Festival cover image

Guelph Film Festival

Guelph, Ontario N1H, Canada, North America

06 - 14 Nov, 2020

Festival cover image
Guelph Film Festival logo
Guelph Film Festival

Guelph, Ontario N1H, Canada, North America

Is this your festival?

Is this your festival?

General Information

edition

23rd

Contact details

@10C Shared Space 42 Carden Street Guelph, Ontario N1H 3A2 Canada

132

submissions@guelphfilmfestival.ca

(519) 803-8387

Web & social

Venues

10C Shared Space, 4th Floor 42 Carden Street Guelph, Ontario N1H3A2, , Canada Show me on the map
Art Gallery of Guelph 358 Gordon Street Guelph, Ontario N1G 1Y1, , Canada Show me on the map
Guelph Civic Museum 52 Norfolk Street Guelph, Ontario N1H 4H8, , Canada Show me on the map
Thornbrough Building, University of Guelph 80 South Ring Road East Guelph, Ontario N1G 1Y4, , Canada Show me on the map

About the festival

The Guelph Film Festival started in the early 1980's, making it one of the oldest documentary-focused film festivals in the world. We are located in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and our programming focuses on social justice, the environment, and community building (all broadly construed). We have purposefully kept the festival small to encourage participation in our post-film discussions, which are lead by the filmmaker, film subject, and/or someone from the community with knowledge of the topic(s) that can connect broader issues with local initiatives and understandings. At the GFF we focus on inspiring community engagement and appreciation for the arts through connecting people with stories of global reach and local relevance. #LetsTalkDoc

The Guelph Film Festival is dedicated to expanding the proliferation of  voices and perspectives of all kinds, through the presentation of stories from the margins. We program 50% Canadian Documentaries (this applies to both films shot in Canada and/or with a Canadian Director), 50% with Female/Female-Identifying Directors, 50% Diversity (BIPOC/LGBTQ+/Deaf & Disabled). At least two screenings every year are dedicated to Indigenous-made documentaries. We are serious about promoting gender parity and diversity in the film industry and every decision we make is guided by principles of inclusion.

Our 2019 festival opened with the important social justice doc Conviction, hosted the world premier of the NFB eco-doc Sovereign Soil, and closed with the urgently needed PUSH. In addition to offering screenings of well renowned films, we are passionate about discovering and supporting the hidden gems and emerging filmmakers...the great docs that may not have made it into HotDocs, but that deserve a passionate audience to experience their stories.

The festival takes place over nine days at the beginning of November in a variety of venues throughout downtown Guelph. Venues range in size from 80-300 seats, with most being around 80-100 seats and include a variety of community locations from galleries, museums, and performance centres to coffee shops, large churches to art studios, and a 300 seat theatre on campus.

An honorarium will be awarded to each documentary selected for screening at the twenty-third annual Guelph Film Festival.

$500 (CAD) for features: International/World Premiere 
$350 (CAD) for features: Canadian Premiere 
$250 (CAD) for features: Guelph Premiere
$65-200 (CAD) for mid-length between 21-59 mins
$50-65 (CAD) for shorts less than 20 mins

The festival considers films that have screened in Canada - ONLY GUELPH PREMIER IS REQUIRED- however, we do take these previous screenings and filmmaker availability into consideration when making official selections.

About

The Guelph Film Festival started in the early 1980's, making it one of the oldest documentary-focused film festivals in the world. We are located in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and our programming focuses on social justice, the environment, and community building (all broadly construed). We have purposefully kept the festival small to encourage participation in our post-film discussions, which are lead by the filmmaker, film subject, and/or someone from the community with knowledge of the topic(s) that can connect broader issues with local initiatives and understandings. At the GFF we focus on inspiring community engagement and appreciation for the arts through connecting people with stories of global reach and local relevance. #LetsTalkDoc

The Guelph Film Festival is dedicated to expanding the proliferation of  voices and perspectives of all kinds, through the presentation of stories from the margins. We program 50% Canadian Documentaries (this applies to both films shot in Canada and/or with a Canadian Director), 50% with Female/Female-Identifying Directors, 50% Diversity (BIPOC/LGBTQ+/Deaf & Disabled). At least two screenings every year are dedicated to Indigenous-made documentaries. We are serious about promoting gender parity and diversity in the film industry and every decision we make is guided by principles of inclusion.

Our 2019 festival opened with the important social justice doc Conviction, hosted the world premier of the NFB eco-doc Sovereign Soil, and closed with the urgently needed PUSH. In addition to offering screenings of well renowned films, we are passionate about discovering and supporting the hidden gems and emerging filmmakers...the great docs that may not have made it into HotDocs, but that deserve a passionate audience to experience their stories.

The festival takes place over nine days at the beginning of November in a variety of venues throughout downtown Guelph. Venues range in size from 80-300 seats, with most being around 80-100 seats and include a variety of community locations from galleries, museums, and performance centres to coffee shops, large churches to art studios, and a 300 seat theatre on campus.

An honorarium will be awarded to each documentary selected for screening at the twenty-third annual Guelph Film Festival.

$500 (CAD) for features: International/World Premiere 
$350 (CAD) for features: Canadian Premiere 
$250 (CAD) for features: Guelph Premiere
$65-200 (CAD) for mid-length between 21-59 mins
$50-65 (CAD) for shorts less than 20 mins

The festival considers films that have screened in Canada - ONLY GUELPH PREMIER IS REQUIRED- however, we do take these previous screenings and filmmaker availability into consideration when making official selections.

Awards & Winners

There are no winners yet for this festival

Terms and rules

23rd Annual Guelph Film Festival
The Guelph Film Festival is a not-for-profit that presents more than 30 documentaries (features, mid-length, and shorts) every year to a dedicated audience of film enthusiasts during the nine day festival. Each screening receives the full focus of the festival, as each event has a dedicated time slot with no overlap, so that all films can be attended by the full community. Most of the screenings are accompanied by a post-film discussion focused on either the filmmaker, film subject, or community connections to the film's topic(s).

If your film has a connection to the city of Guelph (either in having been partial filmed here or having crew members connected with the city), please reach out and let us know!

Submissions

1. The GFF only accepts DOCUMENTARIES, with the exception of the children’s program, which focuses on short docs, narratives, and animations geared towards children audiences with the age range of 4-11.
2. The content of the documentaries must fit within the festival themes of SOCIAL JUSTICE, the ENVIRONMENT, and/or COMMUNITY BUILDING (all broadly construed).
3. Only films completed after April 2019 will be considered.
4. Films which have received screenings in Guelph, ON prior to the festival are ineligible.
5. Films previously submitted to the Guelph Film Festival are ineligible.
6. Films openly available on the internet are ineligible (some exceptions are made for shorts).
7. Press Kits are required upon selection, including 3-5 film stills, a director's headshot, a short (50 words) and long (<200 words) synopsis.
8. Promotional materials of selected films become the property of the GFF and can be used to promote the Festival and the programs of the Festival in all mediums.
9. All films must be submitted with a private online screener embedded on FilmFreeway.
10. If selected for the festival, a high quality H264 QUICKTIME compliant file is the preferred exhibition format (15GB max), as we believe in saving filmmakers money (especially emerging filmmakers).
11. Shorts and mid-length docs chosen will be compiled into programs for screenings.
12. Short submissions must be under 20min in duration.
13. Mid-length submissions must be between 21-60min in duration.
14. Feature submissions must be over 61min in duration, and not exceed 110min.
15. ALL SUBMISSION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. It is the responsibility of the filmmaker to ensure that their submission is applicable for our festival, meets all requirements, and adheres to all rules.

Screening Access

The Festival will provide two complimentary Festival passes for each feature (60+ minutes) presented. Short and mid-length filmmakers will receive one complimentary Festival pass. Some support for travel to attend the festival may be available, but is subject to funding and is influenced by the volume of requests.

Program Selection

Entries will be reviewed by a Programming Committee appointed by/and including the Artistic Director. The programming committee is made up of local filmmakers, artists, and community members/documentary enthusiasts.

Upon Acceptance

1. All digital screeners must be delivered to the GFF by September 10, 2020 and can provided either via a download link/instructions emailed to submissions@guelphfilmfestival.ca or mailed on a USB key at shipper’s expense to:
GUELPH FILM FESTIVAL
@ 10C Shared Space
42 Carden Street
Guelph, ON, N1H 3A2
CANADA
Note: USB keys will not be returned.
2. Digital Press Kits including 3-5 film stills, a director's headshot, a short synopsis (~50 words) and long synopsis(<200 words), trailer (if available), and social media handles/hashtags should be emailed to submissions@guelphfilmfestival.ca
3. Promotional materials of selected films become the property of the GFF and can be used to promote the Festival and the programs of the Festival in all mediums.

Ratings & Reviews

Categories and fees

Indigenous-Made Docs: Short
Entry fees
Early Bird (29th February, 2020) $12
Regular (10th April, 2020) $15
Late (20th May, 2020) $20
Description

This category is for works made by North American Indigenous filmmakers only. This means that the key creative team (director) must be indigenous. Co-direction will be considered, but only when the overall key grew is made of of more than 50% indigenous filmmakers. If your production meets these criteria please reach out to submissions@guelphfilmfestival.ca with these details to request a discount waiver. The following special rules apply: —works must be less than 20min in length —they must be made/directed by a North American indigenous filmmaker —regardless of content, films not made by an indigenous filmmaker should be submitted to other categories.

Ontario STUDENT Docs: Short
Entry fees
Early Bird (29th February, 2020) $12
Regular (10th April, 2020) $15
Late (20th May, 2020) $20
Description

Any short documentary (3-20 mins) made by a filmmaker enrolled in a high school or post-secondary institution in Ontario. Note: if you are a student filmmaker not attending an institution in Ontario you should submit to the next appropriate category and use the student submission fee.

Canadian Docs: Short
Entry fees
Early Bird (29th February, 2020) $12
Regular (10th April, 2020) $15
Late (20th May, 2020) $20
Description

Any short documentary (3-20 min) made in Canada (outside of Ontario) with a predominantly Canadian crew and/or created by a Canadian director (not necessarily shot in Canadian).

International Docs: Short
Entry fees
Early Bird (29th February, 2020) $12
Regular (10th April, 2020) $15
Late (20th May, 2020) $20
Description

Any short documentary (3-20 mins) made outside of Canada with an international (non-Canadian) director.

Indigenous-Made Docs: Mid-length
Entry fees
Early Bird (29th February, 2020) $20
Regular (10th April, 2020) $25
Late (20th May, 2020) $30
Description

This category is for works made by North American Indigenous filmmakers only. This means that the key creative team (director) must be indigenous. Co-direction will be considered, but only when the overall key crew is made of of more than 50% indigenous filmmakers. If your production meets these criteria please reach out to submissions@guelphfilmfestival.ca with these details to request a discount waiver. The following special rules apply: —works must be between 21-59min in length —they must be made/directed by a North American indigenous filmmaker —regardless of content, films not made by an indigenous filmmaker should be submitted to other categories.

Canadian Docs: Mid-Length
Entry fees
Early Bird (29th February, 2020) $20
Regular (10th April, 2020) $25
Late (20th May, 2020) $30
Description

Any mid-length documentary made in Canada with a predominantly Canadian crew and/or created by a Canadian director (not necessarily shot in Canadian). Films must be between 21-59 mins.

International Docs: Mid-length
Entry fees
Early Bird (29th February, 2020) $20
Regular (10th April, 2020) $25
Late (20th May, 2020) $30
Description

Any mid-length documentary (21-59 mins) made outside of Canada with an international (non-Canadian) director.

Indigenous-Made Docs: Feature
Entry fees
Early Bird (29th February, 2020) $25
Regular (10th April, 2020) $35
Late (20th May, 2020) $40
Description

This category is for works made by North American Indigenous filmmakers only. This means that the key creative team (director) must be indigenous. Co-direction will be considered, but only when the overall key crew is made of of more than 50% indigenous filmmakers. If your production meets these criteria please reach out to submissions@guelphfilmfestival.ca with these details to request a discount waiver. The following special rules apply: —works must be more than 60 mins in length —they must be made/directed by a North American indigenous filmmaker —regardless of content, films not made by an indigenous filmmaker should be submitted to other categories.

Canadian Docs: Feature
Entry fees
Early Bird (29th February, 2020) $25
Regular (10th April, 2020) $35
Late (20th May, 2020) $40
Description

Any feature documentary made in Canada with a predominantly Canadian crew and/or created by a Canadian director (not necessarily shot in Canadian). Films must be more than 60 mins in length.

International Docs: Feature
Entry fees
Early Bird (29th February, 2020) $25
Regular (10th April, 2020) $35
Late (20th May, 2020) $40
Description

Any feature documentary made outside of Canada with an international (non-Canadian) director. Films must be more than 60 mins in length.

Children's Program (Doc & Animation): Short
Entry fees
Early Bird (29th February, 2020) $10
Regular (10th April, 2020) $15
Late (20th May, 2020) $20
Description

Any short film (doc or animation) geared towards, or applicable for, an audience of children between the ages of 4-11. Films should be between 3-20 mins.

Related festivals

More festivals

Please accept our cookies!

Our website uses cookies so we can provide you the best experience while using our site. By using our website you accept Film Moon's Privacy Policy and our Terms & Conditions

Matchmaking

What is the title of your film?

Type in your film's title

Choose a film to find matches for

Choose one of your film that you're already created, or create a new one to find matches for.

How long is your film?

Tell us your film’s duration

min.

What type of category does your film fall into?

Select one from the following list

What is the genre of your film?

You can select multiple genres

What should be the main focus of your festival strategy?

Please select one option

Monetary award

Select one from the following list

Festival qualifications that you're interested in

You can select multiple options

How much money would you spend on festival submissions?

Define us your submission budget

EUR

Start date of submission

Please enter a date when you plan to start submitting your film to festivals