Skip links

Every Single Film Festival in Toronto (2016): All 40+ Of Them!

Yes, there are more festivals in Toronto than just TIFF and Hot Docs. By the way, did you know that there are two “TIFF”s?

One is the TIFF everyone knows, and the other is the “Toronto Independent Film Festival”; a festival you have a hugely greater chance of getting into than the regular TIFF. And the best thing is, you can brag “Hey my movie premiered at TIFF” and technically not be technically.

Film Festivals 2016

 

Every Single Film Festival in Toronto

 

Toronto International Film Festival (link)   

The Toronto International Film Festival is the most prestigious festival in Toronto. I didn’t have to put it first, but ah well.

Genre Restrictions

Multiple films of every kind. No restrictions other than the obvious “no porn.” Unless it’s tasteful porn, and then it can go under the category of “art films you didn’t get.”

Eligibility

International and Canadian short films

Location

350 King St W, Toronto, ON

Deadline

February 8, 2016 to May 6, 2016 (late: June, 3, 2016)

How-To Apply

In order to submit your film, you must register via http://Withoutabox.com and send to: submissions@tiff.net.

Future of Film Showcase (link)

The team behind the Future of Film Showcase is a group of diverse young filmmakers aged 25 and younger.

Genre Restrictions

None, just make sure you are under 30 years old OR you’re studying film currently.  This is to help the up and comers!

Eligibility

Short films but check this out to be sure.

Deadline

April 9th, 2016 (soon!), so apply here.

indiefilmTO Festival 2016 (link)

Yes, a shameless plug, so what? I don’t feel any shame. I wanna screen your movies.

Genre Restrictions

None. We accept short films, and narratives.

Eligibility

Anyone from the GTA or Ontario can apply.  You can apply if you’re international, the thing is, your film better be DAMN good then.  Which I’m sure it is!  You made it after all, you handsome beautiful person you…

Location

Bell TIFF Lightbox, 350 King St. West. Toronto ON.

Deadline

Submissions open on Without A Box on April 15th, and last until August 15th, 2016.

How-To Apply

Keep checking our site, we’ll open up the submissions in the next two weeks. Or you can sign up to be notified here via newsletter.

Queer West Film Festival (link)

Genre Restrictions

Deals with LBTQ themes, or by an artist who belongs to that group.

Location

August 12-14, 2016 U of T – Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Avenue.

Deadline

April 15th, 2016

Toronto Independent Film Festival (link)

The Toronto Independent Film Festival, not to be confused with TIFF, is a short film festival

Genre Restrictions

Just shorts, no genre restrictions.

Eligibility

International films in the following categories: documentary, short film, LGBT film, animated short, Experimental short, Sci-Fi Short, and music videos

Location

20 Carlton Street at Yonge, Toronto, ON M5B 2H5

Deadline

The earliest submission period is January 16, 2016. The latest is July 8th.

How-To Apply

In order to submit your film, you must register via info@film-fest.ca. You must also submit the entry fees.

The Festival Doc Shop (link)

The Festival Doc Shop is a source for only the hottest documentaries

Genre Restrictions

The greatest documentary festival in Toronto. Food for thought!

Eligibility

Documentaries (All Matters) must be English language, subtitled in English or English-versioned

Location

110 Spadina Avenue, Suite 333, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 2K4

Deadline

Submissions for Hot Docs 2016 are now closed

Toronto After Dark (link)

Toronto After Dark is a horror based film centre in Toronto.

Genre Restrictions

Horror. Thriller. Question is, can you take it?

Eligibility

Can you scare or be scared? Seriously, that’s what it says on their site.

Location

3219 Yonge Street, Suite 346, Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3S1

Deadline

TBA (Spring)

How-To Apply

You must contact: info@torontoafterdark.com. There simply is no other way!

Inside Out Film Festival (link)

Toronto’s Queer film festival is a niche market for specific films.

Genre Restrictions

Romance, Queer.

Eligibility

Must have themes that deal with LGBTQ.

Location

401 Richmond Street West, Suite 219, Toronto, ON M5V 3A8 CANADA

Deadline

Deadline has passed.

How-To Apply

Inside Out

Attn: Meryl Warren, Programming Assistant

401 Richmond Street West, Suite 219

Toronto, ON M5V 3A8 CANADA

When in doubt, contact submissions@insideout.ca.

Real Asian Film Festival (link)

Eligibility

East/South/Southeast Asian/Asian North American and Asian Films

Location

401 Richmond Street West, Suite 309. Toronto, Ontario M5V 3A8 Canada

Deadline

EARLY DEADLINE (No Submission Fee): April 17, 2016

REGULAR DEADLINE ($15* short films | $25* feature films): June 19, 2016

FINAL DEADLINE ($30* short films | $45* feature films): July 3, 2016

How-To Apply

Mail your submission to their location, or email info@reelasian.com.

Toronto Jewish Film Festival (link)

Jewish Film Festival of Toronto where you sing, dance and film it!

Eligibility

Must deal in subjects of Jewish history and culture

Location

19 Madison Avenue

Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5R 2S2

Deadline

Passed: January 20, 2016

How-To Apply

http://form.zonefestival.com/?k=tjff_f1

Planet in Focus (link)

Environmentalism films. Hey watch out for those sexy Panda’s.

Eligibility

Must have ecological and environmental topics.

Location

33 Mill Street, Unit 1209, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5A 3R3

Deadline

Early Bird Submission Deadline – April 4th, 2016

General Submission Deadline – May 2nd, 2016

Late Submission Deadline – May 27th, 2016

Cinefranco (link)

The French language film festival, where you get to steal the Pink Panther Diamond of films.

Genre Restrictions

Culturally French centric

Eligibility

The film must be in French.

Location

642 King street West, Suite 307, Toronto, ON M5V 1M5

Deadline

TBA

How-To Apply

http://2016.ci….2016-festival

Images (link)

Provides interdisciplinary films which focus on the cutting edge of new media professionalism

Genre Restrictions

Programming considered outside dominant media

Eligibility

All works related to the moving image, interactive processes and digital media are eligible for entry.

Location

401 Richmond St. W. # 448, Toronto, Ontario M5V 3A8 CANADA

Deadline

Submissions are now closed.

How-To Apply

http://www.ima…tallation.php or email: submissions@imagesfestival.com    

Open Roof Festival (link)

A not for profit outdoor music and film festival

Location

99 Sudbury St, Toronto, ON. M6J 3C2

How-To Apply

Bring your film to the event: contact@openrooffestival.com

Reel World (link)

Eligibility

Feature racially diverse people in prominent roles in film/video content.

Location

243 Eglinton Ave West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4R 1B1

Deadline

(Passed) Keep in mind for the future though.

Toronto Urban Film Festival (link)

North America’s largest commuter film festival.

Genre Restrictions

None but keep in mind the films will be screened at commuter locations.

Eligibility

They search for different kinds of films year to year. Last year they were looking for 60 second silent films. Who knows what they might be seeking next year? Stay creative!

Location

300-266 King St. West Toronto, ON M5V 1H8 (but for screening location, contact them)

Deadline

Submission Opening Date: March 1, 2016

Early-bird deadline: April 1, 2016

Regular deadline: May 27, 2016

Late deadline: June 15, 2016

How-To Apply

Check link.

European Union Film Festival (link)

Genre Restrictions

The European films that interest Toronto audiences.

Location

608 College Street Toronto, Ontario M6G 1A1

Deadline

(Passed) They are opening up soon though so keep checking back.

How-To Apply

Be sure to talk to them in Euro’s: jabessira@eutorontofilmfest.ca

Regent Park Film Festival (link)

Regent Park is Film Festival for the neighborhood of Regent Park.

Eligibility

The festival focuses on stories that resonate with the inner-city, community-driven, transient context of Regent Park, as well as with other communities in Toronto, across Canada and around the globe.

Location

585 Dundas Street East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Deadline

DEADLINE JUNE 10, 2016

How-To Apply

http://regentp…m-submissions/ and email them: info@regentparkfilmfestival.com

Toronto Palestine Film Festival (link)

Genre Restrictions

Palestinian history, culture and politics

Eligibility

Palestinian filmmakers; as well as films on topics related to Palestine by Canadian and International filmmakers

Location

102A-1075 Bay Street, Suite 148 , Toronto, ON M5S 2B2 Canada

Deadline

Passed.

How-To Apply

http://topalff.net/submission/ email: submissions@tpff.ca    

ImagineNative Film and Media Arts Festival (link)

Genre Restrictions

First Nation, American Indian and Canadian Indian films.

Eligibility

To be eligible, an Indigenous person (ie. self-identified as Indigenous, Aboriginal or First Peoples and their descendents) must have held a key creative role on the project as a writer, director, or producer. The content of the film/video can be universal

Location

401 Richmond Street West, Suite 349, Toronto, ON, Canada M5V 3A8

Deadline

Free Deadline: May 15, 2016

Late Deadline ($25 fee): June 1, 2016

How-To Apply

Attn: Submissions

imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival

401 Richmond Street West, Suite 349

Toronto, ON, Canada M5V 3A8

You can always email first: submissions@imaginenative.org.

Female-eye film festival (link)

Films which strongly features women

Genre Restrictions

Subjects involving the lives of women.

Eligibility

Female film-makers, or those with a predominantly female cast/crew.

Location

180 Shaw Street, Toronto, Ontario

Deadline

EARLY DEADLINE

September 30th, 2015 (postmarked)

$30.00 (STUDENT FEE $20.00)

In Competition $100

REGULAR DEADLINE

December 31, 2015 (postmarked)

$45.00 (STUDENT FEE: $20.00)

In Competition $100

LATE DEADLINE

February 29, 2016 (postmarked)

$60.00 (STUDENT FEE: $25.00)

In Competition $100

EXTENDED DEADLINE

March 31, 2016 (postmarked)

$70.00  (STUDENT FEE $45.00)

In Competition $100

How-To Apply

You must submit your film through Vimeo:  submitfeff@gmail.com    

Toronto South African Film Festival (link)

Eligibility

Features and documentaries about the culture, history and politics of South Africa

Deadline

TBA.

How-To Apply

Talk to them at  terence@tsaff.ca

Brazil Film Fest (link)

A film festival dedicated to Brazilian culture in Toronto.

Genre Restrictions

Documentaries or features that showcase Brazilian culture.

Location

TIFF Bell Lightbox.

Deadline

TBA.

How-To Apply

Subscribe to their newsletter or follow them on twitter at @brazilfilmfest.

Toronto Silent Film Festival

You might think it’s silent, but pictures say more than words!

Genre Restrictions

A curse on the spoken word

Eligibility

Must be a silent film

Location

140 Rhodes Avenue. Toronto, Ontario.

Canada M4L 3A1

How-To Apply

Contact them at torontosilentfilm@gmail.com

Scarborough Film Festival(link)

Eligibility

Canadian and world cinema

Location

Suite 572 – 36 Stadium Rd. Toronto, ON., Canada. M5V 3P4

Deadline

Passed.

How-To Apply

info@scarboroughfilmfestival.com

Toronto Web Festival (link)

Eligibility

A festival for independent web series

Deadline

Passed.

Location

The last festival was held at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto

How-To Apply

Email them at info@towebfest.com

Blood in the Snow (link)

Eligibility

Canadian-made shorts, features and documentaries in the horror, underground or grindhouse genres.

Deadline

May 1, 2016 – Earlybird Deadline

August 15, 2016 – Regular Deadline

September 15, 2016 – Late Deadline

October 1, 2016 – Last Chance Deadline

Location

10 Dundas St E, Toronto, ON, CA

How-To Apply

https://filmfreeway.com/festival/BloodintheSnowCanadianFilmFestival

The Canadian Film (link)

Eligibility

Any Canadian-made film

Deadline

Passed.

Location

6 Sandford Ave, Toronto ON

How-To Apply

Email these guys at: berneuler@canfilmfest.ca

8 Fest: Small Gauge Film Festival (link)

Eligibility

Films in any genre

Deadline

Passed.

How- To Apply

the8fest@gmail.com with complete submission form.

aluCine Latin Film + Media Arts Festival (link)

Eligibility

Latin-American films by Latin-American artists living in Canada

Deadline

Passed.

How- To Apply

Submissions are now closed

Location

Jackman Hall AGO

Rendez-vous with Madness (link)

Eligibility

Films designed for high-school students and for the benefit of people living with mental illness

Deadline

TBA

Location

TIFF Bell Lightbox

How- To Apply

Fill out this form: link  and then email: geoff_pevere@workmanarts.com

TIFF Kids International Festival (link)

Eligibility

Films for Kids

Deadline

TIFF Studio: Friday, 25 April 2016

Location

TIFF Lightbox

Cabbagetown Short Film Festival (link)

Eligibility

For the best short films from around the world, to be shown in the neighborhood of Cabbagetown.

Deadline

JULY 31 2016

Location

383 Sackville Street

How-to Apply

Application form at this link: link

The Parkdale Showcase (link)

Deadline

TBA.

Location

Parkdale and Roncesvalles neighborhood

How-to Apply

Visit the submission form here: link

The Breast Film Festival (link)

A Festival dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness.

Eligibility

Documentaries and features exploring being young and suffering from breast cancer

Location

215 Spadina Avenue, Studio 570, Toronto, ON. M5T 2C7

Deadline

TBA.

How-to Apply

Submit your film to: allen@rethinkbreastcancer.com

The Pomegranate Film Festival(link)

The Armenian Film Festival.

Eligibility

Relevant topics for Armenian culture

Location

50 Hallcrown Place, North York. Ontario. M2J 4Y4

Deadline

TBA.

How-to Apply

Submit a film to them by following this link: ( link )

The Water Docs Film Festival(link)

A film festival all about Water and Ecology

Eligibility

Any documentary, short or feature which deals in preserving clean water

Location

250 The East Mall

Deadline

Passed.

How-to Apply

For submitting your film please contact: info@ecologos.ca

The Lakeshorts Film Festival (link)

A short film festival for South Etobicoke.

Eligibility

Short films from independent filmmakers

Location

2422 Lakeshore Blvd W.

Deadline

Passed.

How-to Apply

Please email Michelle Nolden: lakeshorts@lakeshorearts.ca

Ekran – Toronto Polish Film Festival (link)

Ekran Polish Film Association is a grassroots non-profit organization founded in Toronto by a group of individuals who are passionate about showcasing new media arts and films with both a Polish and multicultural focus.

Eligibility

See link.

Location

2765 Lake Shore Blvd. #207 M8V 1H2 Toronto, ON

Deadline

See link.

How-to Apply

Please visit http://ekran.ca/contact-us/

Toronto Youth Shorts (link)

Toronto Youth Shorts is a volunteer-run not-for-profit initiative that produces a series of events for young emerging filmmakers in the Greater Toronto and Southern Ontario Area.

Eligibility

The festival values all forms of entertainment and do not wish to impose any limits or forms of censorship, however you can see more by clicking here and going to the Themes and Subject Matter section.

Location

253 Danforth Ave. Lower Level Toronto, Ontario M4K 1N2

Deadline

REGULAR DEADLINE: The fee for submissions received between March 12 – May 13, 2016 is $20.

How-to Apply

Visit the link or email: torontoyouthshorts [at] gmail [dot] com

Bonus!

The Toronto Fringe Festival (link)

If you are a theatre actor, you can always gather your troops and put on some live performances.  

Talk to them at: The Fringe of Toronto Theatre Festival #403 – 720 Bathurst Street or general@fringetoronto.com.

Toronto International Deaf Film & Arts Festival (link)

A film for the deaf in Toronto.

Genre Restrictions

Must be for the deaf.

Eligibility

Subtitles a must; intended for a deaf audience

Deadline

TBA.

How-To Apply

Contact them at info@titfaf.ca and arts_submission@tidfaf.ca.

 

Leave a comment

Name*

Website

Comment

  1. You guys are missing the new kid on the block, the Future of Film Showcase (fofs.CA)
    Submissions close this Saturday!

    1. Added :). Good luck on your festival !

  2. Um…there are over 160 film festivals in Toronto. This is not even close to a complete list. Sounds like just plug for your own website. I don’t think I’ll advertise my film festival here.

  3. Don’t forget JAYU’s annual Human Rights Film Festival! It’s 5th version is coming up this December 9-11 at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema 🙂