ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
• The director must identify as emerging talent. This can mean one or a combination of the following: they have not yet directed a feature length-film at the time of the festival in December 2026, they have made several films but with very limited distribution, most of their films were made in school and none have received any significant funding, festival life, or further distribution. Optional: Feel free to include a note describing your level of experience.
• The director must self-identify as a woman or gender-diverse person.
• Films in a language other than English must have English subtitles.
• We are mandated to program majority Canadian content but we accept and screen international works every year as well.
• Films with potentially triggering content should include a brief note in their film description indicating the themes that might be triggering to viewers e.g. any form of violence, hate speech, self-harm amongst other forms.
Please Note: BFF prioritizes the work, expressions, and experiences of folks who identify as Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, trans, non-binary, working class, neurodiverse, or people with disabilities. We encourage filmmakers to self-identify in their bios if they feel comfortable doing so.
FAQ
• Do you pay screening fees?
Yes, we pay every artist a screening fee in CAD as per the 2026 Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA) screening fee schedule. Screening Fees are disbursed 3-4 weeks after the festival.
• What is the maximum runtime BFF will accept?
Your short film cannot be more than 20 minutes in length, credits included.
• How old can my film be?
All films presented at BFF must be completed after January 2024.
• How does BFF accept submissions?
We accept submissions via FilmFreeway only.
• What formats do you accept film submissions?
Films must be submitted as online screeners only.
• Do all submissions get viewed?
Yes, every single film submitted to BFF gets at least two views.
• Do you accept rough cuts?
Yes. Just be sure to mark the submission as a rough cut, let us know which elements are incomplete (music, sound mix, colour, missing scenes) and give us a firm deadline by which the final film will be completed.
• Does BFF hand out submission waivers?
As a non-profit organization, we rely upon submission fees to help cover some of the costs of running the festival. However, each year we offer a limited number of submission waivers to emerging filmmakers who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, low income/under-employed and/or people with disabilities. We also offer limited waivers to filmmakers from a region with purchasing power parity considerations (significantly weaker currency than the dollar). To request a waiver, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/rAzERTB1YK6L2euD8. Please note, this form will close on July 30th, 2026 to ensure codes can be sent out on time.
• If the film is co-directed by someone who identifies as a cis man, can we still submit?
Yes, if one co-director identifies as a woman or gender-diverse person, you are welcome to submit.
• Do you offer feedback on unselected films?
No, unfortunately BFF is a volunteer-run organization and we do not yet have the capacity to offer feedback to filmmakers.
• I submitted last year and wasn’t accepted. Can I resubmit?
Yes, as long as your submission is still within our eligibility window (completed after January 1, 2023).
