Exposures Montréal Trans Film Festival (ETFF) is Canada’s only film festival dedicated to celebrating and uplifting the work of Trans* (trans, non-binary, gender-nonconforming, intersex, and Two-Spirit) artists and filmmakers.

Following the success of our first two editions, our third festival will take place around Trans Day of Visibility, from March 31 to April 4, 2027. Although this timing is significant, Exposures’ work extends beyond visibility alone.

Seeing ourselves meaningfully represented on screen matters. But what makes film festivals unique is their ability to help us find one another in the physical world. At Exposures, we help our community discover great art, share space, and build solidarity in joyful and imperfect ways. Our larger goal is to contribute to a sustainable trans film culture: one that supports trans creators, connects artists with new audiences, honours our histories, and nurtures future generations of trans artists.

The 2027 edition will feature multiple daily screenings, including feature films and curated short film programmes from Canada and the international trans filmmaking community. Our programme will bring together a wide range of work, from documentary and narrative cinema to experimental film, animation, genre film, and DIY filmmaking.

Beyond the screen, Exposures works in collaboration with trans-focused organizations, artists, and community partners across Montréal and beyond to create workshops, conversations, and community-driven initiatives. These activities are designed to foster skill-sharing, artistic development, and community building, while addressing critical gaps in resources and opportunities for trans artists.

Awards & Prizes

This year's festival will include both Jury and Audience Awards.

JURY AWARDS

Festival jurors are invited to watch a selection of films from the Exposures Trans Film Festival programme, shortlisted by the Exposures programming team, and to select winners for the festival’s juried awards.

Juried award categories may include:

Best International Short Film
Best Canadian Short Film
Best Feature Film
Special Jury Prize

AUDIENCE AWARDS

Throughout the festival, Exposures audiences are invited to vote for the Audience Awards, which recognize the films that most deeply resonate with our communities.

Audience award categories may include:

Audience Award for Best Feature Film
Audience Award for Best Short Film

Rules & Terms

The film submitted must fall within the focus of our festival. This means one of two things. It must either:
- Represent trans experiences or storytelling on screen.
- Be made by or in collaboration with trans people, whether that be the actors, director, producer, or other artist involved with the film’s production in a significant way.

If it is not clear how your film meets the focus of our festival, it is likely we will not watch your submission. Please ensure that this information is clearly presented either in the description or the submissions form to ensure that we see your film.

In the world of AI, we must also ensure that you have full rights over your film. If any part of your film was created using AI or generative image programs, you must clearly disclose this in your application and provide proof that you have the legal right to use these elements commercially.

**Submission Requirements**

To submit your film for consideration, please ensure your submission includes the following:

- Your name and contact information
- Name of the director (if different from the contact above)
- Title of film(s)
- Running length
- Country of origin
- Year of completion
- Available exhibition formats
- A short synopsis of your film
- Five keywords that best describe your film
- Accessibility information:
Does your film include English subtitles or Closed Captioning for the Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing?
If not, will a captioned version be available by January 30, 2027?
- Eligibility:
If it is not already clear, please explain how your film fits our submission criteria.
Was it made by and/or with trans people?
Does it explore trans themes or employ trans aesthetics?

How to Submit

Preview screeners will be accepted through FilmFreeway or can be emailed directly to:
📧 iris@exposuresmtl.com.

**Technical Requirements**

If your film is selected, you will be asked to submit a downloadable video file via FilmFreeway or email.

File Specifications:
- Please ensure that your video file is playable by VLC or a similar basic video player without the need for downloading supplementary codecs, as well as being of a reasonable file size.
- Supported formats that are best: .mp4, .mov, .mkv, .avi.
- File size: Your file should be of reasonable size for efficient transfer and playback.

Captioning Requirements:
- All selected films must include captions.
- You must provide either:
A caption file (.srt or .vtt) OR
A burned-in caption version of your film.

If you do not yet have captions, please reach out to iris@exposuresmtl.com for guidance and help. This is part of our commitment to making the festival more accessible and ensuring a broader audience can enjoy your work!

If your work is accepted, we require your digital exhibition copy to be sent via email or file transfer on or before January 30, 2027.

PLEASE NOTE:

If a film is accepted by Exposures, stills and trailers provided by the submitter may be used for promotional purposes.
10 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
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  • Sue Suhy

    Sweet people and great communication.

    December 2025
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  • Jill Gillespie

    It was wonderful and an incredible honor to have my film screened at Exposures. I've met much love from audience who saw it there. Congrats to the festival team and keep up the great work!

    October 2025
    Helpful
  • Mystery Byrd

    Really wonderful festival! This was my first time screening my short film in another town and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Trans cinema is so important, I'm incredibly grateful for this space where I could connect with other trans cineastes and cinephiles from around Turtle Island.

    October 2025
    Helpful
  • Lajô Filmes

    It was a pleasure to take part in the festival. The team’s communication was excellent, and I really loved the quality of the promotions and the website. I wish I could have attended in person, but hopefully in future events that can become a reality.

    September 2025
    Helpful
  • Hiram Harrington

    Phenomenally cool festival. Honoured to have had my short shown amongst such BANGERS in the Video Nasty category. I cannot commend the team behind this more highly for their professionalism and fantastic vibes. Submit your film here, or regret it forever!

    September 2025
    Helpful