WIFT+ Showcase 2025 – Call for Submissions & Jury

SUBMISSIONS OPEN - TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3

 

Our annual WIFT+ Toronto Showcase highlights the creativity, talent, and diversity of our community.

 

We are now accepting submissions for the 16th annual Showcase! $8k in cash prizes to be awarded + more!

WIFT+ Toronto members are invited to submit up to two short films or TV/web series episodes (not exceeding 30 minutes) for consideration.

Each submission will be reviewed by a volunteer jury of WIFT+ Toronto members.

Please note that the decision of the jury is final.

 

Each spring, we host a special screening of short works by our members: film (documentary, fiction, animation, experimental), and TV & web series episodes.

The following prizes are awarded at the WIFT+ Toronto Showcase:

  • Best of Showcase
  • Best Writing
  • Best Directing
  • Audience Choice

Best of Showcase, Best Writing, and Best Directing are determined by a jury composed of WIFT+ Toronto members. In the last five years, WIFT+ Toronto has awarded more than $50,000 in cash prizes to Showcase winners through support from the Foundation for WIFT+ Toronto

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

Members can submit up to TWO projects. Run time of each project must not exceed 30 minutes (credits included).

  • Documentary
  • Fiction/Narrative
  • Animation
  • Experimental
  • Television series (episode)
  • Web series (episode)

* Music videos are not eligible for submission

DEADLINES & FEES

Early bird $25 +HST | Deadline Friday, January 10, 2025

Regular $35 +HST | Deadline Friday, January 31, 2025

*** $8,000 in cash prizes to be awarded PLUS fabulous in-kind prizes from our sponsors and partners.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Submissions must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for consideration:

  • Please submit projects in the form of an online link (eg. Vimeo) with the FULL URL LINK (eg. https://vimeo.com/wift), as well as any password that is required
  • Must be a WIFT+ Toronto member in good standing to submit a project. Memberships of selected filmmakers must still be active on the date of the Showcase (May 2025)
  • The submitting member must hold one of the following key creative positions on the project: Writer, Director, Producer, Editor or Cinematographer/DOP
  • Submitting member must be at minimum 18 years of age
  • Submitting member must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
  • Work must not exceed a run time of 30 minutes, including credits
  •  Work must have been completed after January 1, 2024
  • Non-English media with dialogue/commentary must be subtitled or dubbed
  • Work must be fully complete. Works-in-progress are not eligible
  • Member can submit a maximum of TWO separate projects for consideration (only ONE may be selected for the Showcase). Separate submission forms must be completed per project
  • Submissions must fall into one of the following categories: Documentary, Fiction/Narrative, Animation, Experimental, Television Series (episode), Web Series (episode). *NOTE: Music videos and Trailers are not eligible for submission.
     
  • Successful applicants must provide permission from the project's producer (or owner) to be screened

Please note that all decisions made by the jury are final.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! JOIN OUR JURY!

JOIN THE JURY AND SUPPORT YOUR WIFT+ COMMUNITY. PARTICIPATING JURORS WILL RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY TICKET TO ATTEND THE 2025 WIFT+ TORONTO SHOWCASE & RECEPTION.

Jury members will be required to:

  • Screen all submitted projects and provide feedback
  • Attend the jury deliberation meeting in March (exact date TBC)
  • Provide programming notes for at least one selected project

Interested? Email the following to wift.showcase@gmail.com by Friday, January 24, 2025:

  • Your CV and/or Resume
  • Your Professional Bio (150 words max)
  • A brief statement as to why you are interested in being on the 2025 jury (150 words max)

Selected participants will be notified the week of January 27, 2025.

Please note: Jury members will be required to hold active WIFT+ Toronto memberships, valid at least until the date of the event in May 2025.

"Being a member of the WIFT showcase jury has been a true highlight of my time as a WIFT member. Coming together with other folks who are so incredibly passionate about film and just talking about all the wonderful submissions, what worked for one person but missed for another, how to create a holistic show -- it felt like such a pure expression of why I got into this industry in the first place. All in all, it was so incredibly fun and fulfilling! I hope every WIFT member gets to experience being on the jury at least once."

RABIYA MANSOOR, 2021 WIFT SHOWCASE JURY MEMBER