In the fall of 2024, WebSeries Canada presents the 11th anniversary of T.O. Webfest. The festival is designed to support, connect, promote, and celebrate independent short form digital content creators and podcasters from Canada and around the world. The TOWF Conference offers engaging keynotes, panels, networking sessions, screenings, and an Awards Gala!
SUBMIT YOUR WEB SERIES:
1. a) What is an eligible web series/short form digital series?
A series of at least 4 episodes, scripted or unscripted, designed primarily for online digital streaming, with running time of less than 20 minutes per episode.
a) What is an eligible podcast?
A fiction podcast, unscripted podcast (interview, variety, documentary), or actual play podcast or video. **Running times are not fixed, but the jury will only listen to up to 20 minutes.
2. Does your release date qualify?
Your series or podcast must be released between January 1, 2023, up until July 1st, 2024 in order to be eligible.
3. Next pick your genre category:
SHORT FORM DIGITAL SERIES CATEGORIES:
Comedy
Drama
Documentary
Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Horror/Thriller/Action
Variety/Musical
Lifestyle
Animated
Children's (12 and under)
Youth (13-18)
PODCAST CATEGORIES:
Fiction Podcast
Unscripted Podcast
Actual Play Podcast
Actual Play Video
Once you apply with your genre pick you will automatically be considered for the TOWF craft categories.
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The WSC Spark Equity Program for Canadian creators, funded by the Canada Media Fund, ensures that cost is not a barrier for anyone to participate in T.O. Webfest. This fund will provide submission fees to those that may require it and identify as Black, Indigenous or persons of colour. Please contact leah.rifkin@webseriescanada.org for more information.
PRIMARY AWARDS:
Best Series - Grand Prize
Best English Canadian Series
Best French Canadian Series
Best International Series
Best Toronto Series
Suzette Laqua Best of BC Series
GENRE AWARDS:
Best Comedy Series
Best Drama Series
Best Documentary Series
Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Series
Best Horror/Thriller/Action Series
Best Variety/Musical Series
Best Lifestyle Series
Best Animated Series
Best Children Series (12 and under)
Best Youth Series (13-18)
Best Fiction Podcast
Best Unscripted Podcast
Best Actual Play Podcast
Best Actual Play Video
CRAFT AWARDS FOR SHORT FORM DIGITAL:
Best Directing
Best Writing
Best Editing
Best Actor in a Canadian Series
Best Supporting Actor in a Canadian Series
Best Actor in an International Series
Best Supporting Actor in an International Series
Best Ensemble Cast
Ben Houtman Memorial Award for Best Cinematography
Best Original Score
Best Production Design
Best Visual Effects
Best Sound Design
Best Costume Design
Best Hair & Makeup
CRAFT AWARDS FOR PODCAST (including Actual Play):
Best Writing
Best Sound Design
Best Ensemble Cast
SPECIFIC CRAFT AWARD FOR ACTUAL PLAY:
Best Game Master
Best Player Character Performance
ELIGIBILITY FOR PRIMARY CATEGORIES:
BEST SERIES GRAND PRIZE
Open to all participating short form digital series.
BEST ENGLISH CANADIAN SERIES
Only open to English-language short form digital series produced in Canada.
BEST FRENCH CANADIAN SERIES
Only open to French-language short form digital series produced in Canada.
BEST INTERNATIONAL SERIES
This is given to the best foreign series (produced outside of Canada). Open to all languages.
TORONTO AWARD
Only open to short form digital series produced in Toronto.
BEST OF BC WEB SERIES AWARD
Only open to short form digital series produced in British Columbia.
Other Special Awards include but are not limited to:
TRIPLE THREAT AUTEUR AWARD
Open to anyone person who occupied at least three of the following four key roles in connection with a selected web series, as listed in your FilmFreeway submission form: writer, director, director of photography, and lead actor. Finalists will be determined by the highest overall scores as determined by the festival jury.
WEBSERIES CANADA HONOURABLE MENTIONS
The Honorable Mention Awards are given to artists and production companies that stand out and deserve special recognition. The jury may award as many honorable mentions as it feels is necessary.