SOAR Film Festival is Northern Ontario's premiere outdoor adventure wilderness travel film festival. The first of its kind in Northern Ontario, Canada, SOAR was birthed from a unique partnership between Laurentian University’s Outdoor Adventure Leadership Program (ADVL) and Sudbury Indie Cinema, the region's arthouse cinema.

SOAR Film Fest focuses on bringing people together in a cinematic environment to view both top adventure films from around the world as well as locally made films featuring outdoor activities and adventures enjoyed in Northeastern Ontario.

We are also putting out a global call through this platform for feature length, mid-length and short, outdoor adventure films that may soar under the radar of many other film festivals. This premier film festival is poised to showcase short films (under 20 minutes) highlighting human-powered, eco-friendly adventures.

Videos and films which feature Northern Ontario are especially encouraged. So whether you are a novice, recreationist or pro we want you to fire up your inner outdoor adventurous spirit and send us your polished reels.

Our festival will take place at the Sudbury Indie Cinema in the heart of downtown Sudbury, Ontario over 3 days in November. Parking is free and adventure is abundant.

Shorts and mid-length submissions will be reviewed and judged by a team of student organizers. Feature-length submissions will be reviewed by a team of professional film programmers.

Awards & Prizes

Audience Choice Awards:
Best Adventure Feature
Best Adventure Short
Best Local Adventure Film
Best Student Film

Jury Awards:
Best Canadian Adventure Feature Film
Best Canadian Mid-Length Film
Best International Mid-Length Film
Best International Adventure Feature Film

Rules & Terms

- Films in languages other than English with English subtitles will be accepted for consideration.
- Shorts films: 1-20 min.
-Mid-length films: 21-69 min.
-Feature-length: 70 min. -120 min.
to be eligible for consideration as the Best Canadian Adventure Film, the entry can meet one of 2 requirements: either that the filmmaker currently resides full-time in Canada; OR the entry was filmed in Canada, regardless of the citizenship of the filmmaker.
- to be eligible for consideration as the Best Local Adventure Film, the entry can meet one of 2 requirements: either that the filmmaker currently resides full-time in Northeastern Ontario, Canada; OR the entry was filmed in Northeastern Ontario, regardless of the homebase of the filmmaker.
- Film should be completed work and submitted in a familiar downloadable format.
- Entrants are responsible for obtaining all necessary clearances, licensing, permits and releases necessary to have their films exhibited. The festival and organizers are not responsible for any infringement claims, including but not limited to credit, copyrights and/or trademarks.
- By submitting to the festival you give us permission to screen your film in front of a live audience as well as post in an online viewing platform.
- The final program of the festival will be posted 2 weeks prior to the festival date.
- If accepted, your film will be in-competition for both Audience and Jury Awards.