For more than three decades, Inside Out has brought Toronto's 2SLGBTQ+ community together in celebration of the best queer film from Canada and around the world. Through our annual Festival in Toronto, our filmmaker initiatives, our youth engagement and our year-round events and screenings, Inside Out is engaged every day in challenging attitudes and changing lives.

In 1991, Inside Out celebrated its first film and video festival with a small community of people who yearned to see film and video created by and about queer people. Currently the largest event of its kind in Canada, the Festival entertains film buffs of all stripes, showcasing the best and most diverse work of interest to 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Taking place over 10 days, the Festival draws tens of thousands to screenings, artist talks, panel discussions, installations and parties that highlight more than 100 films from Canada and around the world.

Awards & Prizes

Audience Award - Short
Audience Award - Documentary Feature
Audience Award - Narrative Feature
Best First Feature
Emerging Canadian Artist
Best Canadian Short
Best Canadian Feature

Rules & Terms

1. Only secure online screeners will be accepted for preview. If you wish to submit in any other format, please email programming@insideout.ca for approval.

2. All films selected to screen at Inside Out must include either captions or subtitles in English.

3. Works-in-progress and rough cuts can be submitted only if a completed exhibition copy will be available for final approval by February 6, 2026.

4. Inside Out reserves the right to excerpt programmed works (up to 3 minutes) along with photographic stills for promotional and marketing purposes.

5. All submissions must be received by January 11, 2026 (If you need an extension you must contact programming@insideout.ca)

6. Acceptable screening formats at the Festival are DCP, Quicktime.

7. Films with a completion date no more than 18 months before the festival dates will be accepted, films with a completion date later than the previous year's festival dates will be given preference.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The Festival will make every effort to ensure the safe keeping of all productions submitted for competition which are in its care or control. However, the Applicant in applying to the Festival agrees to release the Festival, its Officers, Directors and other representatives, from any and all claims arising in any way from the submission of materials by or on behalf of the Applicant, whether on film, video or otherwise to the Festival.
46 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Gabe Gabriel

    Always a pleasure screening at Inside Out! Thank you festival and its faithful audience!

    June 2026
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  • Nnenna Onuoha

    I couldn't attend in person. But the communication was very timely and kind, and I appreciated being able to see some of the films online. Thanks for having me and my film :)

    June 2026
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  • Jon Beer

    From Purebred director Caleb J Roberts: "We had such a wonderful time at our first Inside Out Toronto. What a wonderful team of people creating such an inviting, international showcase of incredible 2SLGBTQ+ work. Travelling from Ireland, we were welcomed with open arms and got to meet so many filmmakers and festival-goers. Would love to come back in the future!"

    June 2026
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  • Danny Dolan

    Honored that our short film Next In Line had it's World Premiere at Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival. The programming was thoughtful and inspiring and the blocks of shorts were really well curated. The support and communication from Jenna and Lu made the entire experience immediately feel like friends were cheering us on. Excited to return with future projects and happy to be a part of this beautiful Toronto community!

    June 2026
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  • Jamie Rogers Caballero

    My short film had its World Premiere at Inside Out and they couldn't not have been more warm, supportive and enthusiastic! 💖 The whole team (shouts out to Lu and Claire!) was so helpful and kind, and the audiences at this festival are so uplifting and vibrant. Hope to be back in the future with another film!

    June 2026
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