RULES & TERMS:
- We consider no cultural or national identity rooted in the so-called “Middle East” as canonical. Whether as MENA, SWANA, West Asian, and North African (WANA), or any other delimiter of the region, we leave it in the hands of our prospective submitters how they identify with the region. Our programming strives to represent all communities within the region, including those marginalized along the lines of ethnicity, language, or religion: be they aboriginal, nomad, stateless linguistic groupings and language minorities, or other identities that don't fall neatly into any orientalist image of MENA/SWANA.
We also seek immigrant narratives from ethnic and linguistic enclaves across the diaspora: pan-Arabic, West Asian, religiously heterodox, as well as personal identities that interface with postmodern politics: queer, post-colonial, anti-racist, and Indigenous selfhood.
We do not accept films with misogynist, homophobic, transphobic, zionist, nationalist, ableist or racist content.
MENA Film Festival is part of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI). For more information: https://bdsmovement.net/pacbi
If you have any questions or want to know if your film qualifies, please contact programming@menafilmfestival.com
CATEGORIES
This festival showcases:
- Feature films (no more than 140 minutes);
- Short films (30 minutes or less);
- Documentary (short or feature length);
- Experimental
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
- Priority is given to films that have MENA/SWANA-identifying people in key creative roles (Director, Writer, Cinematographer) OR whose subject matter centers the region/identity in some significant way (see above for what we mean by MENA/SWANA).
- Films in a language other than English must have English subtitles. MENA FF encourages films to have Closed Captioning if available.
- MENA Film Festival currently only features single-channel films (ie. no art installation, etc.)
- All submissions will be guaranteed at least two reviews during the adjudication process; films by emerging or independent artists who are "breaking into" the industry will be given the same consideration as established artists, as part of our effort for emerging filmmakers to reach a wider audience.
- All genres are welcome, and experimental and original portrayals of the MENA/SWANA region are encouraged (see "VISION" above).
- All submissions will be notified no later than *September 1st, 2025.* If your film is selected for the 2026 MENA Film Festival, the following material is required for promotional use by *September 21st, 2025.*
* Minimum of 2 film stills;
*Film poster;
*A trailer (format: mp4 HD 1920 x 1080);
*A logline (one sentence) and a short film description (100 words);
*Director’s photo and a short bio
*Signed Screening Agreement
-You must submit a DCP file and a ProRes 422 Quicktime backup file. Files must be delivered digitally (WeTransfer, Dropbox or Google Drive), and be received no later than *October 7th, 2025.*
-If you fail to submit all the material by the deadlines without clearly communicating with our staff about alternatives, your film will be disqualified from screening at the festival.
-By submitting you confirm your participation in an online festival which will screen internationally on our online festival platform.
FAQ
DOES MENA ACCEPT SUBMISSION WAIVERS?
As a non-profit, we do rely upon submission fees to help cover the costs of reviewing and programming films. Keeping our commitment to young artists and community accessibility in mind, however, we are providing a limited number of *20* fee waivers to filmmakers. While fee waivers are based upon an honor system of self-identification, please ensure your circumstances match our requirements in the form, and be aware that receiving a waiver may deprive others of the same opportunity.
*Filmmakers in countries facing US sanctions without access to online payment methods will not be subject to the 20 waiver limit but does not guarantee submission or acceptance into the festival.*
To request a waiver, please fill out our form:
https://forms.gle/5SySNFeQ9TAVHtqu9
We will consider waiver requests and respond by May 2nd. If you have any questions about waiver eligibility, email us at programming@menafilmfesitval.com!
DO YOU PAY SCREENING FEES?
Yes, we pay every artist a screening fee in CAD as per 2025 CARFAC rates: https://carfac-raav.ca/2025-en/2025-en-1/#A.2_%E2%80%A2_Media_Arts_screenings_and_presentations as per A.1.9 Media Arts Screenings and Presentations, depending on the format used to broadcast the films. Payments are processed two weeks after the virtual festival dates.
WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM RUNTIME MENA FILM FESTIVAL ACCEPTS?
Your short film cannot be more than 30 minutes in length, including credits. For features, we accept up to 140 minutes, including credits.
HOW OLD DOES THE FILM HAVE TO BE TO QUALIFY?
All films presented for the 2026 edition must have been completed by January 1st, 2023. However, films completed after January 1st, 2024 will be prioritized.
CAN I EMAIL MY SUBMISSION?
No, we only accept submissions via FilmFreeway. Due to capacity, MENA does not offer feedback on submissions and cannot guarantee replies on unsolicited submissions, through channels other than this platform.
DO ALL SUBMISSIONS GET VIEWED?
Yes, every single film submitted to the MENA Film Festival gets at least two separate viewings by MENA's programming committee.
CAN I SUBMIT MORE THAN ONE ENTRY?
Yes, however, you will have to pay for each submission.
DO YOU ACCEPT ROUGH CUTS?
Yes, but please make sure to note the submission as a rough cut, include which elements are incomplete (music, sound mix, color, missing scenes) and give us a firm deadline by which the final film will be completed (no less than 3 weeks before the DCP deadline on September 10th, 2025). If you fail to submit by the deadline, your film will be disqualified from screening.
IF MY FILM IS ACCEPTED AND I LIVE OUTSIDE OF VANCOUVER, WILL THE FESTIVAL PAY FOR MY ACCOMMODATION AND PLANE TICKET?
While we are excited to personally host our filmmakers visiting from out of town, as a non-profit organization, unfortunately, we are currently unable to provide individual contributors’ travel expenses. However, we offer a screening fee for each accepted submission (see above).
