The Concordia Film Festival (CFF) is organized by the student-run, non-profit Cinema Students Association and the Film Animation Students Association of Concordia University. Together, they organize and promote, through screenings and events, the works produced by the diverse range of filmmakers of the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema (MHSoC). The MHSoC stands as the largest university-based centre for the study of film in Canada, with a body of works that are also screened to great acclaim at festivals around the world.

In addition to the programming of films from Concordia Cinema students, the CFF, is proud to present the second edition of VISIONS: a screening that will feature live action and animated films made by women, gender-nonconforming and queer undergraduate students of color. VISIONS seeks to bring together and showcase the art of filmmakers who are vastly underrepresented in the film industry, creating a safe space ripe for discussion and exchange with all attendees.

This project began two years ago as a collaboration between Animate Concordia and Yiara Magazine which rose from the growing concern of both student organizations around the question of representation in contemporary visual culture. As a feminist art and art history publication, Yiara actively challenges the dominant and hegemonic sexism that affects the bodies of marginalized individuals. Animate Concordia, the animation Student Association of Concordia University seeks to share the art and rich history of animation, and has strongly recognized the disproportionate number of white/cis/male persons who dominate/control the industry. From this mutual interest and concern arose VISIONS, an event that would bring together our common interests in film and providing a platform for the visibility of projects. While this event wishes to showcase the under-represented filmmakers, we have as our mandate to not exclude or prevent any person from the submission process, in the true inclusive spirit of feminism.

The programming of VISIONS will be curated by The Visions Team.

The VISIONS submissions are open to all cinema, communications and media students across Canada, who have completed a film within the past year, while in school.

Best Short Film - Visions

***Please Feel Free To Submit To The CFF's Open Competition Screening As Well!***
https://filmfreeway.com/ConcordiaFilmFestival

The selected works will be chosen from outside of core film classes at Concordia’s Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema, though if you are a student at Concordia and have made a film independently, you are welcome to submit!

We are accepting of all genres, from documentary to experimental, however, there is a 15:00 minute maximum time restriction on all short film submissions, and all films should be made within the past year between January 2017 and April 2018.

When submitting, be sure to include the following:
-Your role in the production of the film
-If students filled your other key production roles (i.e. cinematographer or editor)
-A brief synopsis of the film
-Your contact information

Criteria for Application:
-The film must fit with the theme described above: The theme of this screening is UNKNOWNS: exploring, fearing, questioning, discovering, navigating the uncertain and the new.
-At the time the film was made you were enrolled in an educational institution (University, CEGEP, College).
-The film was made between January 2017 and April 2018
-You directed the film yourself and the key roles were filled by students rather than professionals
-The film does not exceed 15:00 minutes in length.
-All Genres accepted: experimental, documentary, comedy, etc.
-All techniques are accepted: Animation, Live action films and mixes of the two, as long as it’s a film.

*Students who are enrolled at Concordia, in a film program, have the opportunity to submit films they worked on outside of core filmmaking classes*, provided the films fit the application criteria.
*core filmmaking class refers to Filmmaking I, II & III and Animation I, II & III.

GENERAL FAQ’s
Q: If I submit a film will it automatically be chosen for the screening?
A: Like the Concordia Film Festival's Open Competition screening, the submissions process is open to many, however the films which will participate in the VISIONS screening will have been selected by designated programmers and must fall within the mandate of the project.

Q: If I do not identify as part of the LGBTQ community, but I am a person of color, can I submit my film? OR, if I am not a person of color, but I identify as part of the LGBTQ, can I submit my film?
A: Yes- if you are a Person of Color OR identify as LGBTQ+ you can submit your film .

Q: If I do not identify as LGBTQ and I am not a person of color, can I submit my film?
A: VISIONS’ mandate is to feature work by undergraduate directors of color and those who identify within the LGBTQ spectrum. We will not refuse films on the basis that they do not fit this criteria, but we will be prioritizing featuring films by LGBTQ directors of color.

Q: If my film is selected for VISIONS, it eligible for any prizes?
A: N/A

Q: How many films will be selected for VISIONS screening?
A: The number of films selected depends on the time allotment for the screening, in accordance with the length of the short films that are submitted. We strive for quality over quantity but we are happy to accept films that vary in length, as long as they are between 1 and 15 minutes long!

Q: What kind of venue will my film be screened at?
A: The VISIONS screening will be held in downtown Montreal, in Concordia University’s Hall Building. For more info on the venue, click here- https://www.concordia.ca/maps/buildings/concordia-panoramas/h-h110.html

FAQS FOR: Students in Quebec (Concordia)

Q: Can I submit a film I made while in CEGEP, high school or another University or College?
A: Yes, as long as the film was made within the time frame (January 2017 to present), fits the criteria of the application and was directed by you, the applicant.

Q: If I am studying at Concordia and I am taking a core filmmaking class*, can I submit the film I made in that class to VISIONS?
A: No you may not because films made in those classes are already eligible for entry into the other categories at the Festival.

Q: If I am studying at Concordia but I am not taking a core filmmaking class* can I still submit a film to VISIONS, that I worked on in another class or outside of my studies?
A: Yes, you may submit it to VISIONS, as long as the film was made within the time frame (January 2017 to present) fits the criteria of the application and was directed by you, the applicant.

Q: If I made a film at Concordia in a core filmmaking class* or other film class in a previous school year, can I submit that film to the VISIONS?
A: If you made a film in a core class within the year, it is not eligible as it would have already been eligible for the categories of the 2017 Festival. However if you made a film in another film class within the time frame (January 2017 to the present) it is eligible for competition in VISIONS.

FAQ’s FOR: Students in Canada (outside of Quebec)

Q: Can I submit a film I made in high school, University or College?
A: Yes, you may submit a film you made in another school keeping in mind it must have been made within the past year (January 2017 to the present) and as long as the film fits the criteria of the application and was directed by you, the applicant.

FAQ’s FOR: International Undergraduate Students

Q:If I made a film outside of Canada can I submit it to VISIONS?
A: Yes! Submissions are open to all students around the world!

FAQ’s FOR: Non-Students

Q: If I am not currently a student can I still submit a film to VISIONS?
A: Yes, but only if that film was made while you were a student within the past year, not that the film has to have been made at school however.

Q: Q: Can I submit a film I made in high school, University or College?
A: Yes, you may submit a film you made in another school keeping in mind it must have been made within the past year (January 2017 to the present) and as long as the film fits the criteria of the application and was directed by you, the applicant.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Al Rabih Rami

    Professional communication and a festival which presents films with subject that matters and shed light on stories which need to be told.

    June 2017