RIFFA 2026 SUBMISSION TERMS & CONDITIONS
Submissions to the 2026 Regina International Film Festival & Awards (RIFFA) should be made through FilmFreeway based on the following terms. Any questions about these terms can be directed to programme@riffa.ca.
ARTICLE 1 — SUBMISSION AGREEMENT
1. By submitting a film to RIFFA for the 2026 Festival, the submitter (the "Applicant") guarantees that they have obtained the necessary consent from all owners, creators, writers, producers, third parties (for licensed portions of the film, if applicable) and/or other authorized representatives of the film (the "Film Owners") and have agreed to the terms. By submitting films to RIFFA under any categories, applicants automatically agree that the "Film Owners" will be responsible for any associated legal, financial and ethical implications (claim) associated with a public exhibition at a film festival.
2. The Applicant certifies they have acquired and licensed any and all copyrighted and trademarked material used in the film from all third parties. RIFFA will not be held responsible for the use of unlicensed material in submissions, the Film Owner hereby indemnifies RIFFA for any costs or claims associated with unlicensed materials.
3. Short Film submissions must be at least a Regina Premiere, while Feature Film submissions must be at least a Saskatchewan Premiere; i.e. not have had any public screenings in these territories.
4. The festival deems as private screenings in which:
a. Tickets are not freely distributed (restricted to cast, crew, and test audience);
b. A work-in-progress was screened and
i. all parties signed confidentiality agreements;
and/or
ii. the final submission to RIFFA is significantly different to the previously screened work (e.g., fundraising work-in-progress screenings);
c. Exception is given to works that are fruit of an academic program (post-secondary bachelor's degree, diploma, certificate, or secondary education diploma) and must be screened as part of the course's requirements.
d. Any screening that is not in compliance with the above terms is considered public by RIFFA and the submission, therefore, ineligible.
5. Films that have aired on a streaming or OTT service in Canada already are ineligible.
6. RIFFA may disqualify or reject submissions that it determines are not in compliance with the above terms, and may do so without refunding submission fees.
7. If selected, the Applicant grants RIFFA a free of charge use of the "Film Deliverables" (Article 3.1) for its festival screening.
8. The determination of the private or public nature of the screening is at RIFFA’s sole discretion. RIFFA does not have a process to appeal any decision made with regard to a submission being deemed "public" and thus ineligible and RIFFA’s decision is final in all cases.
ARTICLE 2 — GENERAL SUBMISSION INFORMATION
1. Films submitted to RIFFA for Festival consideration must be entered in ONE of the categories set out below. Please read the individual category descriptions below before submitting. Films that do not meet the eligibility requirements will not be considered by RIFFA.
a. CANADIAN FEATURE
Any narrative fiction film of any genre, on any subject directed by a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident of Canada and produced or co-produced in Canada. The submitted project must be either scripted or improvisational fiction. Submissions must have a minimum running time of 50 minutes or more. Any films completed prior to May 2025 are not eligible for RIFFA's competition categories. RIFFA 2026 must be the first public screening in Saskatchewan for films in this category. Preference will be given to films with World, International or Canadian premiere status provided to RIFFA 2026. Selected films may be available-on-demand online during the festival (1-5 days).
b. INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
Any narrative fiction film of any genre, on any subject of international origin, produced and filmed outside of Canada. The submitted project must be either scripted or improvisational fiction. Submissions must have a running time of 50 minutes or more. Any films completed prior to May 2025 are not eligible for RIFFA's competition categories. Preference will be given to films with World, International or Canadian premiere status provided to RIFFA 2026. Selected films may be available-on-demand online during the festival (1-5 days).
c. DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Any documentary film (of international or Canadian origin) on any subject. Submissions must have a running time of 50 minutes or more. Entirely scripted or improvised fictionalization of actual events are not eligible in this category. If your documentary contains minimal dramatization of actual events, you may submit to this category. Any films completed prior to May 2025 are not eligible for RIFFA's competition categories. Special consideration will be given to Canadian documentary films and a select number of spots will be reserved for documentaries made by Canadian filmmakers. Preference will be given to films with World, International or Canadian premiere status provided to RIFFA 2026. Selected films may be available-on-demand online during the festival (1-5 days).
d. CANADIAN SHORT FILM
Any narrative fiction or experimental film directed by a Canadian or permanent citizen, produced or co-produced in Canada. Submissions must have a running time of 30 minutes or less, including end credits. Any films completed prior to May 2025 are not eligible for RIFFA's competition categories. Preference will be given to films with World, International, Canadian or Saskatchewan premiere status provided to RIFFA 2026. Selected films may be available-on-demand online during the festival (1-5 days).
e. INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM
Any narrative fiction or experimental film of international origin, produced and filmed outside of Canada. Submissions must have a running time of 30 minutes or less including end credits. Any films completed prior to May 2025 are not eligible for RIFFA's competition categories. Preference will be given to films with World, International, Canadian or Saskatchewan premiere status provided to RIFFA 2026. Selected films may be available-on-demand online during the festival (1-5 days).
f. DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
Any documentary short (either of international or Canadian origin) on any subject. Submissions must have a running time of 40 minutes or less, including credits. Entirely scripted or improvised fictionalization of actual events are not eligible in this category. Any films completed prior to May 2025 are not eligible for RIFFA's competition categories. Special consideration will be given to Canadian documentary films and a select number of spots will be reserved for documentaries made by Canadian filmmakers. Preference will be given to films with World, International, Canadian or Saskatchewan premiere status provided to RIFFA 2026. Selected films may be available-on-demand online during the festival (1-5 days).
g. SASKATCHEWAN SHORT FILM
Any narrative fiction, documentary or experimental film directed or produced by a Saskatchewan resident. Submissions must have a running time of 30 minutes or less including end credits. Any films completed prior to May 2025 are not eligible for RIFFA's competition categories. Preference will be given to films with World, International, Canadian or Saskatchewan premiere status provided to RIFFA 2026. Selected films may be available-on-demand online during the festival (1-5 days). Please contact programme@riffa.ca with Saskatchewan proof of residence to receive the Password required to submit your film to this category.
h. INDIGENOUS SHORT FILM
Any narrative fiction, documentary or experimental film. The film must be initiated and either directed, produced or written by Indigenous artists. Submissions must have a running time of 30 minutes or less, including end credits. There are no restrictions on the country of origin but to be eligible you must be an Indigenous filmmaker. You must be ready to share your affiliation or connection with your community or communities upon request. Any films completed prior to May 2025 are not eligible for RIFFA's competition categories. Preference will be given to films with World, International, Canadian or Saskatchewan premiere status provided to RIFFA 2026. Selected films may be available-on-demand online during the festival (1-5 days).
i. ANIMATED SHORT FILM
Any animated fiction, documentary or experimental film with a running time of 30 minutes or less including end credits. Animated films may instead submit to any of the other RIFFA categories they also fall under, if preferred. There are no restrictions on the country of origin. Any films completed prior to May 2025 are not eligible for RIFFA's competition categories. Preference will be given to films with World, International, Canadian or Saskatchewan premiere status provided to RIFFA 2026. Selected films may be available-on-demand online during the festival (1-5 days).
j. STUDENT SHORT FILM
Any narrative fiction, documentary or experimental film produced and directed by students enrolled in a secondary or post-secondary institution (as of September 2025). Submissions must have a running time of 30 minutes or less, including end credits. Any films completed prior to May 2025 are not eligible for RIFFA's competition categories. Preference will be given to films with World, International, Canadian or Saskatchewan premiere status provided to RIFFA 2026. Selected films may be available-on-demand online during the festival (1-5 days).
2. Any film submitted to a short film category may be selected for the “Family Shorts” programme, showcasing content that is suitable for younger audiences below age 16 instead.
3. Applicants who submit a film to the Indigenous Short Film Category may submit the same film in more than one category, providing eligibility requirements are met.
4. If your film is accepted, RIFFA reserves the right to decide which category is best suited for your project.
5. All sections of The Submission Form must be filled out. RIFFA reserves the right to consider incomplete submissions as ineligible.
6. In the case of entries of five or less in any category, the festival reserves the right to transfer those entries into another category and to eliminate the original category.
7. Only online submission screeners will be accepted.
8. Any non-English dialogues used in a submitted film must have English subtitles.
9. Films that have been submitted to RIFFA in previous years are not eligible to re-apply, with the exception of a previously submitted work-in-progress, provided the Applicant had notified the Programming Team of the project's incomplete status.
10. A secure Vimeo Link and Password to watch the film may be requested anytime during the selection process regardless of your screening status on FilmFreeway.
11. Final decisions on submissions made through FilmFreeway will be notified through FilmFreeway. Please note that RIFFA may notify a filmmaker at any point prior to the official notification date.
12. All selected films will be given a period during which they must accept or decline their invitation to have their film participate in the festival. If the Applicant does not accept the invitation within the given timeframe, the film will be withdrawn from the festival and its Official Selection status revoked.
13. A film may not be withdrawn after formally accepting an invitation to screen at RIFFA.
14. If a Saskatchewan-based filmmaker wants to submit their film to a category other than Saskatchewan films then they can contact the festival for a 30% discount code applicable towards submission to another category other than Saskatchewan films; proof of residency in Saskatchewan will be requested to obtain the discount.
15. A selected number of chosen films will be given In Person screenings, while the remainder will be part of an Online screening programme. If a film is selected and the filmmaker consents to an online screening on the chosen online screening platform, they then assume any and all risks with the digital exhibition of their film; RIFFA is not responsible for any illegal reproductions of any film exhibited during RIFFA, either in person or digitally.
ARTICLE 3 — FILM DELIVERABLES
1. After the Official Selection invite is accepted by the Applicant, a deliverable of the film must be provided to RIFFA. Accepted formats are:
a) .mp4
- H264, either HD (1920x1080) or UHD (3840x2160)
- Maximum bitrate of 32 Mbps
b) .mov
- ProRes 422, ProRes 422HQ, ProRes Proxy
2. No other formats will be accepted for exhibition.
3. RIFFA's venues do not have the capacity to play DCPs.
4. The Applicant's official invitation email will be accompanied by a list of specific requirements for RIFFA's Digital Press Kit. The Applicant grants RIFFA the right to use, free of charge, the submitted media and information in its official marketing and press communications.
ARTICLE 4 — EXCEPTIONS
1. In case of situations not outlined by these terms and conditions, RIFFA reserves the right to act in its sole and absolute discretion.
ARTICLE 5 - AI USE
Films made entirely with AI will not be considered and deemed not eligible. Where AI is used for some parts of the film, the Director's statement should have a clear note explaining the specific use of AI and how that is incorporated in the final version of the film. RIFFA reserves all rights to deem a film not eligible, where a film is made using AI and/or where a majority of the film is made using AI and if small portions of use of AI in the making of the film are not properly explained.
