Take your camera and highlight the World Largest Cities' Challenges & Initiatives
To inspire new projects with positive environmental & social impact
Sequence credits :
- 2020, Maire cycliste de Mumbai
- 2016, New York, Le projet uni
- 2016, New York, Lire entre les lignes
- 2017, Rio, Le quai de Valongo
- 2018, Un antidote pour le Brésil
- 2018, Kinshasa
- 2019, Paris, Ferme Espero
- 2019, Sao Paulo, Recida Vidas
- 2015, Paris, Cité des Dieux
Megacities are places of opportunities, but they come with many challenges.
Since 2014, over 500 filmmakers have joined us in our quest for more liveable cities, provoking and engaging people around with short documentaries. But we still need you !
Do you live in a city of more than 1 million inhabitants ? Can you shoot a 4 minutes documentary ? Do you want to inspire people around the world to make the change happening ?
Tell us your story of citizens involvement, situations to be denounced, key challenges to be addressed and be ready to make an impact.
Take your camera and shoot your reality.
Your story can change the world.
Learn more about us by downloading our official presentation brochure here (official 2021 brochure).
Applications for Ed.8 (2022) is now closed.
The jury has started the process of down selection of the most inspiring ones and we will comeback to ShortDoc Makers no later than end of October to share with you if you are part of the shortdocs list to be screened at the Paris Award Ceremony in December, and if you won an Award or a Prize.
Thank you all for your participation!
Je suis là
Best ShortDoc Maker & Best Student Film Award Edition 7
Clarisse Girardet, Dirrig Ugo, Roullier Michel, Faudrit Mathis, Delvalet Mathieu
Paris
Koshish
The Best Positive ShortDoc Award Edition 7
Tanvi Samaddar
Delhi
Les initiatives citoyennes de Bruxelles
15 Minute City Prize Edition 7
Victoria Berni
Bruxelles
Art of being in a world of not being
Soheil Soheili
Téhéran
An attempt to capture the equality and often inequality of genders on camera by breathing the same air as a group of young actors who are adapting the famous play “Hamlet” . Could art and theater be a way of escaping from inequality and promoting equality? To be, or not to be, that is the question
Under the Bridge
Felipe Moraes
Sao Paulo
Meet an amazing character, Nilson Garrido, teaching boxe and priceless life lessons to homeless and marginal people under a bridge, in Sao Paulo.
Bidon Vil
Nizar Saleh, alumni at "Ecole des Beaux Arts" - Kinshasa
Kinshasa
This short film tells the story of an artist designer and performer who transforms plastic waste that pollutes his urban environment into toys for poor children. It stages sets, models and costumes to entertain, raise citizens’ awareness of the recycling culture and provide free access to the arts in the public space.
The Planter
Rafael Machado
Sao Paulo
The film shows the journey of Helio da Silva, who planted alone more than 20 thousand trees in the park Tiquatira, East Zone of São Paulo, a very needy place of the city. Although many destroyed the trees in the beginning, Helio insisted, until the authorities began to take care of the park as well.
Family Phobia
Chun Wang, student at Waseda University
Tokyo
Nowadays, 13.506 million people live in Tokyo, a populous metropolitan area in the world. Every day, 6.388 million of so called “salaryman” are working in this city.
Go to School
Li Yuying, Shanghai Tongji University
Shangai
In Shanghai, migrant workers children need to provide many certificates to go to school. Countless children because of the lack of certificates, they can't go to school .
Some ShortDocs Awarded since Edition 1
Calendar of the Festival
2022
Februrary 2022
Opening of the Festival
The registration platform opens on the website in Februrary and ShortDoc Makers have until October 15th to register and shoot their shortdoc film ! It is extremely important for every ShortDoc Makers to register early in order to get a proper follow-up.
October 15th
Application deadline
ShortDoc Makers have until October 15th to register and to upload their ShortDoc on Shortfilmdepot. It is highly recommended to register online before producing and uploading your ShortDoc.
November
Jury Selection
Results of the selection process of 15 nominees by an international professional Jury
December 1st to 8th
Local Screenings & Paris Award Ceremony
The awards for the MegaCities-ShortDocs will be delivered at the Paris Award Ceremony December 8 at 8pm (GMT + 01:00) at MK2 Quai de Seine and on live-streaming.
Multiple ceremonies across the world will occur between December 1st and 7th, as in some French Institutes or online with Partners as United Nations Habitat.
Information for Applicants
The Total of the 4 Awards & 3 Prizes represent a total value of 11 500€, or approximately 13 000$.
The Awards (Best MegaCities-ShortDoc Maker, Best Positive ShortDoc, Best Student’s ShortDoc, Best Urban Initiative) & The Prizes (The Greater Paris Metropolis, “15 Minute City” & “Urban Climate Crisis”) are open to ShortDoc Makers in all Urban agglomerations or single cities of more than 1 Million inhabitants. There is also "People's Choice" and "The Public Sector Innovation" which are honorary recognitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get in touch with the MC-SD team?
You can find detailed information on our website, be sure to check the Terms and Conditions of Use. If you still have questions, we we recommend you to contact us by email at contact@megacitiesshortdocs.org, by Facebook, WhatsApp or LinkedIn. Over the years we have established a rich network of local coordinators and helpers around the world. We will make sure to put you in touch with the one closest to you, if you need additional support.
In which cities can I shoot my ShortDoc?
The ShortDoc must be shot in a city with a population of more than one million.
of inhabitants.
In the past, we only accepted films shot in a "megacity", defined by the UN as any urban area with more than 10 million inhabitants. As a result, we have a long list of inspiring and powerful short films
shot in cities like Paris, New York, Los Angeles, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Al-Qahirah (Cairo), Lagos, Delhi, Jakarta, Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai and many more. From now on, we are ready to welcome in the MC-SD Festival any city with more than one million inhabitants that is included in the official list of "World Cities in 2018" by the United Nations. For check if your city is included in the list, you can go to this link, click on Reader and check "City population (NB: in thousands) in 2018" for your city.
You can find a simplified view in the Terms of Use.
What are the key dates of the Festival?
Applications for this year are already open! You can register and upload your ShortDoc on shortfilmdepot. Please, be aware of the following key dates to be sure to do not miss out:
October 15th, 2022: Deadline to register on our website and to
upload your ShortDoc on shortfilmdepot.com.
November 2022: The results of the selection process for nominated Shortdocs will be published by our selected international Jury.
December 1st to 7th, 2022: International screenings of nominated ShortDocs, in partnership with French Institutes worldwide and other global partners.
December 8th, 2022: The Festival Award Ceremony in Paris. On this occasion, the most inspiring 15 ShortDocs will be screened, and awards, prizes and recognitions given
How can I enter the contest?
All applications must follow these two steps:
- Register through our website. To enter the contest, you have to fill in the registration form online you can find on our website. We would like to bring your attention to the fact that this is a mandatory step. In addition, we recommend you do so as soon as you decide to participate in the contest, for it will allow us to reach out for any updates and closely follow you and your ShortDoc.
- Upload your ShortDoc on the shortfilmdepot platform. After having registered on our website (NB: uploading your ShortDoc
shortfilmdepot is not sufficient), you can proceed to upload your
ShortDoc (and other attachments if needed) on shortfilmdepot following this tutorial. You must upload your ShortDoc before October 15th, 2022, midnight French time.
Who can participate in the MC-SD competition?
Applications are open to all: individuals, organizations and since this year, cities this year, cities as well!
There is a special prize for students: if you are a student, please make sure to present
a student card/certificate to prove your status. Special recognition is given to cities: you can find more details in the Terms and Conditions, and contact us at city-innovation@megacities-shortdocs.org.
Where and when will the award ceremony take place?
For the 8th edition, the award ceremony is scheduled for December 8, 2022 in Paris.
However, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that the feasibility of the Festival depends on the health conditions.
What is an honorary recognition?
This year we have introduced two honorary recognitions: The Public Choice Honorary Recognition, given in collaboration with French Institutes worldwide, to the most voted ShortDoc in public screenings around the world; and The Public Sector Innovation Honorary Recognition, given to a city having more than 1 million inhabitants which has submitted an institutional film showing a high level of commitment to the
social and/or environmental urban sphere.
Regarding the '15-minute city PRIZE' which is 1 of the 2 prizes that can be made in any Cities with more than one million inhabitants, could you give us some more information?
The 15-minute city PRIZE is based on showing inspiring solutions that give easy access to the 7 social functions: housing, work, food, education, health care and personal development.
Examples of topics that could be covered:
New ideas concerning housing (shared, solidarity, frugal, ...), co-working initiatives, new approaches to health care (health centers that bring together several specialists, data transmission systems, etc.), ideas around school or education in general (opening schools on weekends, decarbonized school transport, school assistance ...), meal delivery services for vulnerable people, activities around culture or sport, and everything that reduces the circulation of thermal vehicles (logistic platforms, mutualization of transport, car sharing...).
Find Us
YouTube
Information for Applicants
The Total of the 4 Awards & 3 Prizes represent a total value of 11 500€, or approximately 13 000$.
The Awards (Best MegaCities-ShortDoc Maker, Best Positive ShortDoc, Best Student’s ShortDoc, Best Urban Initiative) & The Prizes (The Greater Paris Metropolis, “15 Minute City” & “Urban Climate Crisis”) are open to ShortDoc Makers in all Urban agglomerations or single cities of more than 1 Million inhabitants. There is also "People's Choice" and "The Public Sector Innovation" which are honorary recognitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
In which cities can I shoot my ShortDoc?
The ShortDoc must be shot in a city with a population of more than one million.
of inhabitants.
In the past, we only accepted films shot in a "megacity", defined by the UN as any urban area with more than 10 million inhabitants. As a result, we have a long list of inspiring and powerful short films
shot in cities like Paris, New York, Los Angeles, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Al-Qahirah (Cairo), Lagos, Delhi, Jakarta, Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai and many more. From now on, we are ready to welcome in the MC-SD Festival any city with more than one million inhabitants that is included in the official list of "World Cities in 2018" by the United Nations. For check if your city is included in the list, you can go to this link, click on Reader and check "City population (NB: in thousands) in 2018" for your city.
You can find a simplified view in the Terms of Use.
What are the key dates of the Festival?
Applications for this year are already open! You can register and upload your ShortDoc on shortfilmdepot. Please, be aware of the following key dates to be sure to do not miss out:
October 15th, 2022: Deadline to register on our website and to
upload your ShortDoc on shortfilmdepot.com.
November 2022: The results of the selection process for nominated Shortdocs will be published by our selected international Jury.
December 1st to 7th, 2022: International screenings of nominated ShortDocs, in partnership with French Institutes worldwide and other global partners.
December 8th, 2022: The Festival Award Ceremony in Paris. On this occasion, the most inspiring 15 ShortDocs will be screened, and awards, prizes and recognitions given
Where and when will the award ceremony take place?
For the 8th edition, the award ceremony is scheduled for December 8, 2022 in Paris.
However, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that the feasibility of the Festival depends on the health conditions.
Find Us
Information for Applicants
The total of the 4 prizes and the 3 awards represents a total value of 11 500€.
The Awards ("Best short film about megacities", "Best positive short film", "Best student short film") and the Prizes ("Greater Paris Metropolis", "15-minute city", "Urban climate crisis" and "Best urban initiative") are open to short film makers from all urban agglomerations or isolated cities with more than 1 million inhabitants. There are also 2 honorary recognitions: "Public Choice" and "Innovation in the Public Sector".
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get in touch with the MC-SD team?
You can find detailed information on our website, be sure to check the Terms and Conditions of Use. If you still have questions, we we recommend you to contact us by email at contact@megacitiesshortdocs.org, by Facebook, WhatsApp or LinkedIn. Over the years we have established a rich network of local coordinators and helpers around the world. We will make sure to put you in touch with the one closest to you, if you need additional support.
In which cities can I shoot my ShortDoc?
The ShortDoc must be shot in a city with a population of more than one million of inhabitants.
In the past, we only accepted films shot in a "megacity", defined by the UN as any urban area with more than 10 million inhabitants. As a result, we have a long list of inspiring and powerful short films shot in cities like Paris, New York, Los Angeles, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Al-Qahirah (Cairo), Lagos, Delhi, Jakarta, Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai and many more. From now on, we are ready to welcome in the MC-SD Festival any city with more than one million inhabitants that is included in the official list of "World Cities in 2018 Data Booklet" by the United Nations. For check if your city is included in the list, you can go to this link, click on Reader and check "City population (NB: in thousands) in 2018" for your city.
You can find a simplified view in the Terms of Use.
What are the key dates of the Festival?
Applications for this year are already open! You can register and upload your ShortDoc on shortfilmdepot. Please, be aware of the following key dates to be sure to do not miss out:
October 15th, 2022: Deadline to register on our website and to
upload your ShortDoc on shortfilmdepot.com.
November 2022: The results of the selection process for nominated Shortdocs will be published by our selected international Jury.
December 1st to 7th, 2022: International screenings of nominated ShortDocs, in partnership with French Institutes worldwide and other global partners.
December 8th, 2022: The Festival Award Ceremony in Paris. On this occasion, the most inspiring 15 ShortDocs will be screened, and awards, prizes and recognitions given
How can I enter the contest?
All applications must follow these two steps:
- Register through our website. To enter the contest, you have to fill in the registration form online you can find on our website. We would like to bring your attention to the fact that this is a mandatory step. In addition, we recommend you do so as soon as you decide to participate in the contest, for it will allow us to reach out for any updates and closely follow you and your ShortDoc.
- Upload your ShortDoc on the shortfilmdepot platform. After having registered on our website (NB: uploading your ShortDoc
shortfilmdepot is not sufficient), you can proceed to upload your
ShortDoc (and other attachments if needed) on shortfilmdepot following this tutorial. You must upload your ShortDoc before October 15th, 2022, midnight French time.
Who can participate in the MC-SD competition?
Applications are open to all: individuals, organizations and since this year, cities this year, cities as well!
There is a special prize for students: if you are a student, please make sure to present
a student card/certificate to prove your status. Special recognition is given to cities: you can find more details in the Terms and Conditions, and contact us at city-innovation@megacities-shortdocs.org.
Where and when will the award ceremony take place?
For the 8th edition, the award ceremony is scheduled for December 8, 2022 in Paris.
However, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that the feasibility of the Festival depends on the health conditions.
What is an honorary recognition?
This year we have introduced two honorary recognitions: The Public Choice Honorary Recognition, given in collaboration with French Institutes worldwide, to the most voted ShortDoc in public screenings around the world; and The Public Sector Innovation Honorary Recognition, given to a city having more than 1 million inhabitants which has submitted an institutional film showing a high level of commitment to the
social and/or environmental urban sphere.
What is the difference between an award and a prize?
When you enter the MC-SD contest, you are eligible for three awards: The Best MegaCities-ShortDoc Maker Award, The Best Positive ShortDoc Award, and The Best Student Award. When you win one of our three awards, in addition to the given reward, you also receive a roundtrip flight ticket between your city and Paris to participate at the MC-SD Festival Ceremony. Entering our contest, you are also eligible for four prizes: The Best Urban Initiative Prize, The Greater Paris Metropolis Prize, The 15 Minute City Prize, and The Urban Climate Crisis Prize. Prizes are given to the best ShortDoc within a specific category.
What is the 15 Minute City Prize about?
The 15 Minute City Prize is given in partnership with the Chair ETI - Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, to the ShortDoc maker behind the ShortDoc which best presents the 15 minute city concept. This concept has been introduced in June 2019 by Carlos Moreno, the Scientific Director of ETI at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, who also is the Ambassador of the MC-SD Festival since its creation. This prize aims at addressing urban challenges by encouraging debates on the need to rethink city design and living spaces.
More specifically, the 15 Minute City is an urban model in which the daily necessities can be accomplished by either walking or cycling from residents’ homes, in just 15 minutes. This concept has nowadays spread around the world: the 15 Minute City is at the heart of debates and reflections on today and tomorrow’s urban planning.
In particular, we wish to bring attention to:
- new ideas concerning housing (shared, solidarity, etc) and coworking initiatives;
- new approaches to healthcare (health centres that bring together
several specialists, data transmission systems, etc.), to school and
education in general (opening schools on weekends, decarbonised
school transport, school assistance.), to meal delivery services for
vulnerable people, to cultural and sport activities;
- innovation in terms of transportation (logistic platforms,
mutualisation of transport, car sharing, bikes).
Find Us
YouTube