Calling all environmental and climate focused filmmakers! Submit your innovative films to the Climate Action NOW (CAN) Film Festival, dedicated to showcasing solutions to our three greatest global crises. The CAN Film Festival aims to highlight creative storytelling that addresses climate solutions, biodiversity loss solutions, and the plastic crisis solutions. We invite submissions that inspire action, spark dialogue, and promote sustainable practices. Join us in amplifying voices that are making a difference. Be part of this exciting event and contribute to a vital conversation about the triple crises that threaten humanity's survival.

CANFF is a wonderfully unique format, screening the ELITE EIGHT Official Selections at a steady pace throughout the year, one film screening per month for 8 months. Each selection will be showcased through our Monthly Monday Eco Flicks. Following each screening, there will be an engaging panel discussion. We have a successful track record of filling the 250 seat theatre for each of our 2024 screening events so far, which have all been held in the iconic Cinema Arts Theatres located in the heart of Fairfax County, Virginia, just 30 minutes from our nation's capital.

ABOUT FAIRFAX
Fairfax County is the bedroom of Washington DC, and is where the majority of our government, military, political, and tech leaders reside, most of whom spend a major portion of their time trying to solve these three life-threatening crises. Each of the selected ELITE EIGHT films will receive excellent exposure as communities across the country strive to reach carbon reduction targets, mitigate climate impacts, and transition to a more sustainable, circular economy.

ELITE EIGHT 2025 SCREENING DATES
January 27, February 24, March 31, April 28, September 29, October 20, November 17, and December 8. Awards will be formally announced at the end of the year.

The ELITE EIGHT 2024 FILMS SELECTED for MONTHLY MONDAY ECO FLICKS (this was our kick-off year which was not a film festival): Common Ground, Breaking Boundaries, Plastic Earth, The Last Bumblebee, Just Eat It-A Food Waste Story, Blue Carbon, Out There-A National Parks Story, and Fantastic Fungi.

ZERO WASTE EVENTS
We promote zero waste events. Attendees are encouraged to bring their clean, empty reusable drink and popcorn containers. Cinema Arts Theatres is able to price based on size.

Awards & Prizes

Official ELITE EIGHT Selection
Green Audience Choice Award
Climate Champion Award
Eco-Visionary Award

All ELITE EIGHT climate-biodiversity-plastic solutions films will be promoted on social media throughout the year in one of the country's most influential markets. Our mission is to help amplify your solution so that it's quickly adopted by families and communities across the U.S., and hopefully becomes legislation in countries and states as soon as possible.

Rules & Terms

CAN is an approved climate solutions 501C3 (EIN:87-2679837) on a mission to promote the most effective climate-biodiversity-plastic solutions to the public and community leaders as we race to stay below 2ºC.

1. Rolling Submissions that run from September 2024-July 2025. First come, first serve. We only select 8 films, so we encourage you to submit early. Once the 8 films are chosen, the door will be shut for 2025 and our focus will shift to 2026. Please email any questions you may have about rolling submissions.

2. We're highly selective, seeking solutions-orientated films, which is a very narrow category. Thus, we have a pre-screening process that will save you time and money. Submit the Youtube or Vimeo trailer link for free through email to and we'll get back to you within 2 weeks. If approved, you can then follow the normal FilmFreeway submission process as outlined on this page and pay the associated fee.

3. We'll choose one film for each of the various screening dates at least 2 months prior to each date, if not sooner. 2025 dates: January 27, February 24, March 31, April 28, September 29, October 20, November 17, and December 8.

4. Ideal runtime is 75 minutes. Generally, nothing below 60 minutes, or above 90 minutes, although we do make exceptions.

5. Premieres are a priority, although prior screenings are also eagerly accepted.

6. We only accept films through FilmFreeway.

7. If your film becomes an Official ELITE EIGHT Selection, you MUST provide high resolution film poster that includes title, director, and filmmaker, along with a separate brief summary.

8. Entry fees are nonrefundable. If we invite you to sub

9. English language ONLY.

10. We only communicate through email.

RIGHTS & RELEASES
・By entering a film for consideration to CANFF, the submitter understands that they own or control the film's copyright and are duly authorized to submit the film to CANFF.
・CANFF reserves the right to copy and use any publicity materials (photographs, film stills, trailers, and film segments up to 3 minutes) for non-commercial promotional purposes and for archival material, at no additional cost prior to and throughout the film's public screening date.
・By submitting a film, the submitter shall indemnify and hold harmless CANFF from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.