Thank you for submitting to the 2026 Whistler Film Festival!
Submissions are ONLY accepted via FilmFreeway. Applicants should test their online screeners thoroughly before submitting them, and ensure their online screener remains active on FilmFreeway until December 7, 2026. The Applicant has sole responsibility for ensuring that the submitted online screener plays in its entirety. The screener must contain English subtitles if the original language is not English. If WFF is unable to view the online screener, WFF may attempt, but is under no obligation, to contact the Applicant in order to obtain a replacement online screener.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DO NOT ACCEPT DVD SCREENERS.
If you have additional questions, please contact us at program@whistlerfilmfestival.com. Unfortunately due to the volume of submissions we receive, we are unable to answer questions or provide feedback regarding your submission or selection status.
WE DO NOT PROVIDE FILM FEE WAIVERS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
GENERAL RULES:
Because we do not provide film fee waivers, we will not respond to requests and appreciate your understanding in advance.
Film fees are payable by all major credit cards via FilmFreeway, and are non-refundable.
The Whistler Film Festival accepts submissions of films of all lengths, subject matters and countries of origin.
All submissions must have been completed after January 1, 2025. However, preference will be given to films completed within the Festival’s current calendar year. Films that have been publicly telecast or made commercially available online prior to the closing date of the 2026 Whistler Film Festival will be disqualified. The only exception is exhibition at a film festival, either in-person or through a password or paywall protected virtual festival screening. If you have questions about your film’s eligibility and premiere status, please contact program@whistlerfilmfestival.com.
As the Festival takes place in English Canada, non-English language films must be submitted with English-subtitles to be considered.
Entries previously submitted to the Whistler Film Festival will not be considered.
Trailers are not eligible for selection purposes.
WORK-IN-PROGRESS FEATURE FILMS:
Work-in-progress feature films at the rough cut phase are eligible for submission. If submitting a work-in-progress, please tell us what remains to be done to complete the film and when you will have it finished. Please be aware programmers only view the first version of a submitted film and will not accept a revised version of the film later in the submission process. Updated versions will not be screened except if considered for our First Look industry screening series.
SUBMISSION CATEGORIES AND ELIGIBILITY:
Please note that films should be submitted to one Submission Category only. If your film fits in two categories (eg. documentary and mountain culture), our programming staff will consider your film for all relevant submission categories.
Canadian Narrative Feature Film
Canadian feature-length films are eligible for feature length narrative programming strands. Feature films must be 50 minutes in length or longer (including credits) to qualify for this category. A film is considered Canadian if the director is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and if the film has been at least 51% financed through Canadian dollars or is produced in Canada. Documentary feature films are not eligible for the Borsos Award for Best Canadian Feature. All feature-length films selected for the Whistler Film Festival are also eligible to receive the Audience Award. The Festival-going public casts their votes to choose the most popular film in this year's festival.
International Narrative Feature
Feature films from all countries are invited to apply. Feature films must be 50 minutes in length or longer (including credits) to qualify for this category. All narrative feature-length films selected for the Whistler Film Festival are eligible to receive the Audience Award. The Festival-going public casts their votes to choose the most popular film in this year's festival. All foreign language films require English subtitles.
World Documentary Competition
Feature-length documentary films from all countries are invited to apply. Documentaries must be 40 minutes in length or longer (including credits) to qualify for this category. Preference is given for films with World Premiere, North American Premiere, or Canadian Premiere status. Selected documentary films are eligible for the juried World Documentary Award. Selected feature documentaries are also eligible to receive the Audience Award. The Festival-going public casts their votes to choose the most popular film in this year's festival.
Canadian Shortwork Competition
Canadian short films are eligible for our ShortWork Competition and our Canadian ShortWork Award. All short films must be less than 40 minutes in length (including credits) to qualify for this category. A film is considered Canadian if the director is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and if the film has been at least 51% financed through Canadian dollars or is produced in Canada. Preference will be given to films that have not already screened in BC.
International Shortwork Competition
International short films are eligible for our ShortWork Competition and our International ShortWork Award. All non-English language film screeners must have English subtitles. All short films must be less than 50 minutes in length (including credits) to qualify for this category. Preference will be given to films that have not already screened in BC.
BC Student ShortWork Competition
Films produced by students attending a British Columbia post-secondary education institution in a creative field are eligible for our BC Student ShortWork Competition. All short films must be less than 30 mins in length (including credits) to qualify for this category.
Mountain Culture Competition
Films submitted to this category should be related to mountain sports or settings, athletic journeys, adventure filmmaking or environmental impact. Films can be fiction or non-fiction and both short or feature length films will be programmed.
NOTIFICATION OF ENTRY STATUS:
Applicants will be notified by November 3, 2026 of their final entry status via email to the FilmFreeway contact.
Decisions made by the Whistler Film Festival are final. Due to time constraints, the Programming Team and Selection Committee will not be able to respond individually to filmmakers if your film is not accepted. Upon receiving the Festival’s Official Invitation, film teams must re-confirm their eligibility status and officially accept the invitation per the instructions and deadline stipulated in the Festival’s Official Invitation. WFF does not require premiere status, however it does factor into programming considerations.
The date(s), time(s) and location(s) of exhibitions of programmed films shall be at the discretion of the Festival.
No film, once programmed, can be withdrawn.
Each official selection will be required to provide a press kit, high resolution stills, keyart (if available), trailer or at least one clip (90 seconds or less) from the film and any other relevant press / publicity materials upon acceptance.
SHIPPING OF INVITED FILMS:
All invited feature films must be delivered in a DCP format that is conformed to North American exhibition standards. A high resolution MP4 file (10 GB or less) of invited feature films may also be required but this will be flagged and highlighted by the festival programming staff when applicable.
All shipments for exhibition to the Festival must be prepaid. If you are selected to screen at WFF26, we will cover the cost of return shipping. WFF26 can accept digital DCP and MP4 file delivery.
The Festival will ensure the integrity of the prints from the time of delivery to the Festival from the time that the print is delivered to a shipping agent for return. In the event of loss or damage to a print, the Festival must be notified of such loss or damage in writing by January 16, 2027. The Festival’s obligation is limited to compensating the producer or distributor only to the cost of replacing the damaged print. The Whistler Film Festival does not assume liability for damage to prints due to improper shipping containers or otherwise.
PRIVACY & ANTI-PIRACY POLICY
The Whistler Film Festival Society (WFFS) endeavors to take all reasonable anti-piracy precautions for copyrighted materials in our possession. By submitting to the WFFS, you release the WFFS, its Board, members, officers, employees, contractors, agents, partners, affiliates, and volunteers (“the Society”) from all risk and liability in the event of theft or breach of copyright of your materials while on Festival premises.
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
By submitting to the Festival, the individual or corporation submitting the film (“Submitting Parties”) hereby warrants that they are authorized to commit the film for screening at the Festival, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.
The Submitting Parties have submitted the film for consideration with the knowledge and consent of the Producer(s) and/or rights holders listed in their submission form.
The Submitting Parties shall indemnify and hold harmless Whistler Film Festival Society, its Board, members, officers, employees, contractors, agents, partners, affiliates, and volunteers from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.
Participation in the Whistler Film Festival implies an understanding and acceptance of these regulations. The Festival reserves the right to rule on cases not foreseen by these regulations.
