A method for selecting a pre-processing filter for scalable video delivery, wherein the scalable video delivery comprises encoding and reconstructing input images through a base layer and one or more enhancement layers, the method comprising: inputting one or more input images into a plurality of pre-processing filters, wherein each input image in the one or more input images is separated into at least one region; processing the output of each pre-processing filter to form, for each pre-processing filter, an output image or data stream, wherein the processing comprises, for each pre-processing filter: subsampling an input image from among the one or more input images to a first resolution to obtain a subsampled image; base layer encoding the subsampled image; adaptively interpolating the base layer encoded subsampled image for a base layer to enhancement layer prediction; and enhancement layer encoding the adaptively interpolated image to a second resolution to obtain the output image or data stream, wherein adaptive interpolation filter parameters used for the adaptive interpolating can vary for different regions in the subsampled image; for each pre-processing filter, evaluating a distortion metric of the output image or data stream; and selecting a pre-processing filter among the plurality of pre-processing filters based on the evaluated distortion metric for each pre-processing filter and feedback from the adaptively interpolating, wherein the feedback comprises information on the adaptive interpolation filter parameters used for the adaptive interpolating. inputting one or more input images into a plurality of pre-processing filters, wherein each input image in the one or more input images is separated into at least one region; processing the output of each pre-processing filter to form, for each pre-processing filter, an output image or data stream, wherein the processing comprises, for each pre-processing filter: subsampling an input image from among the one or more input images to a first resolution to obtain a subsampled image; base layer encoding the subsampled image; adaptively interpolating the base layer encoded subsampled image for a base layer to enhancement layer prediction; and enhancement layer encoding the adaptively interpolated image to a second resolution to obtain the output image or data stream, wherein adaptive interpolation filter parameters used for the adaptive interpolating can vary for different regions in the subsampled image; subsampling an input image from among the one or more input images to a first resolution to obtain a subsampled image; base layer encoding the subsampled image; adaptively interpolating the base layer encoded subsampled image for a base layer to enhancement layer prediction; and enhancement layer encoding the adaptively interpolated image to a second resolution to obtain the output image or data stream, wherein adaptive interpolation filter parameters used for the adaptive interpolating can vary for different regions in the subsampled image; for each pre-processing filter, evaluating a distortion metric of the output image or data stream; and selecting a pre-processing filter among the plurality of pre-processing filters based on the evaluated distortion metric for each pre-processing filter and feedback from the adaptively interpolating, wherein the feedback comprises information on the adaptive interpolation filter parameters used for the adaptive interpolating.