Macau showcases local shorts at Venice Days ahead of Galaxy film festival

Macau’s film scene is set for a dual celebration of local and global short films.

The city will showcase a curated selection of local shorts at the Venice International Film Festival’s parallel event, “Giornate degli Autori” (Venice Days), through a partnership between the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG), and Italy’s Giornate degli Autori, on August 29-30.

Following this, the 2nd Galaxy Entertainment Group Macao International Shorts Film Festival (GEMISF) will take place from September 14 to 21.

Speaking at yesterday’s press conference, IC president Deland Leong explained, “The purpose of hosting this short film program is to promote exchange between local film and television talent and the international community, while introducing audiences to a diverse range of international and Asian films, and showcasing the diversity and vitality of short films.”

Leong emphasized the IC’s and Macau’s ongoing commitment to cultural development, stating, “The MSAR Government has long attached great importance to cultural development and actively promoted the city’s status as a performing arts capital.”

She also noted that this year’s special focus on “East Asian-themed films” aligns with Macau’s designation as the “Culture City of East Asia 2025 – Macao, China.”

Building on this cultural momentum, Annie Loi, vice president of public relations for GEG, emphasized Galaxy’s commitment to nurturing creative growth in Macau.

“This year’s event builds on last year’s success by bringing together exceptional film talent and productions from around the world, strengthening connections with the international film industry, and actively encouraging Macau’s local productions to participate in global film festivals,” said Loi. She also pointed to the upcoming “Macao Day” event in Venice later this month as a prime example of this outreach.

The GEMISF festival features five sections: “Macao Shorts,” “New Voices from Horizon,” “Director in Focus,” “East Asia View,” and “Special Screenings.” It will take place across multiple venues in September, with screenings and workshops held at Galaxy Cinemas, Galaxy International Convention Center, Andaz Macau, and the IC’s Cinematheque Passion.

This year’s International Advisory Board includes returning members – Italian film producer and Venice Days artistic director Gaia Furrer, Canadian programmer Jason Anderson, and Chinese curator Shen Yang. New members from Europe, Asia, and Chinese-speaking regions have also joined this year’s organizing committee.

In addition to screenings, the event offers professional development opportunities. This year, Jeremy Chua, General Manager of the Singapore International Film Festival, will lead a three-day workshop focusing on international market collaboration and festival strategies. Participants will also have the chance to attend the SGIFF PRO Industry Days in December 2025. The application deadline for this workshop is September 2, 2025.

According to the IC, the budget for this year’s project is MOP2.1 million, and the organizers disclosed yesterday that they expect to offer up to 2,000 tickets.