- We consider no cultural or national identity rooted in the so-called Middle East as canonical. Whether as MENA, SWANA, WANA or any other delimiter of the region, we leave it in the hands of our prospective submitters how they identify with the region.
By the same token, our programming strives to represent heterogeneous regional and sub-ethnic identities within the larger Middle East and North Africa that have often been amalgamated in official narratives of nation-state: be they aboriginal, nomad, sub-national linguistic groupings and 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 and Persic, religious heterodoxy; as well as personal identities that interface with a post-modern politics: queer, post-colonial, anti-racist and indigenous selfhood.
CATEGORIES
This festival showcases:
Feature films (no more than 140 minutes);
Short films (30 minutes or less);
Documentary;
Experimental and multimedia.
- Works must have a significant (more than half) representation of MENA/SWANA-identifying people in key creative roles OR the subject matter must largely treat 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.
- All submissions, by established or emerging artists, are welcome and will be guaranteed two screenings during the adjudication process; films by artists 30 and under or who are "breaking into" the industry will be given particular consideration as part of our effort for NEW GENERATION filmmakers to reach a wider public.
- All genres are welcome, and experimental and original portrayals of the MENA/SWANA region are encouraged (see "VISION" above).
- If your film is selected for the 2022 MENA Film Festival, you must submit a DCP file and a ProRes 422 Quicktime backup file. Files must be delivered on an external hard drive or USB flash drive and be received no later than Monday, October 3rd, 2022.
- If your film is selected, in addition to the DCP file, the following material is required for promotional use by Monday, Septembre 5th, 2022.
Minimum of 2 film stills;
Film poster;
A trailer (format: mp4 HD 1920 x 1080);
A logline and a short film description (100 words);
Director’s photo and short bio.
- As a non-profit, we do rely upon submission fees to help cover 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 we do not delve into the personal circumstances of each request, we may ask follow-up questions, and we expect that those asking for a waiver are being honest about their circumstance and are aware that receiving a waiver may deprive others of the same opportunity.
To request a waiver, please fill in this form: https://forms.gle/VXXjb6x8Bhh9XLM1A
We will be considering waiver requests and provide a response by February 10th and again on April 10.
FAQ
DO YOU PAY SCREENING FEES?
Yes, we pay every artist a screening fee in CAD as per 2022 CARFAC rates: https://carfac-raav.ca/2022-en/2022-en-1/ as per A.1.9 Media Arts Screenings and Presentations, depending on the format used to broadcast the films.
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 2022 edition must have been completed by January 1st, 2020.
CAN I EMAIL MY SUBMISSION?
No, we only accept submissions via FilmFreeway.
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 each individual submission.
DO YOU ACCEPT ROUGH CUTS?
Yes, but please make sure to mark the submission as a rough cut and let us know which elements are incomplete (music, sound mix, colour, missing scenes) and give us a firm deadline by which the final film will be completed (no less than 4 weeks before the event).
IF MY FILM IS ACCEPTED AND I LIVE OUTSIDE OF VANCOUVER, WILL THE FESTIVAL PAY FOR MY ACCOMODATION AND PLANE TICKET?
No, unfortunately, as a non-profit organization, we cannot afford these expenses. However, we offer a screening fee for each accepted submission.
DOES MENA ACCEPT SUBMISSION WAIVERS?
As a non-profit organization, we rely upon submission fees to help cover some of the costs of reviewing films. However, we are offering a limited number of submission waivers. To request a waiver, please fill in this form: https://forms.gle/VXXjb6x8Bhh9XLM1A. (See above for more information)
