Located in one of North America's 10 Best Cities to Live and Work As a Movie Maker and celebrating its 25th anniversary, the 11-day Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) has grown to be the biggest film festival in Alberta and the sixth-largest in Canada.

Offering over $40,000 in cash and prizes, the festival awards outstanding films selected by the audience and esteemed juries. Showcasing an average of 200 short and feature length multi-genre films, from Canada and around the world, CIFF is a qualifying, accredited festival for the Academy Awards® and the Canadian Screen Awards.

Taking place on the edge of the world's most dynamic filming locations, the festival is known for its hospitality and has been named one of the “Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” by MovieMaker Magazine in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023.

Check out our non-juried Film Sections (Late Shift, Music on Screen, and Special Presentations). These are eligible for audience awards.

Waivers: We provide fee waiver codes for festival alumni and Alberta productions.

Questions? Contact us at programming@ciffcalgary.ca

Awards & Prizes

$10,000 CAD: RBC Emerging Canadian Artist. This juried award is given to the Canadian director who creates the best first or second narrative feature film.

$5,000 CAD: DGC Canadian Documentary Feature. This juried award is given to the Canadian director who creates the best documentary in the section. Presented by Directors Guild Canada.

$1,000 CAD: International Narrative Feature. This juried award is given to the international director who creates the best film in the section.

$1,000 CAD: International Documentary Feature. This juried award is given to the international director who creates the best documentary in the section.

$2,500 CAD: Short Film Grand Jury Prize. This juried award is given to the best overall short film at the festival and also qualifies the winner for consideration in the appropriate category of the Academy Awards®, without the standard theatrical run that a film typically needs to qualify for an Oscar® nomination.

Additional prizes for short films include:

$1,000 CAD: Alberta Short Film Devon Bolton Memorial Award
$1,000 CAD: Live Action Short Film
$1,000 CAD: Documentary Short Film
$1,000 CAD: Animated Short Film
$1,000 CAD: Student Short Film
$1,000 CAD: Experimental Short Film
$1,000 CAD & Scholarship Opportunity to Vancouver Film School valued at up to $18,000 CAD: NBCUniversal Youth by Youth Canada Short Film

9 Feature Film Audience Choice Awards:

Alberta Feature
Canadian Narrative
Canadian Documentary
International Narrative
International Documentary
Late Shift
Music on Screen
Generation Next
Special Presentations

4 Short Film Audience Choice Awards:

Alberta
Documentary
Live Action
Animated

Rules & Terms

1) The film must not have been exhibited before June 1, 2023 and not previously submitted to the Calgary International Film Festival.

2) FEATURE FILMS MUST be at minimum a Calgary premiere (i.e. the film cannot have been screened publicly in Calgary prior to the 2024 Festival, including broadcast versions of any length, other local film festivals and cast/crew screenings.

3) FEATURE FILMS MUST NOT be or have been available online in any form within Canada (e.g. iTunes, VOD, Netflix).

4) SHORT FILMS - Priority is given to films that have not yet screened in Calgary and are not yet available online. We do accept competition-based created shorts, where screening online is part of the process (e.g. Telus STORYHIVE).

5) All applicable licenses and waivers of copyrights, moral rights, trademarks and other such intellectual property rights have been secured by the filmmaker(s) .

6) Films not in the English language must be subtitled in English.

7) Films previously submitted to the Festival in any stage of completion (i.e. films that were submitted as rough cuts) will not be reconsidered.

8) Submission fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.

9) Submission deadlines are at 11:59 PM MST of the posted date.

10) Generally, we aim to preview each film a minimum of two times. Some films may only be viewed once if by a programmer or member of programming staff or Artistic Director.

11) Films only need to be submitted in one category. All films submitted will be considered for the category they are best suited by the programming team.

Waivers:

We provide fee waiver codes for festival alumni & Alberta productions. Filmmakers must contact the programming department to request a waiver PRIOR to submitting their film at programming@ciffcalgary.ca.

Alberta Short Films: Films must meet the Alberta point requirements to qualify. (Total of 5 points required)

Alberta location (2 points)
Resident Albertan principal cast member (1 point)
Resident Albertan writer (1 point)
Resident Albertan producer (1 point)
Resident Albertan director (1 point)
Alberta funding source (2 points)

Student Short Film: Must be enrolled in or recently graduated from a post-secondary institution. Must upload a copy of student ID, transcript or signed letter from a professor on university letterhead to FilmFreeway.

Youth by Youth Canada: Must be 18 years of age or under at the time of filming and a Canadian resident. Must upload a copy of student ID, driver's license or signed letter verifying age and Canadian residency from a teacher on school letterhead to FilmFreeway.
40 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Sepideh Yadegar

    Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) is a celebration of cinematic creativity that fosters a vibrant community of filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences. CIFF's wonderful programmers and volunteers ensured that both emerging and established talents got a platform to showcase their films and have their voices heard. It is one of my favourite festival experiences.

    October 2024
    Helpful
  • AdrianGdelaPena .

    I may be biased by living in Calgary but honestly, CIFF is a very good and strong festival, building a great reputation and contending with the big cities in Canada. Communication was great, and even during the festivals, staff, and programmers would come and say hi, they really make you feel welcomed and part of it.

    I was able to be present at all the festival activities from screenings, special events, and the industry week panels. speaking specifically about the industry week, it added value to my festival experience, I was able to network with industry people and up-and-coming talent. I take away the fact of building new strong connections within the Canadian film industry and learned a lot from some of them either at their panels or by conversations.

    I got invited to a VIP dinner hosted by the DGC, that was another highlight of the festival.

    My only comment is about cocktail hours or the main opening party after the opening screening. They could need a bit of improvement, those events are where the networking really happens and for some reason (not because of CIFF) people would leave after 40 minutes. I believe turning these into more memorable celebrations could enhance the experience of attendees and consolidate the name of CIFF among festivals.

    Also, as a future consideration, creating a development lab in the festival would then help foster talent whether from Alberta or internationally.

    October 2024
    Helpful
  • JAK .

    CIFF 2023 was a fantastic, well-rounded experience. Their programming team, especially Adam, were exceptionally friendly, communicative, and professional. The festival itself was as lively and well-attended as always, with multiple sold-out screenings. As a filmmaker I felt taken care of. There were many valuable networking events where I got to meet filmmakers, producers, and film lovers. As a new filmmaker this was an invaluable experience and I will be back to enjoy their film selection every year!

    October 2023
    Helpful
  • Vital Distribution - Elisabeth Dumouchel

    Great festival! Whenever we had a question, the festival team was really cooperative and helped us. We are very proud that our film played at the Calgary International Film Festival and to be apart of this impressive selection of films! Thank you CIFF!

    October 2023
    Helpful
  • Serenella Sol

    I had an excellent experience with CIFF. I am very thankful to all the staff and volunteers who made this festival successful. The festival had a high attendance, and it was well organized. Thank you!

    October 2023
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