We are looking for videos made by aspiring young filmmakers ages 6 to 18 years in two age categories:

- Wee Reels (Grades 8 and under)

- Reel Views (Grades 9 to 12)

Submissions can be on any topic and all genres are eligible (e.g. animation, live action, public service announcement, documentary, experimental, music video, webisode). This is a chance for you to have fun and be as creative as you can.

*Please note - this page is only for submissions for our Youth Video Contest. We are not accepting submissions for the main films for the festival.*

Freeze Frame is Manitoba’s Media Arts Centre for Young People. The Centre is a not-for-profit and charitable organization, offering workshops and programs throughout the year, and organizes the International Film Festival for Kids of All Ages each spring. Freeze Frame strives to be an international leader in providing an enriching cinematic and multi-media experience through the delivery of diverse and innovative programming that educates, inspires and empowers children and youth.

Awards & Prizes

This year the Youth Video Contest is introducing a new prize for each category : Best Manitoban Short Film.

$50 prize for Best Canadian Film in the Wee Reels category
$50 prize for Best Manitoban Short Film in the Wee Reels category

$100 prize for Best Canadian Film Reel Views category
$100 prize for Best Manitoban Short Film Reel Views category

Freeze Frame may offer awards in any of the following categories:

- Best Animation

- Best Live Action

- Best Documentary

- Best PSA

- Best Experimental

- Best Music Video

- Best Web Episode

- Most Promising Filmmaker

- Technical Achievement

- Best acting

Rules & Terms

The contest is open to all participants between the ages of 5 and 18 either completed at school, as part of a homeschool program, summer camp, daycare or completed independently.

Entrants agree to the terms set out in the guidelines when submitting their projects to the Youth Video Contest.

Films must be 5 minutes or shorter including credits.

Films produced in a language other than English must be subtitled.

Videos should be submitted along with your application form to Freeze Frame via a downloadable WeTransfer or Google Drive link using one of these files: QuickTime (.mov), MPEG4 (.mp4) or .m4v.
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 or 1280 x720 (rate 16:9)

No copyrighted music or images (that means you can’t include popular music or have pre-existing characters in your film and images, moving or still). Films submitted to the contest must be original works. Plan to film additional footage if characters are watching a movie or show that appears on screen. All videos submitted must be suitable for viewing by those of all ages. Submitted films may not depict violent acts, hate speech, offensive language, sexually suggestive scenes,drug use, graphic subject matter and/or anything defamatory, discriminatory or obscene.

People over the age of 18 may be involved in the production of the film in a secondary capacity.

Filmmakers must be 18 or younger during the time of production.

Any entrant who is below the age of majority must have the consent of their parent or legal guardian to enter the Contest and submit their personal information in connection with the Contest.

Entrants waive the right to their video once submitted and grant permission to the Youth Video Contest to use their film or film fragments in promotional material, not limited to social media, website and other promotional purposes.

Only the entrants name and information regarding the film submission will be published. All other information will be kept confidential.

Photo release forms must be completed and submitted to Freeze Frame to participate in the contest. Anyone appearing in the submitted video must sign a release form to be filmed and anyone appearing in the submitted video must obtain the consent of a parent or legal guardian. General school photo/video release forms will not be considered.

Only entrants who are permanent residents or citizens of Canada are eligible for the prize in the Best Canadian Short Film and Best Manitoban Short Film categories in both Wee Reels and Reel Views. Winners in all categories will be announced on the day of the film screening. Winners living outside of Winnipeg will be contacted to inform them if they’ve won in any category.

Freeze Frame holds the right to award films as it so chooses and as decided by the jury selected for the given year.

Films can either be submitted via FilmFreeway or sent to info@freezeframeonline.org.

Download the Application Form, fill out all the fields, and email it to: info@freezeframeonline.org

Deadline for entries is 5 pm. Wednesday February 13, 2026.

For more information call us: 204 949-9355

https://www.freezeframeonline.org/youth-video-contest