.

I authorize the festival to use an excerpt from my film and the two photos for non-commercial purposes.

I authorize the festival to share my main contact details with professionals or organizations requesting a screening.

I authorize the festival organizers to include my film in the RECIF Archive Fund. The film’s producers will always be contacted in case of screenings beyond the first edition of RECIF.

SCREENPLAY READING RESIDENCY

Hagen Castle (Taragnat House)

1st Session 2025:

Thursday, April 24 – 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM

In a calm and inspiring setting, fiction film writer-directors gather to discover and read scripts together.
Dialogues are performed by the participants, offering writers a fresh perspective on their projects. Each reading is followed by a discussion session focused on the screenplay.

Registration details :

Participants must specify :

the expected filming date (to prioritize requests if necessary).
the estimated duration of the film.
the list of characters to facilitate role distribution.

A project may be submitted again in a later session only if it has significantly evolved.

This initiative, inspired by the director Valérie Donzelli during the 25th La Foa Film Festival, was first held in November 2023, featuring eight projects.
RECIF and the South Province Film Commission organize two sessions per year.

For more information :
tournages@province-sud.nc
delphine.ollier@recif.nc