Cinéfest Sudbury’s programming initiatives continue to fulfill and redefine the organization’s mandate, objects, and vision, which are built upon the Festival’s ability to attract audiences for the best in Canadian and international cinema. Cinéfest Sudbury is continually searching for films that challenge and inspire the Festival’s audience and is constantly working to introduce up-and-coming film artists to receptive and critical film enthusiasts. Programming highlights from the 2020 edition of the Festival included Ammonite, Another Round (Druk), Falling, The Father, Girl, I Am Greta, Je m'appelle humain (Call Me Human), The Last Vermeer, and My Salinger Year. In 2020, Cinéfest screened 27 in-theatre films and 67 virtual films.

Northern Ontario boasts a booming film industry that has attracted major film and television productions in recent years and Cinéfest has been thrilled to lead promotion of the efforts of its region’s crew and industry stakeholders. These promotional efforts extend to informing Canadian and international filmmakers about the incentives and infrastructure available for their future production efforts. New resources (full service film studios) and infrastructure (equipment houses), along with training opportunities and tax credits are making Northern Ontario an enticing shooting location for many producers. Recent films that have been shot in Northern Ontario include Born to be Blue (Robert Budreau), Remember (Atom Egoyan), Mean Dreams (Nathan Morlando), Two Lovers and a Bear (Kim Nguyen), Through Black Spruce (Don McKellar), The Rest of Us (Aisling Chin-Yee), and Girl (Chad Faust).

For over 30 years, Cinéfest Sudbury has presented the most exciting independent cinema from around the world to local and visiting audiences. Through partnership with the Film Circuit, an initiative that was developed by Cinéfest and is now housed by the Toronto International Film Festival Group, Cinéfest Sudbury provides filmmakers with a chance to reach a wider audience, as Film Circuit programmers attend Cinéfest to consider Festival selections and submissions to screen in their home community.

Awards & Prizes

In 2021, cash prizes will be awarded in the following categories:
• Outstanding Canadian Feature
• Outstanding World Feature
• Outstanding Short

Each year, Cinéfest Sudbury also invites audiences to have their say in the following categories:
• Audience Choice Award: Feature Film
• Audience Choice Award: Documentary
• Audience Choice Award: Short

Rules & Terms

FESTIVAL PROCEDURE
Each film submission will be pre-screened by Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival’s screening committee to determine which films will be screened during the Festival. Not all submissions will be programmed. The Festival presentation format is composite DCP (jpeg200mxf) only.

SUBMISSION FORMATS
For programming consideration, Cinéfest Sudbury accepts video links only. Please read through the eligibility requirements below before proceeding.

ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION
1. Films are selected on the basis of achievement in form and content.
2. Films must have been completed in 2019 or 2020.
3. Films that have been previously submitted, but not programmed, are permitted to re-submit.
4. Films may be a work-in-progress (for submissions purposes only).
5. Submissions that have been made available widely to the public over the: internet (YouTube, iTunes, Vimeo, etc.), television, or that have screened within a 100 kilometer radius of the City of Greater Sudbury are not eligible. Filmmakers are encouraged to contact the Festival if they are unsure if this eligibility rule applies to them.
6. The Festival presentation format is DCP (jpeg2000mxf).
7. All selected films must be made available to screen by September 1, 2020.
8. Films must be in their original language with English subtitles (if necessary).
9. All available press materials must be shipped to Cinéfest Sudbury upon notification of selection.
10. If the film was shot in part or in whole in Northern Ontario, and/or if a member of the cast and/or crew resides or is from Northern Ontario, please provide information relating to the location and duration of the shoot, and/or the name of the person residing in or from Northern Ontario, as well as their role within the production.

SCHEDULING
Upon acceptance into the Festival, the scheduling of screening dates, times, and locations is the sole responsibility of Cinéfest Sudbury.

PRINT LIABILITY
In the instance of a lost or damaged DCP, Cinéfest Sudbury will compensate only for the cost of creating a new DCP. Cinéfest Sudbury assumes responsibility for the print from of delivery to the time at which a print is rendered to a shipping agent.

RELEASE
For promotional purposes, Cinéfest Sudbury is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival.

The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands/accepts these requirements and regulations.

The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Cinéfest Sudbury 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/damage to the screening videos entered.
5 Reviews
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  • Arnold Lim

    I am so grateful for the opportunity to screen at Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, during difficult circumstances in the pandemic they were amazing to work with and so helpful. Thank you so much for the opportunity.

    October 2020
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  • Amir Zargara

    Thanks for having us :)

    October 2020
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  • Avi Federgreen

    A Top Tier Festival in every way...one of the first festival s I submit to every year and always a first choice to want to get into....Their programming....filmmaker support.....passion and presentation are second to none!

    October 2020
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  • Sean Cisterna

    Cinéfest is truly a wonderful festival. Audiences are abundant and enthusiastic, and programmers are intelligent and knowledgeable about your film. Very much recommended.

    September 2019
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  • scott dobson

    Dont let the location fool you. This festival is well run and has great films. You will be in great company and have an audience hungry to meet film makers. We only drove up for the day but would 100% submit and visit again in the future.

    January 2019
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