Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival

International film festival in Ontario, Canada.

Fiction Documentary Submissions Open Fee-based

About

Since its inception in 1989, Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival continues to seek out and showcase high-calibre film programming to passionate and enthusiastic audiences over its 9-day festival. Recognized as a premier film event in Canada, hosting 35,000 attendees annually, Cinéfest Sudbury celebrates and promotes diverse cultural exchange and open-mindedness, with a commitment of sharing the best international and domestic programming to a broad audience of cinephiles, filmmakers, and industry delegates.

As part of its feature film, documentary, and short film programs, Cinéfest Sudbury focuses on artistic quality and excellence, looking for films that represent diverse voices and experiences, providing a platform for film artists to relay the stories they wish to tell. Of special note, the festival hosts broadened programs spotlighting works from Indigenous and Francophone filmmakers. Cinéfest Sudbury also provides filmmakers with the unique opportunity to reach a wider audience as it hosts upwards of 60 programmers annually from other smaller domestic festivals attending with the intention of selecting films to screen in their home communities once released.

Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival celebrated its 36th edition in 2024.

Awards

• Outstanding Canadian Feature Film Award
• Outstanding International Feature Film Award
• Meilleur long métrage de langue française
• Cinema Indigenized Outstanding Talent Award
• Outstanding Female-Led Feature Film Award
• Inspiring Voices & Perspectives Feature Film Award
• Outstanding Short Film
• Outstanding Northern Ontario Short Film Award
• Outstanding Animated Short Film Award
• Audience Choice Award: Best Feature Film
• Audience Choice Award: Best Documentary
• Audience Choice Award: Best Short Film

Rules

Films must have been completed in the current OR previous calendar year (i.e., 2024 or 2025)
Films that have been previously submitted, but were not programmed, are permitted to re-submit
Films may be a work-in-progress (for submissions purposes only)
Submissions that have been made available widely to the public over the: internet (YouTube, iTunes, Vimeo, etc.), television, or that have screened within a 350 km radius of the City of Greater Sudbury are not eligible. Filmmakers are encouraged to contact the festival if they are unsure if this eligibility rule applies to them
The festival presentation format for in-theatre screenings is DCP (jpeg2000mxf) and H.264 video file encoded at 10Mbps for virtual screenings via Agile
All selected films must be ready for presentation and made available to screen no later than September 1, 2025
Films must be in their original language with English subtitles (if necessary)
All available press materials must be sent to Cinefest Sudbury upon notification of selection
If the film was shot in part or in whole in Northern Ontario, and/or if a member of the cast and/or crew resides in or is from Northern Ontario, please provide information relating to the location and duration of the shoot, and/or the name of the person residing in or from Northern Ontario, as well as their role within the production

Premiere Requirements

No premiere requirement

Jury and Organizers