For more than three decades, Inside Out has brought Toronto's LGBTQ community together in celebration of the best queer film from Canada and around the world. Through our annual Festivals in Toronto and Ottawa, 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 lesbians, gays, bisexuals and trans (LGBT) 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 LGBTQ+ communities. Taking place over 11 days, the Festival draws crowds of 35,000 to screenings, artist talks, panel discussions, installations and parties that highlight more than 150 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 24, 2023.

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 27, 2023 (If you need an extension you must contact programming@insideout.ca. You will be notified of programming decisions on April 28, 2023).

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.

8. When submitting your film, please include in your cover letter whether it is considered Two-Spirit, Queer, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, or a combination thereof.

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.
22 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Dylan Glynn

    I LOVE this festival. Best festival experience I have had to date.

    August 2022
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  • ODU ADAMU

    What an amazing "My First Festival" experience! From the moment I was notified, the Inside Out Team was supportive in making things easy and enjoyable. And the attention my film has received from premiering here has been incredible. This is def a Fest you don't want to miss!

    June 2022
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  • Alayna Y

    Even though I could not attend in person, the virtual support was awesome and detailed very clearly. The virtual tickets offered to me were well enjoyed by friends and family, as well. Although I was scratching my head as to why I had five free tickets all of a sudden, it was cleared up for me by a quick email reply.

    Thank you for showing Macaroni Soup!!

    June 2022
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  • Jo Güstin

    Best honor ever for me and my babe Don't Text Your Ex to have been programmed at Inside Out Film Festival! I will be forever grateful for the relief fund I received from Inside Out's Re:Focus in 2020 during pre-prod! The screening at TIFF Bell Lightbox on the eve of my 20th birthday (yes I'm that young :p) was a dream come true. Great films, great team, great merch! Check them out!

    June 2022
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  • Vuk Lungulov-Klotz

    Inside Out is one of my favorite festivals I've been to! They couldn't be more accommodating and uplifting! I truly love coming every year.

    June 2022
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