Submissions deadline
02 Jul 27
7.77$
Open to filmmakers based outside of Canada. All genres are accepted with total running time under 45 minutes
01 Oct 2026
Call for entries
26 Mar 2027
Early deadline
07 May 2027
Standard deadline
04 Jun 2027
Late deadline
02 Jul 2027
Extended deadline
8
mths
19 Jul 2027
Notification date
03 Sep 2027
05 Sep 2027
Festival start: 03 September 2027 Festival end: 05 September 2027
Toronto Shorts International Film Festival is the largest short film festival in Canada.
Toronto Shorts is a non-profit organization that provides a showcase for the best short films from filmmakers around the world.
We believe that short-form cinema and its creators should have their own premier film festival in Toronto deserving similar recognition given to the feature film.
Toronto Shorts is where films from all genres intersect. The heart of the festival is the quality and scope of extraordinary film programming which consists of a wide spectrum of categories from high to low budget films under 45 minutes.
Now in our 15th year, the festival has become a career stepping stone, establishing a tradition of discovering and promoting filmmakers who have gone on to Academy Awards Nominees, including :
2021 Oscar Nominee 'The Present' by Farah Nabulsi
2019 Oscar Nominee ‘Weekends’ by Trevor Jimenez
2018 Oscar Nominees 'Watu Wote - All of Us' (Germany) and 'The Eleven O'Clock' (Australia)
Toronto stands as the largest media market in Canada, it boasts the world-renowned Royal Ontario Museum, the massive Art Gallery of Ontario, the Soulpepper Theatre Company, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Toronto Shorts international Film Festival.
We showcase the best short films and its filmmakers from around the world.
Best of the Festival
Best International
Best Drama
Best Comedy
Best Animation
Best Documentary
Best Experimental
Best Sci-Fi / Horror
Best Music Video
Best Series
If any award category does not meet the standard deemed award-worthy by the judges, it’s possible there will be no award given in that category.
2027 REQUIREMENTS
Films must have been completed after Jan. 1, 2026
All non-English films must have English sub-titles.
Works-in-progress will be considered, provided they will be completed prior to the festival.
You may submit more than one film, but you must complete a separate entry form and pay the entry fee for each film.
Film selection for the festival will be made by the screening committee.
All filmmakers will be notified via email of acceptance.
Submissions deadline
02 Jul 27
Open to filmmakers based outside of Canada. All genres are accepted with total running time under 45 minutes
Submissions deadline
02 Jul 27
Open to filmmakers based in Canada with shorts filmed (principal photography / film production) in Canada. All genres are accepted with total running time under 45 minutes.
Submissions deadline
02 Jul 27
Open to Canadian filmmakers living in Toronto. Shorts must have been filmed (principal photography / film production) in The Greater Toronto Area. All genres are accepted with total running time under 45 minutes.
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