Montreal Independent Film Festival (MIFF) has turned into one of the most popular emerging international festivals dedicated to the cinematic language, independent filmmaking and indie artists.

The IMDb qualifying seasonal and annual festival is an innovative event with live screenings and networking events through Cinema du Parc of Montreal and seasonal promotions and screenings through MIFF magazine and channel.

Every season, MIFF promotes the winning film projects and various artists working on independent arthouse films. The winners of the season are nominated to be a finalist of the annual event for our live screening and networking event. Cannes award winners and Oscar nominees have also joined emerging independent artists to compete in various sections of the festival.

With thousands of entries every year, the programming committee selects film and script projects and nominates artists for various sections of the competition which also includes awards and honorable mentions of the seasonal festival in acting, directing, cinematography, screenwriting, editing, music video, experimental cinema, animation, student film, etc.

Through MIFF magazine and channel, we offer daily, hourly and weekly screenings and promotions of independent features, shorts and screenwriters at no cost to all the official selections and nominees of the fest.

Our intention is to provide the best to all independent films and indie artists working on a variety of genres. MIFF Canada has created many opportunities for independent film projects and artists to be noticed, awarded, screened and recognized in the film industry. The festival also continues to select jury members who are assigned to various sections of the festival in each edition. The festival invites filmmakers, critics, actors, writers, composers, cinematographers and many agents and distributors from all over the world.

We are an organization committed to selecting, awarding, promoting, featuring and screening international and Canadian projects of all genres.

Awards & Prizes

Do not miss our non-ticketed public event and annual award announcement at Cinema du Parc of Montreal
March 26th, 2023
5 PM to 7 PM

Best Narrative Feature
Best Narrative short
Best Feature Documentary
Best Short Documentary
Best Canadian Film
Best Horror
Best Comedy
Best Animation
Best Science Fiction
Best Web Series/TV Pilot
Best Experimental
Best Human Rights
Best Environmental
Best Female Director
Best First Time Filmmaker
Best Independent Film
Best Student Film
Best LGBTQ
Best Music Video
Best Unproduced Script
Best Thriller
Best Trailer
Best Director
Best Script
Best Producer
Best Cinematographer
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Editor
Best Composer

Rules & Terms

Films must have been completed in the past 3 years.
Our annual festival offers screening to the projects with the director and a leading cast member available for the premiere in Cinema du Parc of Montreal.
MIFF channel and MIFF magazine screening and promotion is offered to all the official selections of the seasonal and annual festival. However, screening is not mandatory in order to compete in various sections of the festival. 
We consider films regardless of their premiere status. Even if your film has already premiered at another festival, whether it screened at a physical venue or online, it’s still eligible for consideration.
Online screening is optional in the seasonal competition and it has to be requested by the producer and is not mandatory for entering various sections of the competition due to premiere status of projects.
The applicant holds the sole responsibility of copyright clearance of any copyrighted material in the film.
The festival has the right to use a trailer, stills, pics and posters for promotional purposes in various film magazines, social media, websites, etc.
Entry fees are non refundable since our programmers need to evaluate each project twice.
English or French subtitles are required for foreign language films. Films in English or French do not require subtitles.
Shorts must be less than 50 minutes. All projects over 50 minutes should submit to the feature category.
The festival will only communicate with the submitter of the film project.

453 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Austin Ladouceur

    Fantastic communication from the team who promoted my film through their online "film magazine".

    March 2023
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  • Salvatore Riggio

    Thank you for your consideration.

    March 2023
    Helpful
  • Gary Gerani

    Cool people! Very efficient and courteous.

    March 2023
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  • Bonnie Norton

    Thank you so much for nominating my screenplay, "Keiko Speaks - Based On A True Story."

    I'm hoping some day soon this story will touch the hearts of millions of animal lovers.

    With Gratitude,
    Bonnie Norton

    March 2023
    Helpful
  • Robert Broome

    Thank you, Montreal Independent Film Festival, for recognizing my travel adventure documentary series "A Holistic Journey." I am Extremely proud and honored for this nominated. I see the value in participating in this festival and look forward to entering future projects.

    March 2023
    Helpful