The Amare Film Festival is an independently run festival entering our second year.

Our mission at Amare Film Festival is to bring the community together to experience unique and diverse stories told by Canadian and international filmmakers. By sharing our love of films, we hope to add excitement and provide a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work.

This is something we're proud to be a part of and we hope to make this experience memorable for all!

This year our festival will be held at The Staircase Theatre in Hamilton, Ontario.

Awards & Prizes

Best Short Film
Best Short Documentary
Best Director
Best Actor/Actress
Best Cinematography
Audience Choice Award

Rules & Terms

1. Eligibility:
All entries must be original work and free from copyright issues.

2. Submission:
All films should be submitted digitally.
Must include a synopsis, director bio, and film stills.

3. Judging Criteria:
Films are judged on story, visuals, creativity, and technical quality.

4. Rights and Screenings:
Public Screening Rights: By submitting to the festival, filmmakers grant the Amare Film Festival the right to publicly screen their film during the festival dates. The festival retains public screening rights only for the duration of the event.
Copyright: Filmmakers retain all rights to their work.
Promotional Use: The festival may use short clips, film stills, and synopses from submitted films for promotional purposes, including trailers, social media posts, and website features, with prior notice given to the filmmakers.

5. Code of Conduct:
Professionalism and Respect: The Amare Film Festival is committed to maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment for all. The festival has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment or discrimination of any kind. Violations may result in removal from the festival without refund.

6. Screening Fee:
Please note, as a small, independent film festival, we currently do not provide any screening fees for selected films.

2 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Mhairi Kerr

    Although a young festival, Amare screens a diverse slate. It is welcoming and the audience is astute. Thanks for voting "The Loving Couple" Best Short Animation and it was a delightful surprise to be voted the audience favourite. If I make another short, I will certainly be submitting. All the best for Amare's future!

    October 2025
    Helpful
  • Eva Guo

    I'm truly grateful to Amare Film Festival for recognizing and supporting my work. It has been a valuable experience to be part of a festival that radiates passion and artistic spirit. The organization was professional, and communication was timely and friendly — making me feel respected and encouraged as a filmmaker. I deeply appreciate the platform they’ve built for independent creators and hope to one day attend in person to experience the films and connect with other artists. Highly recommend this festival to all filmmakers looking for a sincere and well-run event!

    June 2025
    Helpful