Submit Your Film
What You Need to Know
- Entry Form opens March 1st, 2025, at 12:01AM Eastern Standard Time
- Entry deadline: May 31st, 2025 at 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time
- Only animated works completed after May 31st, 2024 are eligible.
- It’s free to submit, there are no entry or registration fees.
- We only accept entries submitted via the official Entry Form on the OIAF 2025 Eventival Visitor Page (you must log in or make an account to access).
- Each entry may only be submitted to one (1) category.
- Films must be submitted as a link to an online screener. The link must remain accessible until the end of July 2025. Films submitted as files, downloads, or dead links will be disqualified.
- Screener links that require a specific account, email, or login to access will be considered dead links and subject to disqualification (unlisted and/or password-protected links are fine).
- All entries are reviewed as they come in, so there’s no need to leave submitting your film to the last minute!
- Entries must include at least 3 stills from the film (300 dpi, jpg or png), a director’s photo (72 dpi, jpg or png), and a director’s biography.
- If your film has dialogue that is not in English, it must have English subtitles, otherwise it may be disqualified.
- If any entries are discovered to be plagiarized or copies of pre-existing films, the entrant(s) will be disqualified and banned from the OIAF.
- While we are not opposed to AI-assisted works, submissions should at least show some sign of the artists’ hand.
Submission Deadline!
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
Feature Film Competition
Animated Feature: An animated film over 45 minutes in length.
Narrative Short Film Competition
Short-format, non-commissioned animated films or videos. Suggested maximum length of 30 minutes. We define “narrative” as a short structured with some sort of narrative or story (i.e. “something happens”).
Non-Narrative Short Film Competition
Short-format, non-commissioned animated films or videos. Suggested maximum length of 30 minutes. We define “Non-Narrative” as a short structured without a clear narrative or cause-effect plotline.
Note: ‘Non-narrative’ does not mean ‘dialogue-free’. Dialogue, i.e. narration, is fine.
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.
Commissioned Films Competition
Works that are funded and produced for specific commercial or promotional purposes.
Including but not limited to commercials, title sequences, station/program identification spots, music videos, and trailers.
Animation Made for Young Audiences (7-12) Competition
Independent or commissioned films (under 30 minutes) that are produced and distributed specifically for young audiences aged 7-12.
Please note only one episode per series is eligible and should be limited to under 30 minutes.
Animation Made for Teens (13-18) Competition
Any non-feature animated film (under 30 minutes) that is aimed specifically at young audiences aged 13 and older.
Please note only one episode per series is eligible and should be limited to under 30 minutes.
Animated Series Competition
Works that are created as part of an animated series for television, streaming, or the web and are not intended for children.
Please note only one episode per series is eligible and should be limited to under 30 minutes.
Qualification for Entries
Only animated works completed after May 31, 2024 will be accepted.
Entries may only be submitted to one (1) category. Submitting to more than one category may be grounds for disqualification.
Submitted works must be original, and have some level of (non-algorythmic) human involvement in their creation. While we are not opposed to AI-assisted works, submissions should at least show some sign of the artists’ hand.
And if you try to pass off the work of another artist’s hand as your own, you will be banned. No exceptions.
Technical Requirements
Official Languages
The official languages of the Festival are English and French. The Festival requires all submissions with non-English dialogue to include English subtitles, where applicable.
Short and Feature Animation Categories
Films must be submitted for selection as a link to an online screener. No downloads or files will be accepted. The link must remain active until the end of July 2025 or risk disqualification.
Screener links can be unlisted and/or password-protected, however they cannot require a specific email, account, or login in order to access the film. Screener links that do so will be considered “broken” and subject to disqualification.
Registration & Dates
No registration fee is required. Entry forms open March 1st, 2025. The entry form and the film’s online screener link must be submitted online by 11:59 PM (Eastern Daylight Time) on May 31st, 2025. Works sent after this date will not be accepted or considered. Blank entries and broken or incomplete screener links may be subject to disqualification.
The entrant must also include in their entry form at least 3 stills (300 dpi, jpg or png), a director’s photo (72 dpi, jpg or png), a director’s biography, and (if applicable) a trailer link for the film. If you have any issues uploading your materials to the entry form, please contact us via email.
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.
The Selections team will not provide any feedback on why a particular entry was or was not selected.
NOTE: The OIAF Selection team reserves the right to consider an entry for a different category if they feel it is better suited than the category in which it was submitted.
Artist Fees
Independent, non-commissioned films that are selected for OIAF 2025 will be paid artist fees. We determine our artist fees in consultation with the schedule put forward by the Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA).
| Duration | Base Fee (2 screenings) |
|
< 5 minutes |
$124 |
|
5-15 minutes |
$187 |
|
15-30 minutes |
$250 |
|
30-60 minutes |
$309 |
|
60+ minutes |
$372 |
Festival Prizes
The juries will present the following awards:
Grand Prizes
Feature Animation
Independent Short Animation
Category Awards
Narrative Short Animation
Non-Narrative Animation
Student Animation
Commissioned Animation
Animated Series
Animation Made for Young Audiences (7-12)
Animation Made for Teen Audiences (13+)
Craft Awards
Script
Animation Technique
Sound Design
Design
Other Prizes
Hélène Tanguay Award for Humor
Public Prize
Canadian Film Institute (CFI) Award for Canadian Animation
Canadian Student Animation
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 or honourable mentions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Make your submission process even easier by checking out our handy FAQ guide!
Ready to submit?
Click the button below to head over to our Eventival Visitor Page and access the Entry Form.
Questions? Concerns?
Still need to know more about OIAF’s Submissions process? Let us know in the form below!