Edmonton's iconic International Festival of Winter Cinema (IFWC) returns to celebrate local and international winter, mountain, and polar cinema on our giant snow screen! With a focus on films featuring Indigenous perspectives, winter life, snow (of course!), and our changing climate, we are the world's only free outdoor all-winter film festival that pays screening fees.

Our EIGHTH season will showcase short and feature films in conjunction with our programming partner, Silver Skate, Edmonton's festival for winter sports, arts and culture, and recreation for the whole family. After a day at Silver Skate, join us, heated by blankets, hot chocolate or coffee, and fires, to watch the best in recent and classic local, Canadian, and international winter shorts and feature films.

IFWC 2025 will continue to offer preferential programming of local films, including those that don't necessarily include winter themes.

The IFWC is supported by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Cultural Human Resources Council, Edmonton Arts Council, Edmonton Screen Industries Office, Silver Skate Festival, Analog Brewing Company, Winter City Edmonton, YEGFilm, and many others.

The Golden Snowflake - Best Winter Film
The Crimson Snowflake - Best Canadian Film
The Sapphire Snowflake - Best Edmonton Film

1. Except for Edmonton-made films, all films must be relevant to at least one of the theme(s) of the festival in order to be considered as a possible candidate. The theme(s) of the festival are Winter, climate change, alpine, polar, and Indigenous perspectives.

2. All participants understand that their selected work may be shown at least once during the International Festival of Winter Cinema and any other related event.

3. The IFWC welcomes all entries, but specifically encourages films made by Edmonton, low income, LGBTQ2S+, BIPOC or differently abled filmmakers.

4. All non-English films with dialogue must have English subtitles. In the interest of accessibility, English closed captioning is also welcome for all films.

5. All artist fees will be paid by PayPal or Interac e-transfer to the submitter within 90 days after the festival. The IFWC reserves the right to amend its screening fees rates and payment schedule at any time.

6. The IFWC reserves the right to remove selected films from its program for any reason and at any time.

7. The IFWC shall not be held responsible for any audiovisual materials that are damaged as part of the submission or exhibition process.

8. IFWC will only accept digital screener submissions and exhibition copies.

9. By submitting your film, you agree to the IFWC using all audiovisual media associated with your film and your press kit for promotional purposes in perpetuity.

10. The IFWC reviews all submissions but shall not be held responsible for any incomplete submissions, including those that affect final decisions. For all technical issues related to your submission please contact filmfreeway.com.

11. The IFWC encourages filmmakers to attend the Festival in an environmentally sustainable manner and does not pay for travel costs. Non-Edmonton filmmakers are encouraged to prioritize investing their resources into developing their local arts and culture scene over long-distance travel.

12. Filmmakers of any age may submit to the festival. Filmmakers under 18 years of age whose films are selected may be asked to provide parental/guardian consent for selected activities.

13. Upon submitting a film, the applicant agrees it holds all rights to distribute and exhibit all intellectual property associated with their submission.

14. The International Festival of Winter Cinema Society is the administrator of the International Festival of Winter Cinema and reserves the right to amend any rules and terms at any time and for any reason.

15. By submitting a film, the applicant acknowledges that they have read and agreed to the above terms.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Kevin McLellan

    Pleased that "It Fell" was shown in this amazing festival! Thank you so much, organizers!

    March 2024
  • A wonderful festival. I have been unable to be there for the distance and for busy time, but they were great to comunicate, send photos and feedbacks. The selection is really interesting. And the most wonderful thing is that film are projected on a wall of snow!

    February 2024
  • What a great festival to be a part of. I was so happy to see my film on the snow screen - which worked amazing well. The staff were amazing! I would recommend this festival to anyone.

    March 2023
  • Daisuke Kurata

    I am honored to be selected for the festival. I'm happy that my ski movie was shown in the snow! It feels great as a winter film festival.

    February 2022
  • Marcel F

    Cold but enjoyable. Very interesting to watch my video play on the snow screen. I showed up 3 times, but each time it was cold, but I managed to stay an hour each time. I know my short film, Spirit Mother, took on the 215 dead children found in Kamloops, with some spiritual and religious overtones. It the speaker system was great. I when I heard my short film, which was a music video, I was shocked on how good it sounded. The girl's and their dad from Argentina did such good job on singing and creating music to my lyrics. I just had to finish the music video with a couple musical additions. I was happy to be at Hawrelak Park to watch this event. I enjoyed a few other films. I wish everyone all the best from the videos, be well, live well.

    February 2022