This festival is the film equivalent of the deep cut on your fav record. That amazing track that never makes the airwaves, but to you and yours, out rocks the single.

So we want you to dig deep. We want to screen the cinema from the edge, the fringe frames that need to be seen and shared.

Visit our site for a promo code to save on submissions!

Last year we screened 29 short films, and we can't wait to bring another year of great film to downtown Kitchener. The Registry Theatre will be the place to be!

We're looking for all genres, as well as works that don't easily fit in to any specific box. We'll have different blocks of films, and depending on what we receive will determine the categories.

But here's what we're envisioning, film blocks under the themes of:

Thrillers
Comedy
Experimental films
Art house / mind blowing films
Home movies
Road movies
Industrial / Corporate & Commercial videos
Drama
Documentaries
Horror (we are the Deep Cut Fest after all...)

Yes, the categories are wide, but a deep cut doesn't limit itself to one genre. Show us what you've got, we can't wait to watch. We love indies, and we love keeping things weird in Kitchener!

Awards & Prizes

This is a juried festival and winners will receive the Deep Cut Award for various categories.

Rules & Terms

Rules and Terms:

We will accept films from any country, however, if they are not in English, please subtitle or dub them.
If your film is accepted, we only screen digital files. Thanks for understanding.
There is no "film made by" date. If it's good, we want to see it, regardless if it was produced in 2016, '96, or '76.

We do not accept films of any length that are currently available for public viewing on YouTube, Vimeo, or any other online streaming service.

We'll accept submissions that have been previously screened elsewhere.

For those submitting, you must be authorized to submit the film, and hold the rights to the film. Any violations of copyright will not be tolerated.

Submitting your film does not guarantee a spot in the Deep Cut Film Festival lineup. However, we will get back to everyone who does submit to let them know the outcome of our decision.

If your film is accepted, you will gladly send us some digital promo material, and let us use this material to promote your film as part of our festival lineup.

We only accept digital screeners, via FilmFreeway. That is all.

We will not accept works in progress. All entry fees paid are non-refundable. Please be sure to submit under the correct category.

Upon submission, the Deep Cut Film Festival is granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless the Deep Cut Film Festival 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.
Thank you for taking the time to read these rules.

10 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • ian johnston

    A nice, simple one day festival in downtown Kitchener. I liked the venue and the movies were different and varied.

    July 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks, Ian. Glad you enjoyed the fest, and thanks again for taking the time to check it out, and for sharing your films with us!

  • Michele Kaye

    Great festival! Thanks to David Briggs for having us! Would definitely recommend :)

    July 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks so much, Michele! Glad you had a good time, and it was very cool to meet you. Keep in touch, and see you next year!

  • Jayson Stewart

    I wish I had been able to make it to the festival but was most impressed by the organization of the event. I was doubly pleased to have my film REZilience featured in some of the local media coverage.

    July 2018
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    Response from festival:

    We wish you could have been there too, Jayson. But we loved having REZilience to screen, so thanks for that. And yes, it was cool to see your poster in the Record's coverage. Got to love the promo!

  • Chris Ross

    Great fest, great venue, great people! I look forward to next year!

    July 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks so much, Chris! It was great meeting you at the fest!

  • Jason Seelmann

    So sorry I was unable to make it. The communication leading up to it and connections made remotely have been great!

    July 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for the kind words, Jason. Hope you can make it out sometime, would be great to meet you. And thanks so much for sharing your film with us. Loved it!