Frequently Asked Questions

We use the Vimeo on Demand platform to run our online screenings. If you are new to Vimeo or need a refresher, we have prepared this explainer. Check it out.

Our founders have been curating and collaborating with other organizations and film festivals in Ottawa since 2011.  We incorporated as a non-profit organization in 2014.  Our first full festival was in 2017.  Links to past screenings are available in the navigation menu of this site.

We only accept submissions via FilmFreeway.

We receive Canadian film submissions from across Canada.  How many local shorts and feature films showcased depends primarily on the quality and quantity of eligible films received and the available screening slots.

Yes. We have paid artist fees to filmmakers for all films selected to screen at OCanFilmFest since its inception.

There are couple of reasons that motivate the inclusion of the submission fee.

From our experience with earlier seasons, free submissions generated a large number of spam submissions and/or submissions that did not fit the criteria mentioned in the call.  We are a volunteer-run organization and the investment in terms of time to weed out and disqualify these entries was significant.  It is hoped that requiring a submission fee would encourage filmmakers to make sure the films they submit match the required criteria.

The second reason for requiring the submission fee is for a source to fund the artist/exhibition fee we pay to the filmmakers whose films are selected to screen at the festival.

We will accept submissions that have already premiered in the area but your film’s premiere status will be taken into consideration when final programming decisions are made.

The films for the Shorts at Home screenings are curated by the OCanFilmFest Board of Directors. The films are presented as on-demand rentals on Vimeo. A discount code is published so that all audience members can rent these films free of charge from the comfort of their homes. Filmmakers are paid an artist fee.

The Annual Festival screenings are comprised of films selected by a jury. This is a competitive process and submissions are gathered exclusively via FilmFreeway. Screenings are held in a physical theatre (or online, based on guidance from public health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic). Filmmakers from the jury selected films are paid an artist fee.

If your film has been broadcast on a network with coverage in Ottawa area prior to the festival date, it is still eligible but your film’s premiere status will be taken into consideration when final programming decisions are made.

Yes it is eligible.

Thanks for the question. We are rewording our criteria so that permanent residents qualify. Films submitted MUST be written or directed by a Canadian citizens or permanent resident.

We do not have a minimum age requirement to submit a film for consideration to our festival.  However, if your film is short listed before it could be accepted, we would need your parent or legal guardian to take legal responsibility and certify that all permissions and releases have been obtained for all footage, music and appearances (interviews or actors) used in the film.

Unfortunately we do not have access to payment information nor do we control how the payments are made.  All of this functionality occurs within FilmFreeway.  We understand that FilmFreeway is actively looking at adding the ability to pay in different currencies in the future.  We will take advantage of that functionality as soon as it is available.  Stay tuned.
UPDATE: As of January 2020, FilmFreeway has updated their platform so that we can now list our submission fees in Canadian Dollars! Ensure you choose your preferred currency in your profile.

We do not offer submission fee waivers since that wouldn’t be fair to the independent filmmakers who pay to submit their work for consideration.