TIFF Next Wave Film Festival

𝗧𝗜𝗙𝗙 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗟𝗠 𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗟
TIFF Next Wave is the heartbeat of year-round programming for young audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival. TIFF Next Wave celebrates the power in young people seeing themselves and their communities represented on screen. The annual TIFF Next Wave Film Festival returns April 10–13, 2025, bringing young audiences and creators together to explore new voices and perspectives in cinema. The Festival is curated by TIFF’s Next Wave Committee, a group of 12 teen film enthusiasts from across the Greater Toronto Area.

As the Festival celebrates its 14th edition, TIFF Next Wave is excited to welcome audiences to TIFF Lightbox, promising a jam-packed weekend of bold new movies from around the world, amazing guests and Q&A sessions, industry workshops and talks at the Young Creators Co-Lab, and the ever-epic kick-off at Battle of the Scores. To learn more about TIFF Next Wave, visit: tiff.net/nextwave.

The TIFF Next Wave Film Festival is supported by the Ontario Arts Council and the City of Toronto.

𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦: 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗦 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗪𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗘
The TIFF Next Wave Film Festival is now accepting submissions for the Young Creators Showcase, a shorts programme featuring films made by young and emerging filmmakers from across Canada. From animation to fiction to documentary, this programme highlights a dynamic mix of voices, visions, and methods of storytelling. The Young Creators Showcase celebrates the next generation of Canadian filmmaking talent, showcasing bold new ways youth are engaging in cinema.

𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦
Submissions for the Young Creators Showcase close on January 31, 2025. There is no submission fee. All submissions to the Young Creators Showcase must be made via FilmFreeway. For information on how to upload and submit your film via FilmFreeway, please visit: https://filmfreeway.com/help/category/3969/projects-and-video-uploads.

Selected films will screen at TIFF Lightbox as part of the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival, April 10–13, 2025.

All filmmakers who meet the below criteria will be notified of a decision by February 28, 2025. TIFF will contact filmmakers using the contact information provided in the FilmFreeway registration form. Filmmakers are responsible for providing correct and functional contact information. TIFF is not responsible for any failed attempts to contact filmmakers using the contact information provided.

𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗦 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗪𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦: 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗬 𝗖𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗫
All selected Young Creators Showcase films will be eligible for awards for Best Film, Best Cinematography, Best Writing, and Best Editing. The winners will be chosen by a jury of film industry professionals who will assess the films and select the award recipients based on proficiency in form, expression, experimentation, and creativity. The winning films will be announced at the 2025 TIFF Next Wave Film Festival.

Presented by Cineplex in support of the next generation of Canadian filmmakers, the Young Creators Showcase Award recipients will receive a CineClub membership, access to the 2025 TIFF Industry Conference, and the following award prizing for the winning director(s):

• $4,000 CAD for Best Film
• $2,000 CAD for Best Cinematography
• $2,000 CAD for Best Writing
• $2,000 CAD for Best Editing

Submitted films must meet the following criteria in order to be considered for the Young Creators Showcase:

• Submissions are open to Canadian creators, age 14–26 at the time the film was made.
• Submissions are open to films that were completed in 2024 or 2025.
• Films must be no longer than 18 minutes in length, including credits.
• Filmmakers are welcome to submit multiple films for consideration.
• All non-English language films must be submitted with English subtitles.
• All genres and types of filmmaking are welcome, including but not limited to: fiction, animation, experimental, music video, and documentary.
• If selected, filmmakers will be asked to provide the required materials, including but not limited to: film stills, film synopsis, and biography of the filmmaker.
• All selected filmmakers will be asked to deliver a Screening Copy of the film. Selected filmmakers will receive a Technical and Delivery Guidelines document with information on how to best deliver the Screening Copy.
• All selected filmmakers will be invited to attend the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival and participate in a post-screening Q&A session. Filmmakers will be responsible for arranging their own travel and accommodation.
• All selected filmmakers will be eligible for the Young Creators Showcase Awards, presented by Cineplex.

𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗜𝗙𝗙
TIFF is a charitable cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world through film. An international leader in film culture, TIFF projects include the annual Toronto International Film Festival® in September; TIFF Lightbox, which features five cinemas as well as learning and entertainment facilities; and the innovative national screening programme, Film Circuit. The organization generates an estimated economic impact of $200 million CAD. TIFF Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel, and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation, and RBC. The Toronto International Film Festival is generously supported by Major Sponsors RBC, Visa, and Major Supporters the Government of Ontario, Telefilm Canada, and the City of Toronto. For more information, visit tiff.net.

TIFF Next Wave Film Festival