Concordia Film Festival

Submission Guidelines:
- All films not made in English must be subtitled in English.
- The film must be made by a student at a postsecondary institution.
- The film must have been made between May 2024 to April 2026.
- The film cannot be longer than 15 minutes.

If the film you are submitting was made in a Concordia film production class you are not eligible to submit to the Spotlight section, however, your film will be screened during the festival for Prod 1, 2, and 3, or, alternatively, Animation 1, 2 and 3.

*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.

One submission per filmmaker.

Thank you for submitting.
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GENERAL FAQ’s for Open Competition

Q: What are the "Spotlight" screenings?
A: The Spotlight screenings are five separate screenings that each highlight their genre, or community, which encourage short films made outside of Concordia filmmaking classes to be a part of the Festival. These screenings offer a variation in the regular programming, connecting our Festival with the cinema community across Canada.

Q: If I submit a film, will it automatically be chosen for the screening?
A: Like the other programmed screenings, Spotlight will be juried, meaning the submission process is open to many, but the final screened films will be selected by a designated jury.

Q: If my film is selected for a Spotlight screening, is it eligible for any prizes?
A: Yes, there will be a prize for the top film in each Spotlight category. The selection will be juried by a group of professionals working in the Canadian film industry.

Q: How many films will be selected for Spotlight screenings?
A: The number of films selected depends on the time allotment for the screening, by 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.

Q: What kind of venue will my film be screened at?
A: The Spotlight screenings will be held in downtown Montreal, at Concordia University.

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FAQS FOR: Students in Quebec (Concordia)

Q: Can I submit a film I made while in CEGEP, another University, or College?
A: Yes, as long as the film was made within the time frame (May 2024 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 the Spotlight sections?
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 the Spotlight sections that I worked on in another class or outside of my studies?
A: Yes, you may submit it to the Spotlight sections, as long as the film was made within the time frame (May 2024 to present) that 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 another film class in a previous school year, can I submit that film to the Spotlight sections?
A: If you made a film in a core class within the year, it is not eligible. However, if you made it in the previous years (May 2024 to May 2026), it is eligible for competition in the Spotlight sections.

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

Q: Can I submit a film I made in 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 (May 2024 to the present), and as long as the film fits the criteria of the application and was directed by you, the applicant.

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FAQ’s FOR: International Students

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

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FAQ’s FOR: Non-Students

Q: If I am not currently a student, can I still submit a film to the Spotlight sections?
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 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 (May 2024 to the present), and as long as the film fits the criteria of the application and was directed by you, the applicant.