One of the featured programs of the fall Barrie Film Festival is the annual Short Film Competition. Filmmakers are invited to submit short films for consideration. An audience favourite, this exciting program showcases a selection of works by regional, national, and international filmmakers.

Eligible films must be no longer than 10 minutes, including credits, and all genres are welcome. This juried competition culminates in a public screening of the official selections as part of the Barrie Film Festival’s annual Short Film Showcase, to be held in October 2026 at Galaxy Cinemas Barrie. Cash prizes will be awarded to winning films in each of the five categories.

The Barrie Film Festival is a multi-day celebration of cinema featuring acclaimed films from around the world, guest Q&As, and special events throughout the community.

The Barrie Film Festival is a Canadian Screen Award–qualifying festival committed to celebrating emerging and established filmmakers while cultivating a thriving film community.

Awards & Prizes

Categories:

CANADIAN HIGH SCHOOL: High School films (1-10 minutes). Open to filmmakers across Canada that created their film while in high school. The work can be produced as part of, or independently of a school programme or class. Film must have been made before your 19th Birthday and have been completed after January 1, 2024. Please ensure you do not use a school email account to submit, as some communications may occur during the summer. Proof of enrollment (student ID) may be requested.

For high school filmmakers within Central Ontario, see another opportunity to enter with our regional Central Ontario Youth Short Film Festival (COYSFF), also found on FilmFreeway (deadline/run times/criteria will differ to this competition).

LOCAL: Regional short films from Barrie, Orillia, and Simcoe County (1–10 minutes). Simcoe County is located between Lake Simcoe (east) and Georgian Bay (west), approximately one hour north of Toronto. Film must have been completed after January 1, 2024.

To qualify, at least one key member of the creative team (e.g. writer, producer, director, cinematographer, lead actors) must currently reside in Barrie, Orillia, or Simcoe County, or have resided in the region within the past five years. Please outline your connection to the area with your submission.

CANADIAN LIVE-ACTION: Canadian live-action short films (1–10 minutes). Submissions may be fiction or non-fiction, and all genres are welcome. To qualify, at least one key member of the creative team must currently reside in Canada or have been a Canadian resident within the past five years. Film must be completed after January 1, 2024.

CANADIAN ANIMATION: Canadian animated shorts (1–10 minutes), across all styles and techniques—from hand-drawn and stop-motion to digital and experimental works. To qualify, at least one key member of the creative team must currently reside in Canada or have been a Canadian resident within the past five years. Film must have been completed after January 1, 2024.

INTERNATIONAL (outside Canada): International short films (1–10 minutes). Open to all independent filmmakers outside of Canada. All genres accepted. Films that are not in English must include embedded English subtitles. Film must have been completed after January 1, 2024.

This is a juried event and official selections will be publicly screened as part of the Barrie Film Festival’s annual Short Film Program Showcase in October. Of these selections, prizes will be awarded to the winning film in each of the five categories. In addition, a People’s Choice Award will be selected by audience vote and presented to one film screened at the Shorts Showcase in October 2026.

Rules & Terms

To be eligible, films must be no longer than ten (10) minutes in length (including credits) and have been completed after January 1, 2024.

Entries must be submitted through FilmFreeway in digital format (MP4, MOV).

All filmmakers submitting a short film confirm that they hold all necessary rights for their entry, including any music and other copyrighted material used in the film. By submitting, the entrant confirms that all required permissions, licences, and clearances have been obtained.

Non-English films must have English subtitles embedded into the video.

A brief description or synopsis is required with your submission. If selected you will be asked to provide press and promotional materials such as high-resolution stills, synopsis, and credits, which can be included in your film’s FilmFreeway page.

The Barrie Film Festival makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all credits in its programs and promotional materials; however, it cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

Films that have been previously submitted to the Short Film Competition are not eligible.

Any use of Artificial Intelligence must be disclosed upon submission. This will not disqualify the film from consideration.

Films only need to be submitted in one category. All films submitted will be considered for the category they are best suited by the programming team.

Submission deadlines are at 11:59 PM EST of the posted date

Submissions received by the closing date of competition will be reviewed by a jury. Entries in the Live-Action Short category will be assessed on the basis of storytelling, direction, creative vision, technical execution, originality, and overall impact.

Entries in the Animated Short category will be assessed on the basis of storytelling, originality, animation technique, visual artistry, sound design, and overall creative excellence.

The decisions of the jury are final and the results will be communicated to the entrants via supplied e-mail. Select Prizes will be awarded in an awards ceremony directly following the Short Film Showcase (October 2026).

Entry fees are non-refundable

Please Note

Entering the competition gives the Barrie Film Festival the right to use the work for public presentation, promotion and education. Entries selected for presentation will be kept by the Barrie Film Festival and archived for controlled use as reference material.

The Barrie Film Festival reserves the right to disqualify any submission at any time if there is any question of ownership, copyright infringement, or any sign of disrespect (in any form of media) to the festival or its representatives.

17 Reviews
Overall Rating
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Value
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Hospitality
Networking
  • Bruce Li

    For me as a new filmmaker, this Film Festival was Incredibly helpful. They treated each one of the filmmakers very well. We each got a T-shirt, and were also given complimentary meals after the festival at a local grill and bar, where the awards were also announced. Networking is incredibly easy at this festival since everybody will be at the same place to receive their awards. Overall, it was an excellent experience, and I will definitely come again next year.

    October 2025
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  • William Manning

    I had a great time at the Barrie Film Festival! Everyone here was super kind and made this an experience I'll never forget! Definitely worth submitting to!

    November 2024
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  • Justin Church

    What an amazing festival to attend! We had the best time watching all the films, and a great networking event afterwards. Thank you for screening our film

    April 2024
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  • Arianna Grace Goarley

    After a run of several festivals The Barrie Film Festival exceeded expectations- the events are well planned and the screenings were so well attended. It was an honour to be a part of the festival!

    October 2023
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  • Avery Fane

    What an excellent experience and great event to participate and win at! Bravo to all :)

    July 2023
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