Forest City Film Festival

1) Eligibility & Language

Entries must be in English or subtitled or dubbed in English.

Works-in-progress are not accepted.

Films must be completed after January 1, 2024.

Promotional films (commercials/brand promos) do not qualify for competition.

2) Regional Connection (In-Competition Categories)

To qualify for in-competition feature and short categories, at least one member of the key artistic team must be from, or have resided in, Southwestern Ontario for a portion of their life, or the film must be about or filmed in Southwestern Ontario.

Key artistic team may include: director, writer, producer, cinematographer (DOP), sound designer, lead actor.
(Subject matter is not restricted to Southwestern Ontario, and films are not required to have been shot locally.)

3) Best of the World Fests

The Best of the World Fests category is open to films from anywhere and is not required to meet the Southwestern Ontario connection described above.

4) How to Submit

All entries must be submitted through FilmFreeway.

Please do not send physical media (DVDs/discs) or downloadable files directly to FCFF.

Entry fees are non-refundable.

5) Selection & Screening Agreement

All programming and award decisions by the selection committee and judges are final.

The FCFF is proud to have an extensive judging process where films are guaranteed to be viewed by a minimum of six members of our various selection committees.

By submitting, you grant FCFF a non-exclusive licence to screen the submitted work during the festival dates for the year you are submitting to, at no charge to the festival.

Any additional screenings (including year-round or partner presentations) will only occur by mutual written agreement between FCFF and the rights holder.

6) Materials & Promotion

If selected, you will be asked to provide press and promotional materials (e.g., stills, synopsis, credits).

Please do not send promotional materials until you are officially selected and notified.

7) Rights, Clearances, and Promotion Use

By submitting, you confirm that you have the legal right/authority to submit the work and that all content is cleared (including music, archival footage, artwork, trademarks, and performer releases).

You grant FCFF the non-exclusive, irrevocable right to use and display the film title, trailer/clips (reasonable length), stills, and the names/likenesses/biographies of the filmmaker(s) and key credited participants solely for advertising, publicity, and promotional purposes for FCFF, in any media.

FCFF is not responsible for any inclusion of uncleared materials in your film.

8) Disqualification & Conduct

FCFF may disqualify a submission if there is a credible concern regarding ownership, copyright infringement, or misrepresentation, or for conduct that violates festival expectations for safe and respectful communication with FCFF staff, volunteers, venues, audiences, or participants.

9) Online Availability & London-Area Screening Restrictions

Films that are posted publicly online free of charge (e.g., publicly accessible YouTube/Vimeo links) are not eligible for in-competition screening, except for the Music Video category.

Selected films should not screen publicly in the London region between August 15 and October 28 outside the festival, unless approved by FCFF.

10) Withdrawal Policy

Films selected as official selections may not withdraw after September 1.

11) Filmmaker Participation & Door Share

Only filmmakers who attend their screening and participate in a Q&A (or festival-approved audience engagement) are eligible to receive a percentage of box office revenue, determined at the discretion of festival organizers.

12) Newsletter

Submitters will be added to the FCFF newsletter and may opt out at any time.

13) Updates

FCFF reserves the right to update or modify these rules and terms. Any updates will apply to submissions going forward from the time they are posted.