Films must be no longer than 30 minutes in total runtime, including credits. Please be aware that our programming blocks are only 80-110 minutes long.
Films must have been completed by 2021 or later.
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR FILM IN THE “BC” CATEGORIES IF YOUR FILM HAS ANY CAST OR CREW MEMBERS WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (BC).
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR FILM IN THE “CANADA” CATEGORIES IF YOUR FILM DOES NOT HAVE CAST/CREW MEMBERS WHO ARE BC RESIDENTS, BUT ARE FROM OTHER PROVINCES OF CANADA.
See details below:
ALL FESTIVAL SUBMISSIONS IN “BC” CATEGORIES MUST HAVE AT LEAST ONE CAST OR CREW MEMBER WHO IS A BRITISH COLUMBIA (CANADA) RESIDENT. Should your film not have at least one cast or crew member (ANY role) who is a resident of British Columbia, Canada, you will be refunded your submission fee and asked to re-apply in a “Canada” category.
ALL FESTIVAL SUBMISSIONS IN “CANADA” CATEGORIES MUST HAVE AT LEAST ONE KEY CAST OR KEY CREATIVE CREW MEMBER WHO IS A CANADIAN RESIDENT. Should your film not have at least one key cast or key creative crew member who is a resident of Canada, your film will be disqualified and you will NOT be refunded your entry fee.
Festival Submissions that submit in “Canada” categories, but are eligible for BC categories, will be accepted, but will not be refunded any difference in submission fee.
For the purpose of “Key Cast” or “Key Creative Crew Member” as outlined above for “Canada” categories, eligible roles include: Director, Screenwriter, Producer, Lead Performer/Main Subject, Director of Photography, Production Designer, Art Director, Sound Designer/Mixer, Music Composer, Picture Editor, Key Animation, or any other role that may reasonably be considered as a key creative contributor to the production. Please contact us at submissions@vsff.com should you have any questions about your eligibility.
Please only submit your film to either a Regular, Student OR After Dark category. If you are uncertain which category you should submit to, please submit to the category you feel is the best fit for your film based on the descriptions of the categories. Your film will not be eliminated from consideration for the After Dark screening category (if our Programming team feels it is suitable) as a result of your submission category, and vice versa. Your film may be selected for an After Dark screening block, even if submitted to a Regular or Student category, if our Programming team feels it is suitable.
VSFF reserves the right to alter, postpone or otherwise change the format in which VSFF is delivered in response to COVID-19 and/or other health matters, which may include in-person and/or online screenings and events that may or may not be delivered during the festival’s current Event Date.
By submitting this form and film entry, I guarantee that the submission is original work and that there are no ownership or copyright disputes regarding my entry. I am authorized to submit this film and affirm that my submission will not violate any law or right of any person or entity.
Should your film be selected for the VSFF 2025 programme, VSFF may opt to screen your film as part of future year-round screening programs, including retrospective, educational, and/or ancillary festival programming. If your film is selected for one of these screening programs, you will be notified and participation will be optional. Inclusion in year-round screening programs may be up to a maximum of ten (10) years after the film’s premiere at VSFF.
I indemnify and hold The Vancouver Short Film Festival Society, its directors, producers, staff, volunteers, and affiliated entities harmless and will defend them against any damage to or loss of the film, any claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities and expenses, including attorney’s fees, arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties based on my work submitted to The Vancouver Short Film Festival.
I understand that failure to comply with The Vancouver Short Film Festival guidelines will disqualify my entry and result in forfeiture of my submission fee. Should your film not have at least one key cast or key creative crew who is a Canadian resident, your film will be disqualified and you will NOT be refunded your entry fee. By submitting your film to the VSFF, you agree that the VSFF has the right to use clips, images, and/or sound from your film for promotional purposes in the form of, but not limited to, print, radio, television, and Internet media.
