The Edmonton International Film Festival (EIFF) is a truly unique festival that champions the bold and challenges the status quo. It is equal parts creative, demanding, celebratory, discriminating and, in the end, just a hell of a lot of fun. 2026 marks a very special occasion, it's our 40th year!
SHORT FILMMAKERS... We announce the award-winning films in the LIVE ACTION and ANIMATION categories by OCTOBER 1st. As an OSCAR® qualifying festival (for short films), this gives filmmakers enough time to apply, and submit to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for the 99th Academy Awards in 2027.
So who are we? In 2003, our love for film and filmMAKERS -- cinematic storytellers -- led us to the curtains of Edmonton's International Film Festival (or LOCAL HEROES as it was known back then) because 'how hard can it be?' The festival was just shy of 20 years young at that time. All of us here in EIFF land had real gigs -- film production, freelancing, broadcast, journalism, raising goats. All of us still do those things, but very part-time now... EIFF is certainly starting to outgrowing its tiny budget.
We come from production, so when you tell us your film is a rough cut, temp audio and no color correct, we understand that! We love films, and the people who MAKE them; so much so, that when you have a film screen here, you become part of our family. And for the record, it's a whole lot harder than we imagined!
Our primary objective is to encourage and support the appreciation of cinema as art. Each autumn, we hoist the curtains on a 10-day cinematic feast that celebrates the power of film. The EIFF menu consists of more than 160 films from 40 countries, ranging from short to feature-length, dramatic to documentary, comedy to gut-wrenching and studio to independent. And we sprinkle it all with a generous dose of filmmaker chats, Q&A's, gala screenings, a local filmmaker spotlight, 'buzzy' films that are travelling the festival circuit, shorts with lunch, parties (of course!) and so much more.
This gem of a festival from the plains of Alberta gives voice, platform and opportunity to filmmakers at all stages of their creative journey and from all parts of the world. Edmonton is North America's northernmost metropolis and is a proud outlier when it comes to art and culture; 'E-Town' does its own thing. It's home to some of the best festivals anywhere and is a favourite with artists of all stripes. Basically, EIFF is one of those events that not only puts Northern Alberta on the map -- it hotly brands it!
WHO ATTENDS? Over the years, we've had the pleasure of hosting: Bif Naked, John Waters, Norman Jewison, Cory Bowles, Academy Award© winner Brenda Fricker, Deepa Mehta, Arthur Hiller, Werner Herzog, Paul Gross, Naomi Klein, Avi Lewis, Don McKellar, Albert Maysles, Jon Cryer, Bruce McDonald, Patrick Warburton, Rita Chiarelli, Shea Whigham, Jesse James Miller, Kris Holden-Ried, Zoie Palmer, Academy Award© winner, Luke Matheny... the list goes on! And countless emerging filmmakers, actors, writers and producers.
“I was honoured to be a juror at EIFF and I shared in the excitement of discovering new voices and visions. EIFF is more important than ever to the citizens and City of Edmonton. It is truly an international festival that doesn’t forget its local, indigenous and regional roots.”
- Carolyn B. (Canada)
At the end of the day, once the curtains close for the final time each year -- EIFF is about the power of film, and how it brings us all together in a way that only the arts can. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Submit NOW and become part of Alberta's longest running international film festival.
Grand Jury (short film) award winners in the LIVE ACTION, ANIMATION, and DOCUMENTARY categories are eligible for ACADEMY AWARDS® consideration, without the standard theatrical run required, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.
We don’t have vaults of cash to pass on to our award winners, but know that all of our filmmakers – submitters, ‘official selections’, award-winners, films we weren’t able to program – have our endless respect and admiration. It’s easy to talk about making a film, but you actually did it! And for that, we heart you.
