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Submissions

43rd Vancouver International Film Festival 

September 26 – October 6, 2024

Submissions are now open.

Running September 26-October 6, 2024, the Vancouver International Film Festival is a showcase of exceptional cinema in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. In our 43rd edition, we’ll present 130 features and 100 shorts and expand the frame with talks, creative development opportunities, performances, and other unique events that celebrate film and film culture.

VIFF’s 2023 edition screened cinema from 70 countries and offered Vancouver audiences the opportunity to experience 28 world premieres, 12 international premieres, 33 North American premieres and 56 Canadian premieres. We look forward to presenting an equally kaleidoscopic program this fall.

Canadian Submissions

VIFF is now accepting Canadian submissions of any genre for our 2024 festival.

Featuring an expansive, diverse collection of contemporary Canadian and Indigenous cinema, VIFF invites exciting new voices to share the spotlight with national treasures as we celebrate narratives that demonstrate originality, documentaries that change the way we see the world, and short films that push the form to its limits. Our 2023 edition featured 84 Canadian features and shorts, all playing in competition. 51% of those selections were by female or non-binary filmmakers and 52% were by filmmakers who were Indigenous, Black or people of colour.

Canadian Submission Categories

  • Canadian Narrative Features:
    Open to narrative films with runtimes over 40 minutes directed by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with Canada listed as one of the countries of production OR with 51% or more Canadian financing. Feature length films must not have been broadcast, distributed on VOD/home video, or screened in-person either at another festival or theatrically in the Vancouver area.
  • Canadian Documentaries:
    Open to nonfiction films with runtimes over 40 minutes directed by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with Canada listed as one of the countries of production OR with 51% or more Canadian financing. Feature length films must not have been broadcast, distributed on VOD/home video, or screened in-person either at another festival or theatrically in the Vancouver area.
  • Canadian Shorts:
    Open to narrative, nonfiction, animation, and experimental films with runtimes of 40 minutes or less directed by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with Canada listed as one of the countries of production OR with 51% or more Canadian financing. Priority will be given to short films that have not been screened online or in-person at another festival in the Vancouver area.

Submission Deadlines & Fees

Deadlines

Feature Films

Short Films

Early Deadline: April 19, 2024 $45.00 USD $30.00 USD
Regular Deadline: May 17, 2024 $50.00 USD $35.00 USD
Late Deadline: May 31, 2024 $55.00 USD $40.00 USD

All submissions must be submitted through Film Freeway:

International Submissions

VIFF is now accepting international submissions from any genre for its 2024 festival.

VIFF takes great pride in championing international cinema’s most exciting new voices, offering diverse programming and fostering enlightening dialogue. Furthermore, nonfiction filmmaking has long been one of the pillars of our programming and our short film programs showcase work from dozens of nations.

International Submission Categories

  • International Narrative Features:
    Open to non-Canadian narrative films with runtimes over 40 minutes. Feature length films must not have been broadcast, distributed on VOD/home video, or screened in-person either at another festival or theatrically in the Vancouver area.
  • International Documentaries:
    Open to non-Canadian nonfiction films with runtimes over 40 minutes. Feature length films must not have been broadcast, distributed on VOD/home video, or screened in-person either at another festival or theatrically in the Vancouver area.
  • International Shorts:
    Open to non-Canadian narrative, nonfiction, animation, and experimental films with runtimes of 40 minutes or less. Priority will be given to short films that have not been screened online or in-person at another festival in the Vancouver area.

Submission Deadlines & Fees

Deadlines

Feature Films

Short Films

Early Deadline: April 19, 2024 $55.00 USD $40.00 USD
Regular Deadline: May 17, 2024 $65.00 USD $45.00 USD
Late Deadline: May 31, 2024 $75.00 USD $50.00 USD

All submissions must be submitted through Film Freeway: