The Eye2Eye Film Festival celebrates the works of Emerging Filmmakers, runs Q&As and Masterclasses, and curates top quality long-format films from around the world for our three-day festival. We work to support the next generation of filmmakers by connecting them with industry resources through mentorships, in-kind donations and cash awards.

Eye2Eye will accept applications to our Short Film Awards (competitive).

The Eye2Eye Film Festival will be held in beautiful Victoria Hall in Cobourg, Ontario, just 90 minutes east of Toronto on June 6, 7 & 8, 2025.

The Eye2Eye Film Festival is powered by FAN: Film Access Northumberland. FAN believes Emerging and Student Filmmakers are the future of the film industry and it is critical to connect the next generation of talented and innovative storytellers with industry professionals. FAN works to foster education and film appreciation in our Southeastern Ontario communities.

Awards & Prizes

Terms & Qualifications for Specific Awards

1. FILM NEWCOMER AWARD
- Eligibility: Open to high school students from Northumberland County,
Peterborough & The Kawarthas, Kawartha Lakes, and Bowmanville High School.

- Submissions:
- Only one film submission per entrant.
- A second submission may be considered for an entrant who participated in a
group project. Please describe this in your application in detail.
- Films must not exceed 10 minutes, including credits.

- Parental Consent: Finalists must have a parent or guardian sign a permission form.

- Attendance Requirement: Entrants must be attending high school in the specified
regions for the 2024/2025 school year.

2. FILM FORWARD AWARD
- Eligibility: Open to emerging filmmakers residing, studying, or working in Ontario.

- Submission Fee: $5 per entry.

- Submissions:
- Only one film submission per entrant per year.
- Films must not exceed 20 minutes, including credits.

- Rights: Entrants must hold all rights to the submitted materials and may need to
provide clearance documentation.

- Awards:
- Cash/bursaries available only to active post-secondary students who can
prove acceptance into a relevant program (e.g., Film, Animation, Digital
Media) in Ontario for the fall of 2025.
- In-Kind awards and mentorships are available to emerging filmmakers of any
age or vocation.

- Claiming Awards: All awards must be claimed within one year (by June 2026).

Rules & Terms

Eye2Eye Film Festival Submission Guidelines

1. Eligibility and Awards: Decisions on eligibility and awards are made by the Festival Director(s) and Judges.

2. Content Sensitivity: The festival may flag programs with sensitive content.

3. Submission Format: Films must be submitted via Vimeo or YouTube, with passwords provided.

4. Completion Date: Films must have been completed in 2022 or later.

5. Filmmaker Eligibility: Emerging Filmmakers of all ages are encouraged to submit pending the TERMS AND QUALIFICATIONS in each category below.

6. Parental Consent: Filmmakers under 18 must provide parental or guardian permission if shortlisted.

7. Language and Subtitles: Non-English films must include English subtitles as open captions.

8. Technical Specifications: Films must be in a 16:9 aspect ratio and can be in 2K or 1080p resolution, adhering to file size limits.

9. Promotional Materials: Submission of promotional materials (posters, photos, bios) is encouraged.

10. Usage Rights: The festival is granted the right to use excerpts from submitted films and promotional materials for promotional purposes.

11. Screening Rights: Entrants grant the Eye2Eye Film Festival the non-exclusive right to screen their film at local community events after the festival weekend. This screening is part of a curated program of shorts designed to promote the Eye2Eye Film Festival and inspire local emerging filmmakers through showcase screenings.

12. Finalist Participation: All finalists are invited to attend the festival on June 6-8, 2025, including the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase, Masterclass, and Industry Meet & Greet on June 8 in Cobourg, Ontario.

13. Authorization: The submitter certifies they are authorized to submit the film for screening and accepts all festival requirements and regulations.

14. Entry Refusal: The festival reserves the right to refuse any entries.

15. Indemnification: Submitters agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Eye2Eye Film Festival and its parent organization, Film Access Northumberland, against any claims related to copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and any loss or damage to submitted films.

16. Non-Return Policy: Entries will not be returned after submission.

IMPORTANT DATES:

November 1: Applications open for all categories
April 11: Film Forward deadline – applications close
May 1: Film Newcomer deadline – applications close
May 12: Film Forward finalists announced
May 19: Film Newcomer finalists announced
June 6-8: Eye2Eye International Film Festival weekend
June 8: Emerging Filmmaker Showcase & Awards Presentation, Masterclass, and Industry Meet & Greet (by invite-only)
1 Review
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  • Katie Uhlmann

    Such a great festival that draws talent from across the country. The venue in historic Cobourg is gorgeous and the hosts are very hospitable. Thank you for a wonderful experience :)

    November 2024
    Helpful