Call for Entries open until June 15!

Thank YOU, filmmakers, for the privilege of considering your 'cinematic babies'  for more than 25 years!   It's time to do it again.  Call for Entries is now open for the 2013 EIFF.  We are looking for feature films (dramatic and documentary) over 50-minutes, Short films (50-minutes or less) and films of any length where SNOW is a backdrop, or a character, or a major part of your film. 

Awards Categories

"Official Selection" films (of all lengths) are all in competition for the coveted People's Choice Award.  NEW! awards categories this year include: The Big Daddy: Family Film Award, and The Wedgie Award For Comedy.  We are always looking for businesses and individuals to sponsor these awards with cash or in-kind donations.  If you're interested in supporting independent cinema and the Edmonton International Film Festival, blast an email to our sponsorship team.  Click HERE for complete Awards Categories list.

SUBMIT NOW to Alberta's longest running international film festival!

Filmmakers who prefer to submit by MAIL, please READ the 2013 Submission Guidelines and Submission Fees & Categories  Then MAIL the completed Paper Entry Form along with a DVD of your film and payment..

Submission Fees/Deadlines:

*ALUMNI FILMMAKERS have a PRODUCER, DIRECTOR or WRITER credit on a film (any length) that was submitted to EIFF in any of the past 3 years (2010 to 2012) -- even if your film was NOT an "Official Selection".  Our small way of saying 'Thank-you'!  Please note the title of your previously submitted film and the year you submitted in your cover letter.

2013 Submission Guidelines | Submission Fees & Categories | Paper Entry Form

Submission Categories:

NARRATIVE FEATURE  (50-minutes and over):  Feature films are dramatic, live-action and animated stories over 50-minutes, from Canada and around the world.  We're looking for films that engage, enlighten and entertain in ALL genres and for all ages.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE(50-minutes and over):  Documentary filmmaking continues to grow in popularity, and our audiences love 'em. We're looking for live-action and animated documentaries that are passionate, provocative, life-affirming… in other words, films that get audiences talking!  Films like Man On Wire, ANVIL: The Story of Anvil, American: The Bill Hicks Story and LEMON are examples of feature-length documentaries our audiences have loved.

NARRATIVE SHORT(under 50-minutes): We are looking for stories that inspire, engage and entertain.  Selected films will showcase 'excellence in storytelling'.  Short, dramatic films include animation, live-action and experimental in all genres: family, COMEDY (comedy is HUGE with our audiences), thriller, film noir, western... the list goes on.  Our most popular program strand for all short films is Lunchbox Shorts – a 45-min. package of shorts scheduled over lunch hour for the downtown business crowd.

DOCUMENTARY SHORT(under 50-minutes): We are looking for all kinds of fascinating, live-action and animated documentary stories that teach us, motivate us, or take us to a place (in mind, or in body) that we might never have gone. Over the years we’ve programmed Simply Rob, The Diner, I Am Girl, Good Karma $1 and Being Norma  – films that stay with us no matter how much time goes by.

SNOW, MAN: Films With Frost!(all lengths): Snow.  The white, fluffy stuff that falls from the sky.  It builds character.  And is the reason our first sentence after "How are you?" is "Cold enough for ya?".  We KNOW snow in Canada and want to see how filmmakers from other, wintery countries embrace it -- or not!  Show us your snow, man! 

SPOTLIGHT:  Australia(all lengths): This year, we tip our Barmahs to our mates in the land down under!  Beaut, beauty!  We are looking for a Spotlight featuring 3 to 4 feature-length dramatic or documentary films, and 6 to10 short films that are pure, 100%: The Lucky Country.  

OUR OWN BACKYARD: Films By Albertans! (all lengths): You live and work here.  You grew up here.  Your formative University days were spent here.  We want to see your stories!  Whatever the genre and the length of your film, ALBERTA filmmakers submit to this category.  Projects must not have been broadcast in Alberta or screened to the general public prior to EIFF dates.  Filmmakers must provide an Alberta address in the contact information section of the submission form.  

NEW!  ALBERTA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT SHORT(20-minutes or less): To support and cultivate the next generation of filmmakers, EIFF hosts a special competition for students enrolled in grades 9-12 within the province of Alberta.  Films submitted in this category must be under 20-minutes in length and created/produced between October 1, 2012 to June 21, 2013.  This competition is open to high school filmmakers enrolled in the province of Alberta and in grades 9 through 12 during the 2012-13 academic year.  Submission deadline is June 30 (postmark deadline).  Submissions will be judged by a panel of independent filmmakers and industry figures.  Prizes, including EIFF passes, are awarded for to the top 3 finalists and will screen as part of the regular 2013 film festival schedule.

Edmonton International Film Festival (EIFF) prefers online entries submitted via Withoutabox (WAB), which provides cost-saving, paperless submission to film festivals around the world.  Withoutabox's internet-only submission platform features online applications via one master entry form, online fee payments, and press kits.  EIFF offers the option for filmmakers to submit a secure online screener (SOS) through WAB or the traditional hard copy DVD for reviewing and consideration.  Fill out one master entry form using the WAB festival submission system and take advantage of quick entry, extended deadlines and powerfull submission management tools.  There is no extra cost to you, and by submitting, you will join Withoutabox's global filmmaker community, receive notice on film festival deadlines, and take one step in creating a greener world!