North Bay Film Festival takes place annually in beautiful North Bay, Ontario at the historic Capitol Centre Theatre. The festival features international, Canadian and local films paired with panel discussions, receptions, workshops and industry events. North Bay Film Festival is presented by the Near North Mobile Media Lab and North Bay Film.

The North Bay Film Festival serves audiences living in and around North Bay and is dedicated to presenting the best of contemporary cinema, principally highlighting the work of Canadian, Indigenous and Northern Ontarian filmmakers. Our mission is to shine a spotlight on new perspectives, marginalized voices, and bold artistic visions.

One or more short films are screened before each feature film. We follow the fee schedule created by the Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA) to pay all shorts filmmakers who are selected for the festival.

Open to Canadian Independent Short Filmmakers, and Canadian Student Filmmakers.

Canadian Shorts:
- Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents of Canada, or graduates of Canadian film programs
- Films 10 mins or less in duration, produced in 2025 or 2026
- Priority consideration will be given to films with closed captioning

Canadian Student Showcase:
- Students currently attending a secondary or post-secondary institution in Canada
- Films 10 mins or less in duration, produced in 2025 or 2026

GENERAL
The person submitting the enclosed film to North Bay Film Festival confirms that they hold all necessary rights for the submission and has the legal authority to grant such rights to the Near North Mobile Media Lab hereunder and that they have read and understand and agree with the Festival Terms and Conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, submission of a film constitutes the agreement with the Festival Terms and Conditions. In consideration of my application to the North Bay Film Festival, I for myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, hereby waive and forever discharge Near North Mobile Media Arts Lab Collective., North Bay Film Festival, any related companies, their officers, directors and employees, Festival sponsors and suppliers, Festival sanctioning bodies and elected or appointed officials, all of their successors and assigns, of and from all claims, demands, damages, costs, expenses, actions and causes of actions whether in law or equity, in respect of loss or damage to my person or property howsoever caused, arising or said to arise by reason of my participation in the said event. I further hereby undertake to hold and save harmless and agree to indemnify all of the aforesaid from and against any and all liability incurred by any or all of them arising as a result of, or in any way connected with my participation in the said event. BY SUBMITTING THIS FILM, I ACKNOWLEDGE HAVING UNDERSTOOD AND AGREE TO THE ABOVE WAIVER, RELEASE AND INDEMNITY.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Successful films selected to screen at NBFF agree to submit via industry standard digital formats (HD MPEG-2 MOVIE *.mpg, HD Mov – QuickTime *.mov, DCP) You will be responsible for delivering the screener no later than 3 weeks before the festival opening night. For submission purposes, filmmakers must submit via FilmFreeway and your link must be in working order. We will not contact or follow up with filmmakers to resubmit broken links to the jury.

We will not accept links or solicitations to view films via email.

We will not accept incomplete or works in progress.

All applicants will be contacted to the status of their submission once the jury has made their final selection.

We follow the fee schedule created by the Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA) to pay all artists who are selected for the festival.

REQUIRED FORMAT FOR SCREENING — Unless otherwise agreed upon, and arranged, ALL accepted films will be screened at the Film Festival in HD 1920 X 1080 (HD MPEG-2 MOVIE *.mpg, HD Mov – QuickTime *.mov, DCP).

NOTICES — North Bay Film Festival reserves the right to remove and take down film content without notice if any content is in violation of any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement or for any reason seen fit.

You give permission to the North Bay Film Festival to host and use your content, and grant a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual and royalty free right and license to use your content in connection with any promotion offline or online through our festival website, partner networks, broader marketing of the event via television, radio, social media or similar, and through mobile phone networks, and any legitimate and reputable promotional outlet.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Maral Mostafavi

    NBFF is awesome! We had the bestest time. Programming is fantastic, it's a privilege to play your short along a high-quality feature.

    Wonderful receptive audiences, and overall a very inspiring experience.

    November 2025
  • Hiromu Yamawaki

    It was great pleasure to be a part of this year's North Bay Film Festival! I would love to attended in-parson next year!

    December 2024
  • Sacha None

    Wonderful festival! Was not able to attend in person but the communication with the team was great. Our film was awarded the Best Canadian Short! Such an honour to be part of this NBFF!

    November 2024
  • Ruben Harjono

    A really well organized film festival with cool screenings. Communication and hospitality was always first rate throughout the entire festival!

    November 2024
  • Rojin Shafiei

    Amazing festival! Great communication! Highly recommended!

    December 2023