FILM ELIGIBILITY:
1. ALL FILMS SUBMITTED MUST HAVE A WOMAN OR GENDER-DIVERSE* DIRECTOR, in addition to at least TWO women or gender-diverse creatives from the following key creative roles:
• Writer
• Producer
• Cinematographer
• Editor
• Composer
• Lead Performer
• Production Designer
2. The same creative may fill more than one role.
3. If any of the three eligible roles are shared (such as between two co-directors), they must be shared by women or gender-diverse creatives, except for the producer role, where 50% of the producers must be women or gender diverse.
4. Films must reflect these credits in their submitted material, including in the credits of the film.
5. GEMFest staff reserves the right to contact submitters, should eligible credits not be accurately or completely shared in the submission details.
6. ONLY FILMS COMPLETED AFTER MARCH 2025 ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SUBMISSION.
7. Submission fees are non-refundable.
Should the submitted film not adhere to these eligibility requirements or the following rules and terms, GEMS retains the right to disqualify said film and is not obligated to contact the submitting party or refund the submission fee.
We require selected filmmakers to submit a DCP for screening AND to provide either closed or open caption files for screening purposes. Submitters are solely responsible for the creation of a DCP and caption files. See below for more information regarding captioning.
*Gender-diverse is an umbrella term used to encompass Transgender, Non-Binary, Two-Spirit, and gender non-conforming individuals. If you are not sure whether your film is eligible based on your gender expression, please feel free to contact us for clarification.
GEMFest accepts documentary, narrative, animated and experimental films (including music and dance films) in any genre and any length.
Please inform us if your film has had a theatrical release in Vancouver prior to the festival as this may affect your eligibility for screening.
Films that have received other forms of distribution, such as subscriber television or online platforms, are eligible.
GEMFest and our producing organization, Gender Equity in Media Society Vancouver, are committed to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our programming. Demographic questions are asked to help us understand and serve you, our filmmaking community, better.
We do not share your information with third parties.
CAPTIONING:
WE REQUIRE ALL SELECTED FILMS TO HAVE COMPLETE ENGLISH CAPTIONING IN THE FORM OF EITHER OPEN (PREFERRED) OR CLOSED CAPTIONS.
If your submission does not currently have captions available, or you are interested in converting your closed captions into open captions, you are still welcome to submit your film! If your film is selected, we have resources we can provide to assist in creating these.
CAPTIONS are an in-real-time transcript appearing on the screen. Captions cover more than just subtitles, in that they transcribe both English and non-English dialogue, describe environmental sounds, and note when sound effects occur or music plays. They enable d/Deaf viewers to enjoy the films, and support folks with any difficulty understanding the English language to read along.
OPEN CAPTIONS are constantly on screen and integrated into the main film “world”, often described as “burnt in” to the video. This is the most accessible form of captioning since no separate devices are needed to display captions. The integration of font style, colour, and size in open captions can also have an artistic component and be part of the story telling - but they must be easily legible for accessibility purposes.
CLOSED CAPTIONS are supplied with a file separate from the main video file (we prefer SRT) and have the option of being turned on or off. In the case of in-person screenings, specialized captioning devices are given to patrons upon request and sync the captions to the video on the theatre screen. The availability of these devices per theatre is variable. While we encourage all films to have open captions, our festival also accepts closed caption files so long as our presenting theatre has the appropriate captioning devices. GEMFest is grateful to have VIFF Centre as its presenting theatre and relies on their captioning devices each year. Should our presenting theatre change for any reason, our captioning requirements may change as well.
BEST CAPTIONING PRACTICES:
• Song lyrics and sounds are in square brackets [ ]
• Captions are placed in the lower third of the screen - most software will have guides to support with placement
• Font should be sans serif and large enough to read regardless of screen size
• There should be high colour contrast (often black background in a band and white text)
SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION:
1. Submissions will be reviewed by a selection of evaluators appointed by the staff and Board of Directors of Gender Equity in Media Society Vancouver.
2. Filmmakers will be notified of the decision by the end of January 2027. Filmmakers will have to confirm or decline their participation in the festival after notification.
3. All communications will be sent electronically, including selection and notification letters. Please make sure the email address and phone number provided as the submission contact on the entry form are correct.
4. Promotional materials of films selected for GEMFest 2027 become the property of GEMFest 2027 and can be used to promote GEMFest 2027 in all media, including film, television, radio, print, and the Internet.
AI DISCLAIMER:
Gender Equity in Media Society Vancouver (GEMS) understands the rich complexities of artificial intelligence and its use in the creative fields; for the sake of this disclaimer, we define AI usage as the use of any technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human learning, comprehension, problem solving, decision making, creativity and autonomy. AI is a tool that requires a careful and nuanced approach, and GEMS - inclusive of its professional program offerings and film and media festival - values and encourages unique, ethical, responsible, and human-led creative practices and produced work, in both filmmaking and screenwriting. As an organization, we feel that AI generated work poses a risk of devaluing the enormous vulnerability and the genuine authenticity of the human creative process. We reserve the right to disqualify work that is identifiably artificially generated and advise that all AI generated aspects of a film be noted in your submission form.
