DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS EXTENDED UNTIL APRIL 10th!!!

The Eye2Eye Showcase is a festival that celebrates fresh voices and new perspectives in film by showcasing the works of Emerging Filmmakers.

The one-day festival centers around our Emerging Filmmaker Short Film Competitions with two Award Showcases: one for Post-Secondary students, and one for High School students.

PRIZES: Our Emerging Filmmaker Awards support the work of next generation filmmakers by providing prizes that include $2,500 in equipment rentals, a $1,000 tuition bursary, other in-kind donations and cash awards, and industry mentorships that connect them with working film and media professionals as well as industry resources.

INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS: Eye2Eye provides attendees and award finalists with FREE access to:
- industry Q&As
- a film and media Masterclass
- an Industry and Peer Networking Lunch
- a feature film screening
- and an opportunity for Emerging Filmmakers to share their films in front of a festival audience and industry professionals.

The 2026 Eye2Eye Showcase will be held in beautiful Victoria Hall in Cobourg, Ontario, just over an hour east of Toronto on May 17, 2026.

The Eye2Eye Showcase is powered by FAN: Film Access Northumberland. FAN believes Emerging 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.

Eye2Eye will accept applications to the Emerging Filmmaker Awards (competitive).

Awards & Prizes

Terms & Qualifications for Specific Awards

1. EMERGING FILMMAKER AWARD: POST-SECONDARY

Eligibility: Open to students and recent graduates of Film, Animation, and Digital Media programs residing and studying in the province of Ontario, Canada.

Submissions:
- Submissions are free and have no entry fee
- Only one film submission per entrant per year.
- Films must not exceed 20 minutes, including credits.
- All genres are accepted (e.g. live action narrative, documentary, animation).
- Films must have been produced AT SCHOOL during the 2025/2026 or 2024/2025 academic year.

Student/Graduate Requirement: Entrants must be registered in a university or college film/media program in Ontario during the 2025/2026 academic year, or have graduated from an Ontario film/media program no later than 2025.

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

Awards:
- In-kind awards and mentorships are available to all eligible Emerging Filmmakers.
- Cash/Bursaries available only to active post-secondary students who can prove acceptance into a relevant program in Ontario for the fall of 2026 (e.g., Film, Animation, Digital Media).

Claiming Awards: All awards must be claimed within one year (by June 2027).

2. EMERGING FILMMAKER AWARD: HIGH SCHOOL

Eligibility: Open to high school students from Northumberland County, Peterborough & The Kawarthas, and Kawartha Lakes.

Submissions:
- Submissions are free and have no entry fee
- 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 under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian sign a permission form.

Attendance Requirement: Entrants must be attending high school in the specified regions for the 2025/2026 school year.

Awards are sponsored by Sheila Drew, Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage:
- First prize of $300
- Second prize of $150
- Third prize of $50

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 2024 or later.

5. Filmmaker Eligibility: Emerging Filmmakers for the two short film competitions (Post-Secondary and High School) in accordance with the TERMS AND QUALIFICATIONS above.

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 Film Access Northumberland 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 Emerging Filmmaker Awards and inspire local emerging filmmakers through showcase screenings.

12. Finalist Participation: All finalists are invited to attend the festival on May 17, 2026, including the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase, Masterclass, and Industry Meet & Greet at Victoria Hall 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 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.

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
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