Get Your Grind On, Vancouver, Vancouver!

Join us at Vancouver's favourite independently owned and operated cinema, the Rio Theatre, for the annual Rio Grind Film Festival - an immaculate assortment of new and award-winning international, Canadian, indie, cult, sci-fi and horror shorts, features, and documentaries - November 23-26, 2023.

$500 cash prize for Best Canadian Short Film.
$500 cash prize for Best International Short Film.

The Rio Grind Film Festival is currently accepting for submissions of independent horror, action, grindhouse, erotica, fantasy, documentary, animation, science fiction, and thriller shorts and feature docs from both Canada and around the world. We are pleased to present each filmmaking team selected to participate with passes (up to 2) to the entire Fest! More info coming soon...

GENERAL RULES

1 . I have read, understated and fully comply with all submission eligibility information contained below.
2 . To the best of my knowledge, all of the statements in this document are true.
3 . This film or video is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation.
4 . I am duly authorized to submit this film to the festival.
5 . I hold the Rio Grind Film Festival harmless from any damage to DVD en route or otherwise during the course of the festival’s possession of the film.
6 . I hold the Rio Grind Film Festival, its owners, management, juries, subsidiaries, agents, sponsors, affiliates, etc. harmless from any and all claims of liability resulting from my entry.
7 . I certify that I have full rights to the use of the music in the entered work.
8 . I give permission for the Rio Grind Film Festival to use stills, titles, copy, and/or information from the short for promotional purposes as required.
9 . I give permission for the Rio Grind Film Festival to screen the film at the Festival as well as any Festival-related presentations, programs, promotions, and/or events.

*Entrant’s name, address and the production’s title must be clearly marked on any and all submission materials.
*Payment of shipping to the Rio for final screening is the responsibility of the filmmaking team (as required). We will ship material back (as required).
*If a film is invited to participate, the Rio Theatre is able to screen in a variety of formats.
*If required, the film must be shipped prepaid, insured and packed in proper containers.
*The Rio Theatre and the Rio Grind Film Festival do not assume any liability for damage to DVDs or film prints due to improper containers.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The Rio Grind Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes.

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

The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless the Rio Grind Festival 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.

Special note to international participants shipping DVDs:
The Customs Declaration should state that the preview video is “for cultural purposes“ and has a value no higher than $2.

Acceptable methods of payment include cheque or money order payable to The Rio Theatre. All funds must be in Canadian or US Dollars. Please note on your cheque/money order, the name of the film being submitted. Enclose payment with this entry form. If you are wanting to pay using cash, credit or debit at the theatre directly, we can accept that as payment.

If selected to participate in the festival, exhibition prints may be presented in DCP, BluRay, or QuickTime compliant file (or downloadable copy as required). Filmmakers must deliver/provide final format as indicated for festival screening in advance as required. Shorts will be compiled into a program(s) for screening at the Rio Theatre.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Thomas Chretien

    Fun festival, the Rio is always a great venue. Will attend again!

    December 2022
  • The Rio theatre is a great venue to host a film festival and the organizers are really friendly. I will attend again!

    November 2017
  • Amazing festival with a great lineup! Rachel and the staff were great with communication and amazing with helping out film makers get sorted. Highly recommend to apply to and attend!

    November 2017
  • Walt Bladt

    It was sincerely an amazing honor to be screened next to "Let the corpses tan". Thank you for this wonderfull experience!

    November 2017
  • Christopher Beaubien

    The Rio Grind Film Festival was exemplary.

    The festival programmer Rachel Fox and the Rio Theatre staff took great care presenting my short film “Socket” and kept good communication. It was wonderful to spend a long weekend in the theatre (one of the very best in Vancouver) making contacts and watching an eclectic, wild program of independent features and shorts. Whether you’re submitting a film or not, I highly recommend this film festival.

    October 2017