2022 Film Submissions
Reelworld Film Festival in its 22nd year exclusively accepts Canadian films by Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, Middle Eastern, North African, and Latin American Canadian artists. We look for stories that break free of the negative stereotypes found in mainstream media.
The festival nurtures filmmakers, storytellers, and all artists and creators who work with screen-based media. We seek works that create positive social change. We look to push boundaries with innovative media art experiences including abstract media art and a wide variety of genres in narrative and documentary features, narrative and documentary shorts, music videos, animation, episodic content for web and television, and VR/360 works.
Our festival this year runs from October 12th-18th, we will continue with an online format along with in-person screenings pending provincial regulations. All films will be available to stream on a secure online portal available via web browser and Roku TV.
Programming Consideration
We accept narrative films, documentaries, animation, webisodes, episodic content, music videos, and VR/360 films by Canadian Black, Indigenous and People of Colour filmmakers that explore current issues and ideas or themes with social impact. VR/360 projects are accepted pending programming capability of the 2022 Festival. All programs are carefully curated and submissions are fully considered by Reelworld’s programming team.
Selection & Notification Process
Accepted applicants will be notified of programming decisions by email before August 31st, 2022. If applicants do not hear by that date, they have not been selected for the festival.
Final programming, categorization and slotting of films will be determined by the Reelworld programming team, their decision is final. Successful applicants will receive this information in their official invitation.
Selected applicants must send in a film trailer and 3 one-minute scenes of their choice. Other requirements, such as social media handles, press information, and additional requested information will be outlined in your selection letter.
Acceptance of your invitation into the festival indicates an understanding that this will be an online festival screening, geo-blocked to Ontario. Selected Applicants will receive passes to the Festival and complimentary tickets to surrounding events. These details will be outlined in your selection letter.
Accepted Exhibition Formats
For this year's digital online festival, a direct FTP upload link to our secure online streaming platform CineSend is the required method for uploading film assets from selected filmmakers, as well as critical film info like credits, premiere status, synopses, etc. Selected applicants must provide a high quality digital file that meets the source file technical requirements for upload. Details about this will be outlined following your selection letter.
All film assets, as well as film stills, director bios, and other relevant marketing information that will be outlined in the acceptance letter must be received by the deadline of 11.59pm, EST, July 27, 2022.
In the event of an in-person festival, selected applicants must provide a DCP format of their film or video work. In some cases (especially short films), filmmakers may be required to provide a high quality Pro Res file for exhibition. For the purpose of the online festival, complete source file requirements/upload specifications to our CineSend streaming platform will be sent to selected applicants. Please contact the festival directly if you have other formats for consideration. DVD is not accepted at Reelworld.
VR/360 Projects must be accessible on a GearVR or Oculus Headset, and are accepted pending programming capability for the 2022 Festival.
The participant agrees to pay print shipping costs to the Festival. Shipping information must be settled upon confirmation of participation. The work must arrive at the festival one month prior to the festival.
Artist Fees
Reelworld is committed to paying artist fees to directors in selection and follows standard rates set by the Independent Media Arts Alliance (http://www.imaa.ca/). Artist fees will be paid via e-transfer on the last day of the festival, artists must have a Canadian bank account to receive these fees.
Awards
Works selected for the festival will be screened and considered for awards by an independent jury of professional filmmakers and industry executives. This year the festival will increase the cash amount for two significant awards. Films in competition, which are Canadian or Ontario premieres, will be eligible for the cash awards of $25,000 for Outstanding Feature Film and $10,000 for Outstanding Short Film. Reelworld Film Festival is the only film festival in Canada with a mission and mandate that continues to support only Canadian filmmakers who are Indigenous, Black, Asian and People of Colour. It is also a Canadian Screen Award-qualifying festival.
Awards are dependent on programming. Suggested Awards in 2022 are:
Audience Choice Award for a feature film award
Outstanding Actress in a feature film award
Outstanding Actor in a feature film award
Outstanding Director for a Feature Film award
Outstanding Writer for a feature film award
Outstanding Cinematographer for feature film award
Outstanding Feature Film Producer award
Outstanding Feature Film award
Outstanding Actress in a Short film award
Outstanding Actor for a Short Film Award
Outstanding Director for short film award
Outstanding Writer for short film award
Outstanding Cinematographer for a Short Film award
Outstanding Producer for Short film award
Outstanding Short film award