Commffest celebrates its upcoming 19th-year as Toronto’s leading cultural showcase of edutainment cinema whose dedication and passion have fueled the festival's success over the years September 19 -24,. presented in movie theaters, exhibition spaces, and online.

COMMFFEST a charitable corporation takes place mainly in the historical neighbourhood of Old Town Toronto once home to the first Parliament buildings, the current St Lawrence hall where world leaders like W.E Dubois, Marcus Garvey Sir John A Macdonald held meetings that impacted the world.

Commffest is more than a film festival; The emphasis on mixing and mingling over food, drink, and music enhances the overall experience for filmmakers and attendees. This inclusive approach to filmmakers and audiences, reflects a commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue and positive change showcasing our complexed world, navigating through life’s ordeals in communities, family dynamics, environmental concerns, poverty, human rights, LGBTQ, women's rights, and third-world struggles.

The festival has successfully built a platform for bringing together communities, non-profit organizations, and global leaders in panel discussions. This engagement has often resulted in increased funding and support for the highlighted causes and groups.

Our screenplay competitions are spearheaded by Vladimir Bondarenko, a filmmaker, writer, director, and producer with 35 years of experience. His role as an instructor at various film Schools adds a valuable educational perspective.

Behzad Sedghi Filmmaker
For me, COMMFFEST has been where my films have finally reached their maturity by connecting through the big screen with their audience. It is this connection that is essential for any artistic endeavour. As this may be the case with most other festivals, however, in my direct experience with COMMFFEST I clearly felt that each artist was given special attention, a chance to have a dialogue about their creation and ultimately was embraced in a celebration of their achievement. COMMFFEST founders and organizers are filled with the love of films and arts and clearly possess the vision and generosity to make this celebration happen every year. I look forward to being part of the next celebration either as an artist or a member of its community.

COMMFFEST mission statement:
To advance education by raising the cultural, artistic and aesthetic expression of the community and to advance the public’s appreciation of the arts through related artistic workshops and panel discussions, while promoting the works of filmmakers and artists alike.

The programming: The films are chosen by a jury of professionals from a globally solicited call for submissions. Once chosen, the programming is created to generate discussion around specific world events and themes, provoking dialogue and acceptance of others and their concerns.

More about COMMFFEST
COMMFFEST attracts educators, artists, politicians, business leaders, socially conscious organizations and trendsetters.

Local Educational engagement:
Over 6000 Children from local schools across the GTA that now include the COMMFFEST festival experience as part of their annual curriculum.
COMMFFEST’S unique diversity invites the world to one local community event over several days in Toronto

The COMMFFEST AWARDS: Best Film, screenplays and Honourable Mention are the two categories for the MADA (Making a Difference) Awards. The MADA goes to filmmakers community and world leaders whose work champions’ social good and community enrichment. Whether young or old, seasoned or just beginning, cinematic storytellers are welcomed into COMMFFEST with opportunities to engage and inspire audiences.

All submissions are required to release the information of previous screenings.
In competition:

All local filmmakers are expected to promote their films and attend their screenings.
all other filmmakers are required to promote through social media.

Films can not be screened during the same time frame as another festival within that area.

Festival submissions DVDs, Bluray or online screeners. We accept movie files. MP4's
We do not return items without a self addressed return envelope or package

o Title
o Production Company
o Company Address
o Telephone Number
o Director’s Name
o Length in Minutes
o FilmFreeway Tracking Number

Please make available your films downloadable from FilmFreeway video platform once acceptance has been announced along with your trailer and jpeg images.

for those using Fedex DHL PUROLATER or any other mail system be sure to mark "non commercial use and a value of under $10.00 dollars.
Please avoid Fedex ground.

ONLY ONLINE CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED! ALL OTHER METHODS OF PAYMENT MAY DELAY THE PROCESSING OF YOUR SUBMISSION!
Terms

COMMFFEST COMMUNITY 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 COMMFFEST COMMUNITY FILM 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 videos entered.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • kurt norton

    We had a great experience being part of Commffest Global Community Film Festival. Thank you so much for including our documentary in the festival.

    September 2023
  • Macabit Abramson

    It’s important that you give a stage to independent artistic films, that shows the struggle of a woman against social constraints and her conflict between motherhood and artistic expression, such as Woman Alive, that shows a dark journey of a woman to hell and back to find her creative destiny.

    September 2023
  • Michael Buckley

    Commffest says it has VOD online film festival, but this turns out to be highly misleading. Filmmakers beware: there are no parameters for the VOD thing.

    September 2023
  • Excellent organization and very friendly team.

    October 2022
  • Raffaella Verga

    Fantastico
    Grazie mille al Commffest per la bellissima esperienza

    October 2022