Official Rules and Regulations: Select Rules and Regulations from the menu above for the English online version. Remember, by submitting your film to the OIAF, you are agreeing to these rules, so read them carefully!
2018 Entry Categories: Our complete list of categories that you could enter your film under.
Email us: Contact us at entries [at] animationfestival.ca if you have any questions or concerns about the entry process and we'll help you any way we can!
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR FILM
To submit your film, just log in on the left and select "Entry Form" from the User Menu. Don't have an account yet? Click here to register!
Rules and Regulations
QUALIFICATION FOR ENTRIES: Only works completed after May 26th, 2017 will be accepted.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: Film works submitted for selection must be presented as a URL link to a streaming video source. No downloads. The link must be active until the end of July. DVDs are no longer accepted.
VR submissions can be presented either as a URL link to a streaming video playthrough, or as a URL link to a VR build file. The link must be active until the end of July. Supported platforms are Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Samsung Gear VR only.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: The official languages of the Festival are English and French. The Festival requires all submissions to include English subtitles where applicable.
REGISTRATION AND DATES: No registration fee is required. The entry form and final preview URL must be submitted online by 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time) on May 25th, 2018. The entrant must include the director's biography, director’s photo (300 dpi) a minimum of 3 stills (300 dpi) and a trailer from the film where applicable. These files can be uploaded online, submitted on disc or
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DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF FILES FOR SELECTION: Copies of works submitted for selection must reach the festival office on or before May 25th, 2018. Works arriving after this date will not be accepted. Blank entries or incomplete URL links will not be considered.
SELECTION: Each entry is considered for the Official Competition and the out-of-competition Panorama screenings. The Festival Selection team will choose the films to be screened in competition and panorama. Works will be judged within their category for conceptual, technical and aesthetic innovation and excellence. NOTE: The OIAF Festival Selection team reserves the right to switch a film's category if they feel the film is better suited to another category.
IF YOUR WORK IS SELECTED...
REQUIREMENTS: Directors or Producers must provide high-definition digital video files (H264 or ProRes .mov files only) without leaders. Directors or Producers of films selected for Official Competition have the option of sending a DCP copy as long as an .mov file is also provided.
The Festival also requires a Director bio, photo (300 dpi), three (3) CMYK 300 dpi film stills, and a link to the film trailer where applicable.
NOTE: The Festival does not accept 35mm, BetacamSP or any other tape format as a screening copy.
If the Festival Office does not receive the required presentation copy in the proper format on or before August 3rd, 2018, the selected work will be withdrawn from the competition or panorama program.
NOTE: The screening copy must have either an English dialogue track or have English subtitles. The entrant or producer must also provide an adequate supply of stills and documents to allow the festival to promote the film properly.
FEATURE FILMS: By submitting your film to the selection process you agree to accepting screening fees no greater than those outlined in the IMAA Fee Schedule ($258 CAD for the first screening and $129 CAD per screening thereafter). If selected for competition the Festival cannot pay fees higher than the above amounts.
TRANSPORTATION AND INSURANCE: The Primary Contact is responsible for the transport costs, insurance charges and customs fees incurred when shipping material to the Festival. The Festival is responsible for the costs incurred with the return of material to the Primary Contact. However, due to budgetary limitations, the material will be shipped via SURFACE MAIL. Filmmakers requesting the return of materials via courier must incur the cost themselves.
No entered material can be returned or loaned during the festival. Any filmmaker requiring his or her work for private use during the festival is asked to bring a separate copy. The Festival will be responsible for storage and insurance costs of the hard drives only between the time drives are taken into care and the time they are handed to the carrier. In case of loss or damage to a hard drive the obligation of the festival is limited to the replacement value.
COMPOSITION OF PROGRAMMES FOR OFFICIAL COMPETITION: The OIAF Festival Selection team will define the order and composition of the programs presented in the Official Competition and the overall program schedule. Short programs submitted on digital formats will be duplicated onto Competition-specific compilations for screening purposes only, and will not be made available beyond such purposes.
INVITATIONS: Invitations are given to filmmakers with films in competition. The invitation, intended solely for the use of the film's director, includes accommodation for the span of the event. If a film is made by several directors, only one of the directors will be entitled to complimentary accommodations. The invitation is not transferable under any circumstances.
ARTIST RENUMERATION: Screening fees for non-commissioned, independent works shown in Competition or Panorama are paid in Canadian dollars according to length as follows: 0-5 mins receive $87; 5-15 mins receive $130; 15-30 mins receive $172; 30-60 mins receive $214; 60+ mins receive $258. Unfortunately, commissioned works do not qualify for artist fee payments. We reserve the right to screen films in competition and panorama three times (one Gala, two repeats) during the Festival, with a possible fourth screening if the film is selected as an award winner or Jury Prize. We cannot pay additional fees to distributors. Films in the Commissioned category do not receive a screening fee. One director from each film in Competition will receive complimentary accommodations for their own use for the span of the Festival. All directors in Competition and Panorama will receive a complimentary pass for their own use.
COMPETITION JURIES: The Festival will have three juries: one international jury for the feature; one for independent, student, commissioned competitions and VR; and one Children’s Jury comprised of 6-13 year olds to judge the young audience competition finalists. All members of the international juries will be closely connected with the art of animation. The jury members will elect a president at their first meeting. Productions produced or directed by members of the jury are not eligible for entry in any Official Competition that they are judging. The decisions of the juries are final.
FESTIVAL PRIZES: The juries will present the following awards:
Grand Prizes
GRAND PRIZE for Best Animated Feature
GRAND PRIZE for Best Short Animation
Category Prizes
PRIZE for Best Narrative Short Animation
PRIZE for Best Non-Narrative Animation
PRIZE for Best Student Animation
PRIZE for Best Canadian Student Animation
PRIZE for Best Commissioned Animation
PRIZE for Best Virtual Reality (VR) Animation
PRIZE for Best Preschool Animation Made for Young Audiences
PRIZE for Best Animation Made for Young Audiences 6-12
Craft Prizes
PRIZE for Best Script
PRIZE for Best Animation Technique
PRIZE for Best Use of Sound
PRIZE for Best Design
Other Prizes
PUBLIC PRIZE
Canadian Film Institute (CFI) Award for Best Canadian Animation
Film Critic's Prize
A prize will be awarded to the best entry in each of the Competition Categories. The juries, at their discretion, may also award additional special prizes.
NOTE: The juries have the right to withhold an award in any category where no entries, in the Jury’s view, meet its standards for recognition.
MENTIONS: The producers and directors of award-winning films at OIAF should mention the prize obtained, the year and the name of OIAF in the credits of their film and on all related documentation.
PROMOTIONAL USE OF WORKS: By accepting these terms the entrant grants the Festival the right to show, for publicity purposes only, up to 10% of the running time of the production to a maximum of three minutes free of charge and for a period of one year from the entry date. Any other proposed use outside of the Festival will be referred by the Festival to the Primary Contact for direct negotiation.
ACCEPTANCE OF REGULATIONS: By agreeing to and submitting the entry form for the Ottawa 2018 International Animation Festival, the participant accepts, without reservation, the terms of the present regulations as stated in this document.
Categories
When deciding how to submit your film, choose the category that best describes your film's production environment, distribution method and/or purpose:
A - Feature Film Animated Feature: Animated film over 45 minutes in length.
B - Independent Short Films Competition
Short-format, non-commissioned animated films or videos. Suggested maximum length of 30 minutes.
Narrative Short: Structured with some sort of narrative or story. (ie. "something happens")
Non-Narrative: Structured without a clear narrative or cause-effect plotline.* *Note: 'Non-narrative' does not mean 'dialogue-free'. Dialogue, i.e. narration, is fine.
C - Student Animation Competition
Films made by students who are either currently enrolled in a high school, post-secondary or graduate diploma or degree or were so enrolled during the films’ production.
D- Commissioned Films Competition
Works that are funded and produced for specific commercial or promotional purposes.
Commissioned Animation: Including but not limited to commercials, title sequences, station/program identification spots, music videos, and animation series made for adults. Please note only one episode per series is eligible and is limited to 22 minutes and under.
E - Films/Videos Made for Young Audiences
Independent or commissioned films that are produced and distributed specifically for young audiences aged 0-12. Please note only one episode per series is eligible and is limited to 22 minutes and under.
Short Preschool Animation Made for Young Audiences: Any non-feature animated film (under 30 minutes) that is aimed specifically at young audiences aged 0-5. Short Animation Made for Young Audiences 6-12: Any non-feature animated film (under 30 minutes) that is aimed specifically at young audiences aged 6-12.
F - Virtual Reality (VR) Competition
Immersive works that are created for the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive or Samsung Gear VR virtual reality platforms.
Immersive works: Independent and commissioned projects including but not limited to narrative short experiences, installations, time based works, interactive works, and non-linear narrative or non-narrative experiences. If applicable, please note only one episode in any series is eligible and all submissions are limited to an experience length of 20 minutes and under.
The deadline for submitting an entry form and final submission URL is May 27, 2016. Films must be have a functional URL by that date otherwise they will be disqualified. The links must remain functional through July 2016.
If the film is selected, the filmmaker is responsible in providing an HD digital screening copy of the film and all costs related to getting the file to the festival, if any.The Festival will not cover customs fees, or for a BetacamSP PAL to NTSC transfer. We will cover the cost of getting any USB devices back to the filmmaker after the festival. However, due to costs the package will be sent back regular post.
While films with very little animated content will probably not be accepted, the presence of live action certainly does not disqualify your film. Your submission should use enough animation to clearly define your work; however, with no entry fee, there is no harm in trying.
As outlined in the Rules and Regulations, films submitted must be produced AFTER May 26, 2017. Films submitted to previous editions of the OIAF would not fulfill this requirement, and so would be ineligible.
There is no minimum duration limit, however it is highly unlikely we will accept any short films over 30 minutes. We strongly recommend keeping your films under this length.
Absolutely! We accept and encourage films from all over the world. Keep in mind that the Festival cannot cover customs fees for screening copies. Filmmakers whose works are selected and plan on attending the OIAF will receive an invitation letter to aid in organizing the appropriate travel documents.
Yes, however please notify us if the film is selected and please update us on its premiere status; whether it will be a World, North American, Canadian, Ontario, or Ottawa premiere.
While we won’t automatically reject incomplete works, films will be judged “as is”, alongside hundreds of other works that have been finished. As well, we do not accept any entries arriving after the deadline. It is strongly recommended that you don’t rush your art; wait until your film is complete and submit it next year. (Films are eligible for the 2018 Festival if they are produced after May 26, 2017.)
Absolutely. You will only need to supply a high-quality Digital Video File if your film is selected. If you are notified that you have been selected, arrangements for sending us an HD Digital Video File can be made at that time. The festival will not be accepting 35mm, Betacam SP or other tape formats as screening copies. If your film is selected and you do not have a high-quality video file, please inform us immediately so that we have time to arrange a digital copy of your screening format.
They have been merged into a single Commissioned Animation category. Why? Because some years these categories are weak. By creating a single category we can ensure a stronger competition.
As long as your film was completed after May 26, 2017 and you were enrolled in the program at the time that it was finished, your film is still eligible for that category.
No. Films can only be entered into ONE category each. This also means that we will not accept the same film twice. (Special Note: the Artistic Director reserves the right to move an entry to a more appropriate category.)
We have on online entry process where entrants log into our website to submit their film(s). This process helps to simplify the entry process, and lets entrants update their entry information as they please. For those who do not have easy access to the internet, please contact us by email -
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- or phone (613-232-8769) for assistance.
No, we do not make hard-copy versions of the form available for download. In order to enter your film, you must create an account and submit your information online. For further assistance, please contact us by email -
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- or phone (613-232-8769).
Films submitted without a completed corresponding entry form will not be considered. Believe us, processing entry forms isn’t much fun either, but it has to be done. We have tried to streamline our online entry form to make it as easy as possible for entrants, but please drop us a line at
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if you are having trouble submitting multiple entries or have some suggestions.
Each entry form can list multiple directors, however we require that one person to be designated as the Primary Contact. This is the person who we will contact regarding all entry and selection matters and whose current mailing address must be correct. Please choose either one of the directors, a producer, the distributor, or whoever has the rights to distribute the film as the Primary Contact. This person must submit the entry form while logged into their online account.
No, however you must at least indicate the film’s director(s). If you are both the Primary Contact and the director, please make sure you check the appropriate box on the entry form.
"Premiere" refers to what "first showing" or “debut” your film would be, if it were screened in Ottawa. So, if your film has never been screened before, it would be a "World Premiere" at the OIAF. In other words, choose the largest geographical area in relation to Ottawa that your film has not yet screened in.
Once you submit your form, you will soon receive an email acknowledging that your online entry form has been received. As well, the film’s title should show up in “My Entries” in your account information when you log in. Please email us at
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if you are still unsure after 24 hours.
Simply log into your account and click on the film’s title under “My Entries” in your account settings. Once you make the appropriate changes and click “Submit”, you will receive an email confirming the change. If you need to update your submission URL, you will need to email the new link to entries [at] animationfestival.ca
Along with a streaming URL of the film and a completed entry form (submitted online), we require a director’s biography in electronic format, director’s photograph (300 dpi) and 3 high-resolution stills from the film (300 dpi) in either TIFF or JPEG format. If your film is selected, we will ask you for a trailer as well.
You can either: 1) upload additional documents using the online entry form; 2) burn them onto a CD and mail them; or 3) email them to
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. When emailing or mailing a disc, please ensure that you indicate your Entry ID and title. Please divide the files so that emails do not exceed 10 megabytes in size.
If selected, the synopsis posted in your entry form will be used on the website and as such can be as long as you'd like. In the case of print material, however, space is limited and we will reduce any longer synopses to one or two sentences. If you would prefer to do this edit yourself, please submit a shorter version of your synopsis as a Word document along with your other Additional Documents.
If you email or mail your additional documents, we will send you an email acknowledging receipt. If you have uploaded them to your entry form, they will appear in the Upload section of the entry form next time you update or view your film information. To update or view your form, simply log into your account and click on the film’s title under “My Entries” in your account settings.
No. We only accept a working link to a streaming video file. DVDs are no longer accepted. All streaming links must remain accessible throughout the entire selections process. If a link is broken or becomes inactive at any point during selections (June and July 2018), your submission will not be considered.
Please send us a streaming URL. If your film is selected, we will contact you regarding requirements for Digital Video Files. WARNING: The festival will not be accepting 35mm, Betacam SP or any other tape format for screening. If your film is selected and you do not have a high-quality video file available, please inform us immediately.
No. If your link doesn't work, you will receive an email stating as much. Feel free to email
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if you have changed or updated the link since the submission deadline.
On the outside of the envelope, write: FOR CULTURAL/FESTIVAL PURPOSES ONLY: NO COMMERCIAL VALUE
Do not list a value higher than $10 CAN, otherwise the package may be charged custom fees. Due to the large amount of entries we receive, WE DO NOT PAY CUSTOM FEES FOR INCOMING ENTRIES.
Return address: you MUST include the full address including postal code (zip code) of sender.
The OIAF Address. Print clearly:
Ottawa International Animation Festival
2 Daly Avenue, Suite 120
Ottawa, ON K1N 6E2
Canada
If you are mailing your additional documents, we must receive your package in our offices by May 25, 2018, or it will be disqualified. Please allow plenty of time for mail delivery, especially when sending from overseas.
First, submissions are not judged together. They are divided into their respective categories (eg. music videos, commercials, TV shows, narrative short films, feature films, non-narrative films, etc.). Within those categories we look for technical, conceptual or aesthetic innovation and excellence. Does the filmmaker achieve what they set out to do? Is the idea/execution original or a tired cliché? We want works that are honest, original, and have a distinct personality.
1) Your film was produced before May 26, 2017.
2) We don't receive an entry form for your submission, or it is incomplete
3) We don't receive a preview copy of your submission, or it is an ineligible format
4) Elvis references of any kind.
5) The use of any of the following musical pieces:
Also Sprach Zarathustra - Richard Strauss (more commonly called the Theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey)
The Blue Danube - J. Strauss
William Tell Overture - Rossini (that includes either the "Lone Ranger" or "Sunrise" segments)
These references have been overused to the point where they cannot even work in a satirical/parodic manner.
We screen from digital sources only. This means that we will only accept digital file formats for screening purposes. More information regarding preferred file formats will be provided with your selection notice if your film is chosen to be screened.
Should you come from a country for which Canada requires a letter, you will need to inform us. The Festival will write a letter of invitation to you and then a copy of that letter, plus a formal letter will be sent (via fax, email and letter mail) to the Canadian Consulate/Embassy in your jurisdiction.
The festival provides free hotel accommodations for directors whose film has been selected for competition. For others planning to attend, contact information for downtown hotels, bed & breakfasts and hostels are listed on our website. Visitors can make their own reservations.
Try a different web browser (Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer) and make sure you upgrade to the newest version. If you’re still having problems, try the Site Help link at the bottom of the website. If that doesn't help, please email us at
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and we’ll take care of it right away.
Depending on your connection speed, the size of the files, and the time of day, it may take awhile for additional files to upload properly and you may have to wait a number of minutes. If you continue to have problems, feel free to email the files to
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, divided so that emails do not exceed 10 megabytes in size.
Make note of the name of the file you wish to have removed and email us at
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.
Make note of the Entry ID for the entry you wish to have removed and email us at
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.
