Vancouver Island Short Film Festival

QUALIFICATIONS, RULES and REGULATIONS for CONSIDERATION by the SELECTION COMMITTEE

1. The VISFF defines Short Films as having a running time of 20 minutes or less, including credits.

2. VISFF accepts films in any genre, with the exception of previews, advertisements, or music videos.

2. Films previously screened at the VISFF are not eligible for re-entry in subsequent years.

3. If the primary language of a film is not in English, then it must have hardcoded English subtitles.

4. Short Films must be submitted online, in the highest quality possible. Films will be projected and broadcast in High Definition at 1080p.

5. A fee is required upon online submissions, which must be paid in full. One entry per fee.

6. Short Films must be compliant with all copyright laws. Filmmakers are responsible for acquiring clearance for any copyrighted material. Failure to obtain clearance will result in your film being withdrawn from the Festival. In this event, VISFF will not issue a refund of the submission fee.

7. VISFF reserves two spots of the festival program for local films. A local film is defined as a film with production ties to Vancouver Island.

8. Two spots in the program are reserved for the Festival Directors choice, which will be chosen by the festival director after the Selection Committee makes their final selection decisions.

9. By submitting to the VISFF, the filmmaker is granting festival organizers permission to screen the film at the VISFF. They also grant organizers use of selected clips in promotional materials for the festival. After the festival, VISFF may post the film online, but only if the film is publicly available for viewing.

10. Films will be chosen for the program by the Selection Committee. The committee may be composed of film industry experts, academics, artists, and other community members.

11. The VISFF celebrates diverse voices and perspectives in the art of storytelling. Films with strong, well-told narratives by diverse filmmakers will be given priority over films with high technical achievement.

12. There is a limited number of entry fee waivers for non-local filmmakers.

13. Decisions of the Selection Committee are final; there is no appeal process.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS, RULES and REGULATIONS for the YOUTH SHOWCASE

1. Submissions for the Youth Showcase will be EXTENDED until FEBRUARY 15th, 2026.

2. All films submitted must follow the full festival submission guidelines outlined above.

3. Acceptable submissions are limited to youth productions that are produced, written, directed, planned and executed entirely by the individual/team members. The involvement of parents, teachers and professionals is limited to minor, non-creative roles (i.e. technical advice, funding). Directors, camera operators, editors, etc., must all be 18 years old or younger.

3. Submissions may not include any:

• Copyrighted works without the permission of the copyright owner
• False or defamatory statements about any person or any third party
• Third party trademarks that suggest affiliation with any trademark owner without the permission of such owner
• Profanity, nudity, depictions of violence, threatening language, inappropriate, indecent, harmful, discriminatory, or obscene content, depiction of an act which is dangerous or suggests any person to undertake a dangerous activity