Toronto Shorts International Film Festival is the largest short film festival in Canada.

Toronto Shorts is a non-profit organization that provides a showcase for the best short films from filmmakers around the world.

We believe that short-form cinema and its creators should have their own premier film festival in Toronto deserving similar recognition given to the feature film.

Toronto Shorts is where films from all genres intersect. The heart of the festival is the quality and scope of extraordinary film programming which consists of a wide spectrum of categories from high to low budget films under 50 minutes.

Now in our 12th year, the festival has become a career stepping stone, establishing a tradition of discovering and promoting filmmakers who have gone on to Academy Awards Nominees, including :

2021 Oscar Nominee 'The Present' by Farah Nabulsi
2019 Oscar Nominee ‘Weekends’ by Trevor Jimenez
2018 Oscar Nominees 'Watu Wote - All of Us' (Germany) and 'The Eleven O'Clock' (Australia)

Toronto stands as the largest media market in Canada, it boasts the world-renowned Royal Ontario Museum, the massive Art Gallery of Ontario, the Soulpepper Theatre Company, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Toronto Shorts international Short Film Festival.

We showcase the best short films and its filmmakers from around the world.

Best of the Festival
Best International
Best Drama
Best Comedy
Best Animation
Best Documentary
Best Experimental
Best Sci-Fi
Best Horror
Best Music Video
Best Web Series

If any award category does not meet the standard deemed award-worthy by the judges, it’s possible there will be no award given in that category.

REQUIREMENTS
Films must have been completed after Jan. 1, 2023
Non-English language films must have English sub-titles.
Works-in-progress will be considered, provided they will be completed prior to the festival.
You may submit more than one film, but you must complete a separate entry form and pay the entry fee for each film.

Film selection for the festival will be made by the screening committee.
All filmmakers will be notified via email of acceptance.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jaiden Reese

    Great venue, super friendly and helpful staff, great selection of films! Thank you for having our films play at your festival. We hope to be back!

    January 2024
  • James Sokoloski

    We had a wonderful experience debuting our short film ‘Limbo’s Cocktail Lounge” at the Toronto Shorts International Film Festival. Communication with the festival was fantastic throughout the process. Learning about all the other films during our screening time through the Q&A was a great way to connect with other filmmakers.

    I can’t wait to submit more films to this festival!

    January 2024
  • Katharine Lake Berz

    Well organized, welcoming and enriching festival. Was an honour to premiere alongside so many excellent films. Nicely facilitated discussion across range of short films. Would attend again!

    December 2023
  • Christie Pawluch

    I had a fabulous time at the Toronto Shorts International Film Festival.

    Really comfortable space and nice people!

    December 2023
  • Ivana Strajin

    Thank you Toronto Shorts for an incredible experience! It was an honour to be included in the festival among such strong films. We appreciated the opportunity to see our film, Unhinged, on a big screen and hear the audience reaction live. What a wonderful crowd. The Q&A was fun and I enjoyed meeting the other filmmakers!

    December 2023