Now in its 41th year, the Reel Pride International Film Festival is proud to be Canada's longest-running 2SLGBTQ+ film festival. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Reel Pride has always been a celebration of queer voices, stories, and creativity—brought to life by a dedicated team of passionate volunteers.

We believe in the power of film to connect communities, spark conversations, and celebrate the rich diversity within the 2SLGBTQ+ spectrum. Our name, "Reel Pride," was adopted in 2000 to better reflect the full breadth of our community, and in 2004, we launched the Canadian 2SLGBTQ+ Short Film Celebration to highlight emerging and established talent from across the country.

Awards & Prizes

Reel Pride proudly screens a curated selection of both feature-length and short films that reflect the diversity and richness of 2SLGBTQ+ storytelling. While we do not present awards for feature films, they are a vital and celebrated part of our festival programming.

Awards are focused on the Canadian 2SLGBTQ+ Short Film Celebration, which shines a spotlight on short-form work by Canadian filmmakers. Each year, a jury of filmmakers and community members selects winners in the following categories:

Best Short
Best Manitoba Short
Emerging Shorts Filmmaker
2SLGBTQI+ Community Reflection

Audiences attending the Celebration Screening Night also have their say, voting in person for the Audience Choice Award — a beloved honour that highlights the short film that resonated most with festivalgoers.

Rules & Terms

41th Reel Pride Film Festival's 23nd Canadian 2SLGBTQI+ Short Films Celebration

**Official Rules and Terms for Short Film Submissions**
By submitting a short film to the 41th Reel Pride Film Festival's 23nd Canadian 2SLGBTQI+ Short Films Celebration, you agree to comply with the following rules and terms:
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#### **1. Eligibility Requirements**
1.1 The short film must be a Canadian production.
1.2 The film must not exceed 20 minutes in total runtime, including credits.
1.3 The film must be of interest to the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
1.4 The film must have been completed between January 1, 2023, and August 2026.
1.5 Short films completed after January 1, 2023, that were previously submitted in 2023, 2024, or 2025 but were not selected for the “Official Selection” may be re-submitted for consideration.
1.6 All submissions must be received by 12:00 AM (Midnight) CST on July 13, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered.
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#### **2. Submission Guidelines**
2.1 Each submission must include **one (1) short film** per online entry.
2.2 There is **no submission fee** for online entries.
2.3 **No screening fees** will be paid to filmmakers for selected works.
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#### **3. Award Categories**
3.1 **Honorarium**: Each short film selected for the “Official Selection” will receive an honorarium, issued via E-transfer.
3.2 **Jury Choice Awards**:
- Best Short
- Best Manitoba Short
- Emerging Shorts Filmmaker
- 2SLGBTQI+ Community Reflection
3.3 **Audience Choice Award**: The Audience Choice Award will be determined through in-person voting at the Celebration Screening Night
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#### **4. Additional Information**
4.1 For questions or concerns regarding the submission process, please contact shorts@reelpride.ca
4.2 Reel Pride reserves the right to amend or modify the Submission and/or Celebration rules at any time. Any changes will be communicated via a media notice on the Reel Pride Shorts web page.
4.3 By submitting, you grant Reel Pride a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to exhibit your film publicly during the festival and to use submitted materials (e.g., still images, short clips) for promotional purposes related to the festival.
4.4 Reel Pride reserves the right to disqualify or remove a submission at any time if the content is deemed to conflict with the festival’s mission to celebrate and affirm 2SLGBTQI+ lives and stories.
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By submitting your short film, you acknowledge and agree to abide by these official rules and terms. Failure to comply with any of these requirements may result in disqualification from the celebration.