GENERAL RULES
A. ELIGIBILITY & PREMIERE STATUS
1. Films must be completed after October 1, 2024.
2. Films must be at least a Canadian premiere. If your film has previously screened at any other festival in Canada, or is expected to be screened at any other festival in Canada before its screening at IFFSA Toronto, been released on DVD, broadcast on television or online, or had a ticketed theatrical exhibition in Canada, it is not eligible.
NOTE: Under exceptional circumstances, you may request a waiver by writing to the festival team.
B. LANGUAGE & SUBTITLES
1. All non-English films must include English-language subtitles.
C. SUBMISSION VIA FILMFREEWAY PORTAL
1. A film screener must be submitted via FilmFreeway at the time of application.
2. A digital press kit must be submitted via FilmFreeway at the time of application.
This should include:
(a) Film cast and crew list
(b) Film synopsis (Max 150 words)
(c) Director’s picture and statement (Max 100 words)
(d) Film posters (1800 x 2400 px size ONLY in PNG/JPEG format WITHOUT ANY laurel on it).
(e) Film stills (PNG or JPEG format)
(f) Film trailer (Full HD 1920x1080 in MP4 or MOV format)
(g) Film/Cast/Crew social media handles (Insta, FB, Twitter)
3. All images must be 300dpi high-resolution.
D. FINAL SCREENING PRINTS
1. Selected films will be contacted by the festival to provide final screening prints via one of the following methods:
a. Feature Film: DCP via Hard Drive or DCP via Aspera Digital Delivery
b. Featurette/Short Film: Downloadable digital file (Full HD 1920x1080 in MP4 or MOV)
NOTE: Submission prints will not be returned.
E. PROGRAMMING
1. IFFSA Toronto is organized into a series of programs, which are subject to change from year to year. IFFSA Toronto may slot selected films into any of its programs at its sole and absolute discretion.
2. Once a film has been selected to be screened at the IFFSA Toronto, it CANNOT BE WITHDRAWN.
3. Once a film is selected to be screened at the IFFSA Toronto, producers or distributors agree not to hold a screening of the film in Canada in any format prior to the festival screening.
F. ONLINE SCREENING
1. Your film can be programmed for online showcase only via IFFSA Digital Portal during the festival. Please be aware that there are associated risks inherent to the online medium related to unauthorized distribution. If you have any question or concern, please let us know.
G. SUBMISSION FEES
1 IFFSA Toronto may accept late submissions in its sole and absolute discretion, but an additional submission fee may apply.
2. All submission fees are non-refundable.
H. OTHER TERMS
1. All selection decisions are at the sole and absolute discretion of IFFSA Toronto, and are final and unreviewable.
2. IFFSA Toronto will appoint a panel (“Panel”) that shall be composed of judges who in their sole discretion have the appropriate qualifications to judge the work (which may include representatives of any sponsor). Films will be considered in accordance with the Competition’s selection criteria.
These are:
a. An excellent creative idea
b. Excellent craft or execution
c. True to the Brief
3. The Panel is not limited in the number of prizes it can award and similarly there is no guarantee that the Panel will award a prize if they do not feel that work is of the standard required.
4. Any cash award will be shared equally between producer and director.
5. If IFFSA Toronto is made aware of any concerns that a film does not constitute the original work of the entrant then IFFSA Toronto has the right to contact the entrant and will ask for evidence of the entrant’s assertion to be the creator of the work. Where possible IFFSA Toronto will consider the evidence gathered and decide whether to allow the film to remain within the contest or to remove it. IFFSA Toronto’s decision is in its sole discretion and is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
6. IFFSA Toronto reserves the right to rule, in its sole discretion, on cases and situations not foreseen by these Terms & Conditions.
7. By submitting a Film, the submitter represents that he or she has obtained consent from any and all owners, creators, writers, producers and/or other authorized representatives of the Film whose consent is required to submit the Film to IFFSA Toronto and screen the Film at the Festival, and has read, understood and agreed to the Terms.
8. All participants acknowledge that the festival / competition may be sponsored by one or more commercial partners (“sponsors”), as designated by IFFSA Toronto. By entering the festival / competition the entrant agrees for IFFSA Toronto and any sponsor to have rights to use its film, in particular in the event that it is a winning film, for commercial and/or promotional purposes relating to IFFSA Toronto.
9. All participants agree that they shall not feature any sponsor branding whatsoever without prior written consent of the sponsor.
10. All participants release IFFSA Toronto, its parent organizations, sponsors and their affiliates, partners and employees from any and all liability, claims, demands, and causes of action for third party claims (including intellectual property claims) personal injury and or damage, theft, or loss suffered in connection with this Festival/Competition or the use or acceptance of the prize or any portion thereof.
11. IFFSA Toronto reserve the right to suspend, cancel or amend the promotion and/or review and revise these rules at any time without giving prior notice and by continuing to take part in the Competition subsequent to any revision of these rules, entrants shall be deemed to have agreed to any such new or amended terms. Additionally, festival management reserves the right to decide all questions not specifically provided for in the regulations.
12. YOU AGREE TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD IFFSA AND ITS PARENT ORGANIZATIONS, ITS THIRD PARTY PARTNERS AND SUPPLIERS AND EACH OF THEIR DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, HARMLESS FROM ALL CLAIMS, LIABILITIES, DAMAGES, LOSSES, INCLUDING LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES, DUE TO OR ARISING OUT OF YOUR PARTICIPATION AT THE FESTIVAL, THE FESTIVAL PLATFORM, THE FESTIVAL ONLINE PORTAL, THE FESTIVAL SOFTWARE, THE FESTIVAL WEBSITE. IFFSA WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU OR TO ANY OTHER PERSON ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR PARTICIPATION AT THE FESTIVAL, THE FESTIVAL PLATFORM, THE FESTIVAL PORTAL, THE FESTIVAL SOFTWARE, THE FESTIVAL WEBSITE. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL IFFSA AND ITS PARENT ORGANIZATIONS, ITS THIRD PARTY PARTNERS OR SUPPLIERS OR ANY OF THEIR DIRECTORS, OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES BE LIABLE, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, EQUITY, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, BREACH OF STATUTORY DUTY OR OTHERWISE) OR ANY OTHER THEORY OF LIABILITY, FOR ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT: LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF REVENUE, LOSS OF DATA, LOSS OF ANTICIPATED SAVINGS; OR FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL LOSS WHATSOEVER.
13. You acknowledge and agree to the risks associated with in-person public screening and/or streaming content online. IFFSA screening venues and virtual portal, that is used to host the films in digital format and stream these online, provides security features, however this is not a guarantee that content piracy or other unauthorised distribution cannot occur. As such you agree to indemnify IFFSA and its parent organizations from any responsibility for piracy or unauthorised distribution of content. In the rare instance that film piracy or unauthorised distribution may occur, you acknowledge the responsibility for the detection and investigation rests with you. IFFSA will endeavour to provide assistance where possible, however you acknowledge this responsibility sits with you.
14. If any provision of these rules is held invalid by any court of law or similar, such invalidity shall not affect the enforceability of any other provisions not held to be invalid.
15. Participation in the IFFSA Toronto implies understanding and acceptance of all rules and regulations. IFFSA Toronto advises all entrants to obtain independent legal advice in respect of any conditions / agreements being discussed.
16. The rules and regulations are subject to Canadian law and any dispute that is not resolved by consultation between the parties shall be referred to the courts of Ontario, Canada.
For any enquiries please contact IFFSA Toronto via emailing at films@iffsatoronto.com or calling 416 639 0764
