Welcome to the Montreal Independent Film Festival! Over the past few years, MIFF Canada has turned into one of the most popular international festivals celebrating the art of independent filmmaking and indie artists. We are dedicated to the language of cinema, independent filmmaking and artists worldwide.

Montreal Independent Film Festival is a bi-annual screening event through the Cinema du Parc of Montreal with an IMDb qualifying seasonal competition for indie artists and film projects of all genres from all over the globe.

The yearly screening events held twice a year at Cinema du Parc, along with the seasonal competition, is recognized for its innovative approach by many filmmakers and artists. Distinguished Cannes award winners and Oscar nominees have also participated alongside emerging independent artists, competing in various sections of the festival.

Our festival has proudly showcased numerous artists from Canada and beyond in our consistently sold-out events at the cinema, as well as on partnered digital platforms. This initiative aims to enhance the visibility and distribution prospects of independent films originating from Canada and various parts of the globe. Every season, we promote the winners of the festival to thousands of film industry professionals and artists worldwide through social media, Montreal Independent Film magazine, Toronto Film magazine and various platforms.

With a large number of submissions each year, the programming committee carefully selects films and script projects, nominating artists for different competition sections that include awards and honorable mentions in acting, directing, cinematography, screenwriting, editing, music video, experimental cinema, animation, student film, and more.

Through MIFF magazine and channel, we offer free daily, hourly, and weekly screenings and promotions of independent features, shorts, and screenwriters to all official selections and nominees of the festival. Our goal is to support independent films and indie artists across various genres. MIFF Canada has opened up numerous opportunities for independent film projects and artists to gain visibility, recognition, and accolades in the film industry.

The festival continues to appoint jury members for different sections in each edition, welcoming filmmakers, critics, actors, writers, composers, cinematographers, as well as agents and distributors from around the globe.

As an organization, we are dedicated to selecting, awarding, promoting, featuring, and screening international and Canadian projects spanning all genres.

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

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.
No premiere status is required for our seasonal festival, but premiere status is taken into consideration for annual festival.
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.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Abel Ernest Tembo

    I'm so glad that you love and enjoy Suspect. You nominate first my movie I wanna thank you for the award winner amazing price as best thriller

    May 2025
  • “So proud my screenplay Vegas Christ was a voted Best Unproduced Feature Script. Onward!”

    March 2025
  • Scott Thompson

    We're thrilled and honored to have our project, free martin, be a winner in the 2025 award season. Thank you MIFF!

    March 2025
  • Thank you so much for selecting my screenplay, The Red Zone, as an Honorable Mention! I'm very honored considering how prestigious the Montreal Independent Film Festival has become. The festival was well organized with great communication. Keep up your great work!

    March 2025
  • David Jenkins

    Both myself and Kathryn (the producer) were thrilled to be selected for the seasonal event, this really lifted our spirits after a few knock backs and although we didn't win a place we were really stoked to be involved and in fact this seasonal selection meant we got an actual laurel for the film. Nice one Montreal! Cheers from The Westralia: Fire at Sea team 2025.

    March 2025