19 years at the Hamilton Film Festival and we've hit the TOP 100 best reviewed festivals status a few times on FilmFreeway and are now a Canadian Screen Award Qualifying festival.
We have put a pause on the "themed" events for now so we are open to everything. We accept short, mid-length, feature, episodic / series, and screenplays.

A initiative we started during the pandemic will continue as will have NO MORE LATE FEES! ONE TIER, ALL YEAR, is GOLD! That means there will be NO inflated fees based on when you submit. Fees will be the same from open to close.

GOLD members on FilmFreeway will be able to take advantage of our additional Gold Member discounts.

Following us on social media is beneficial as throughout the year we post limited time / quantity discount codes that will offer a 19% discount off submission fees.

Those familiar with our dates know that we have been running in November since 2008, and in 2023 we moved the event into October, so that we can take full advantage of our new venue in the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre, that we share with dozens of productions. The October dates will allow us to fully utilize the facility, which is also the home of our film school!

The 19th Annual Hamilton Film Festival continues to be one of Canada’s most important film festivals for Canadian and International films as it has an industry development component, and a market. It is also one that programs over 100 independent films which means there is plenty of room for your film. We are not part of any distribution circuit and our screens are dedicated to the indie filmmaker on the festival circuit.
Hosted in a city with a booming film scene, it has become a go-to destination to live and work for several people in the film and television industry with year-round opportunities to network, engage, pitch and participate. Distributors, festivals and industry professionals actively look to the Hamilton Film Festival for content, connections and top-notch engagement.

Included in your submission fee is the option to become a delegate at our networking and meet-up events, at no extra charge. So even if you film is not accepted, you can still participate and take advantage of the networking and industry development that HFF has to offer!
The Hamilton Film Festival has a school of media arts inside the new Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre where will will host classes, camps, workshops and panel discussions year round. We will also utilize this learning space during the festival!

Writers:

~ Do you struggle with the sagging middle?
~ Do you get so stuck that you’re not sure where to go in the story?
~ Have you ever been told your characters are flat, one-dimensional, or unlikable?
~ Have you ever become bored with your story while writing it?
~ Have you ever started writing an idea, then shelved it because you didn’t know how to finish it?

Diana is able to transform not only how writers look at their stories and help them create a better process that produces the results they are looking for.

Edinburgh Short Film Festival 2024

Friday Oct 25th - Sunday Nov 10th 2024

We're back with our 2024 edition and excited to screen a wonderful programme

There's dozens of UK Premieres, including Cannes, Berlinale, Annecy Award winners and winning shorts from Film Festivals across the globe

We're also screening guest programmes from the Belgian Short Film Agency, our European Film Fests Showcase & FREE filmmaking workshops and masterclasses!

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out in the world of indie film and television production, this networking event is designed to inspire and educate writers and aspiring writers in the entertainment industry.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded creatives, expand your network, and enhance your screenwriting repertoire. Reserve your spot today for this exclusive event! Isn’t time you change how you do things? Networking is important – you never know what you may learn or who you may connect with.

Every November, the entire global film industry converges for the American Film Market.

AFM is the premier film acquisition, development and networking event where more than $1 Billion in distribution and film financing deals are closed each year on completed films and those in every stage of development. More business-oriented than any other motion picture event, thousands of professionals from all corners of our industry come together at AFM to develop, showcase, discover, finance and license 1000s of independent films and projects destined for the world’s audiences.

At AFM, participants can also attend The AFM Sessions – 30+ world class conferences and panels, and connect with the independent film community’s decision makers, all in one convenient location.

AFM is the only sales market produced by the Independents for our industry.

This virtual event will provide valuable insights and tips on crafting compelling scripts for film and television production, including, the intricacies of developing unique characters, a strong premise and story, finding your voice, exploring script development and the writer’s vision.

Our expert panelist will enhance your knowledge with the evolving landscape of the entertainment industry, offering valuable advice for both seasoned professionals and aspiring writers.

Each year the festival holds a series of screenings. We also will be having a networking drinks mixer event. This is for filmmakers and writers to network and socialise in our venue at Waterford Crystal. The festival team also meets up with filmmakers for post-screening drinks.