FIN Atlantic International Film Festival has blossomed into one of Canada’s premier celebrations of film and filmmaking, becoming an essential platform for films both local and global. Celebrating its 42nd year in 2022, the festival began as a tiny, grassroots operation in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1981, relocating to Halifax the following year. Providing an immersive escape and experience for movie lovers, filmmakers, and industry professionals worldwide, the Atlantic International Film Festival is Atlantic Canada’s curator of epic and unforgettable stories.

Awards & Prizes

Awards included:

The Gordon Parsons Award for Best Atlantic Feature
Award is open to all eligible Atlantic Canadian feature length films selected to the 42nd Atlantic International Film Festival.

Best Atlantic Short
Award is open to all eligible Atlantic Canadian short films selected to the 42nd Atlantic International Film Festival.

Best Atlantic Director
Award is open to all eligible Atlantic Canadian features selected to the 42nd Atlantic International Film Festival.

The Michael Weir Award for Best Atlantic Screenwriter
Award is open to all eligible Atlantic Canadian scripted features selected to the 42nd Atlantic International Film Festival.

Best Atlantic Cinematographer
Award is open to all eligible Atlantic Canadian features selected to the 42nd Atlantic International Film Festival.

Best Atlantic Editor
Award is open to all eligible Atlantic Canadian features selected to the 42nd Atlantic International Film Festival.

Best Atlantic Original Score or Song
Award is open to all eligible Atlantic Canadian features selected to the 42nd Atlantic International Film Festival.

Joan Orenstein Award & David Renton Award for Outstanding Performance in Acting
Award is open to all eligible Atlantic Canadian performers featured in films selected to the 42nd Atlantic International Film Festival.

Best Atlantic Documentary
Award is open to all eligible Atlantic Canadian feature length documentaries selected to the 42nd Atlantic International Film Festival.

Best Atlantic Short Documentary
Award is open to all eligible Atlantic Canadian short documentaries selected to the 42nd Atlantic International Film Festival.

The Atlantic Film Festival Association maintains the sole right to determine if submissions meet the eligibility requirements in each category.

Rules & Terms

ELIGIBILITY: Submissions may be fiction, documentary, animation or experimental of any length. Only films completed no more than 18 months prior to the 42nd Atlantic International Film Festival will be considered for admission. Preference will be given to submissions that have not been distributed theatrically or broadcast on television in the Atlantic region prior to the 2022 Festival.

ENTRY FORMAT & PRESENTATION FORMAT: Films with commentary or dialogue in languages other than English must be subtitled or dubbed in English for consideration. Preview copies of entries must be submitted on filmfreeway.com. If selected for the Festival, exhibition prints may be presented in DCP or .mov file. The Festival may accept other formats on a case-by-case basis and subject to availability of equipment. While not yet mandatory, the inclusion of Closed Captioning is preferred and will become mandatory in future years.

PROGRAM SELECTION: All entries are viewed and chosen by a Selection Committee appointed by the Director of Programming. Final selections are at the sole discretion of the Festival.

NOTIFICATION: Entrants will be notified of the decisions of the Selection Committee by August 19, 2022.

CUSTOMS, SHIPPING & HANDLING: A member of the Programming Department will contact all accepted submissions with specific shipping instructions. Exhibition copies must be delivered to the Festival by September 2, 2022. If applicable, the participant must pay all shipping costs to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Festival will pay the cost of shipping exhibition copies back to the participant.

FOR INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS: The Atlantic International Film Festival will not handle any customs clearances. The Customs Declaration on your submission package should state, “Duty Free Temporary Admissions Permit.”

INSURANCE: The Festival will make every effort to ensure the safekeeping of all productions submitted for consideration that are in its care or control. However, the Applicant assumes all risk of loss or damage. The Festival retains the power to decide on all matters not specifically dealt with in these regulations. Submission of your application shall constitute acceptance of these regulations. In any dispute, the decisions of the Festival shall be final. The Applicant releases the Festival, its Officers, Directors and all other employees and representatives, from any and all claims relating in any way to your application or the submission of materials to the Festival by or on behalf of the Applicant, whether on film, video, or other media.

If you have any questions, please contact the Festival:
Toll free: 877.611.4244
Telephone: 902.422.FILM
Email: programmgr@finfestival.ca
25 Reviews
Overall Rating
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Value
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  • Aaron Webster

    Great festival. Thank you for having me.

    December 2021
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  • Katelyn McCulloch

    Such a pleasure to be apart of FIN this year with our short film Mulligan. Great communication by the festival and audience turn out for the films!

    October 2021
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  • Melanie V. Munden

    What an amazing experience as a first time writer and director to be a part of the festival! Everyone was so generous with their time including the communication on email and in person.
    The incredible line up with the talented artists and diversity as well as different cultural films were apparent this year. Fantastic!

    October 2021
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  • Nicole Close

    It was such an amazing experience to be able attend an In-Theatre screening for my short film"Projections" here at home at FIN Atlantic International Film Festival. There were so many great films and I am grateful to have been able to take in as many as I did.I also want to thank all the volunteers that helped make the festival such a success.

    October 2021
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  • Michael Ray Fox

    FIN Atlantic International Film Festival is truly an amazing experience.

    September 2021
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