Lights Dance aspires to celebrate dance in its diversity and endless possibilities, through live performance, but also the cinematic medium. The festival began as a way to bridge our love for both of these mediums, and having gone through its first iteration, is ready to evolve.

This year, our third annual programming will be curated around the theme of Wanderers. Where is our home and what keeps stirring our want to wander? What are we all searching for? And, what can we do to help one another build a home?

Lights Dance wants to make dance more accessible to all. We are passionate about creating a stronger dance community here in Canada by equipping choreographers, dancers, and filmmakers through education, mentorship, and building a stronger network. It is imperative for us to strengthen the voices and craftsmanship of everyone who desires to tell stories through dance, whatever their background or identity may be.

Awards & Prizes

Jury's Choice Award
All films selected for our festival programming will be screened to a small jury of industry film professionals. The winning short will be announced during the festival as the Jury's Choice Award and win a cash prize!

Rules & Terms

General Rules

All dance films of 10 minutes or less will be considered. If your film is less than 50% dance as a core narrative component, it may not qualify as a dance film.
Films must have been completed after January 1st, 2016. Works in progress are not accepted.

Submissions accepted through FilmFreeway only. Please do not send DVD’s or Blu-rays.
Please keep links to your films private until after the closing of the festival.
Documentaries and live performance recordings are not accepted at this point.
If your film is selected, we may request film stills or clips from your film for use in promoting the Lights Dance Festival.
All commercial/private property including all trademark/copyrighted materials shown or recorded on the project is the responsibility of the filmmaker. Lights Dance Festival will not take responsibility for any infringement of copywritten materials.

Exhibition Formats

Selected films will be requested in their native frame rate in QuickTime format using one of the following codecs: ProRes, ProRes HQ, or ProRes 4444. Aspect ratio should be 1920 x 1080.
2 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Lorna Nickson Brown

    Wonderful, supportive festival. We were delighted to be a part of it. Thank you!

    August 2018
    Helpful
  • Elias Djemil

    One of those I wish I was there. Looked like an amazing event!

    June 2018
    Helpful
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks so much, Elias!! We hope to see you at our event next year :)