Brazil Film Fest Toronto (BFFT) Short Film Submission Guidelines

The Brazil Film Fest Toronto (BFFT) Short Film Program celebrates Brazilian and Canadian talent contributing to Toronto's screen industry.

Created to spotlight Brazilian voices shaping Canada's audiovisual landscape, the program aims to foster connections between filmmakers, audiences, and industry professionals while strengthening the presence of Brazilian talent within Toronto's creative community.

Selected short films will screen before feature presentations during the festival, providing filmmakers with the opportunity to showcase their work at TIFF Lightbox while connecting with Canadian audiences, Toronto's vibrant Brazilian community, and industry professionals.

To be eligible, a film must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Be directed by a Brazilian or Brazilian-Canadian filmmaker.
• Be written by a Brazilian or Brazilian-Canadian writer.
• Be produced by a Brazilian or Brazilian-Canadian producer.
• Feature a Brazilian or Brazilian-Canadian in a significant key creative role, including, but not limited to:
  • Cinematographer
  • Editor
  • Production Designer
  • Costume Designer
  • Makeup Artist
  • Hair Designer
  • Composer
  • Sound Designer
  • Visual Effects (VFX) Artist or Supervisor
  • Animator or Animation Director
  • Any other significant creative role that substantially contributed to the film.
• Feature a Brazilian or Brazilian-Canadian actor in a principal or significant supporting role.

Applicants must identify the Brazilian or Brazilian-Canadian creative(s) involved and briefly describe their role(s) and contribution(s) to the production as part of the submission process.

To be eligible for consideration, submitted films must meet the following requirements:

• Maximum running time of 15 minutes, including opening and closing credits.
• Have been completed on or after January 1, 2025.
• Be produced by a Toronto-based production company or by filmmakers primarily based in Toronto, Ontario.
• Be available for exhibition with English subtitles if the primary language is not English.
• Be submitted by an individual or organization that holds all necessary rights for festival exhibition.

The Brazil Film Fest Toronto Short Film Program welcomes films of all genres and styles, including:

• Narrative
• Documentary
• Animation
• Experimental
• Hybrid and mixed-media works

The festival values diverse voices and storytelling approaches and encourages submissions from filmmakers working across all forms of cinematic expression.

The following are not eligible for consideration:

• Music videos
• Television episodes
• Web series episodes
• Commercials or promotional content
• Corporate or industrial productions
• Trailers, teasers, or sizzle reels
• Works in progress

Programming decisions are based on:

• Artistic quality
• Originality and storytelling
• Technical execution
• Relevance to the festival's mission.
• Overall programming balance and suitability for pairing with a feature presentation.

Submission does not guarantee selection.

Premiere status is not required.

Films that have screened at other festivals or are available online remain eligible for consideration.

Submissions must be completed through the official Brazil Film Fest Toronto Short Film Submission Form (Google Forms) during the submission period.

Applicants must provide:

• A completed submission form.
• An online screening link (Vimeo preferred).
• Password, if applicable.
• Film synopsis.
• Director biography.
• Identification of the Brazilian or Brazilian-Canadian creative(s) involved in the project, including a brief description of their role(s) and contribution(s).
• High-resolution production still (optional at the submission stage).
• Poster (optional).
• Trailer (optional).

Filmmakers whose films are selected will be contacted directly.

Selected filmmakers will be asked to provide:

• Exhibition file (DCP preferred; ProRes or H.264 may be accepted).
• High-resolution production stills.
• Poster artwork (if available)
• Trailer (if available)
• Director headshot.
• Press kit (if available).

Selected films will be presented as part of the official Brazil Film Fest Toronto program and will screen before feature presentations.

The festival reserves the right to determine all screening pairings, schedules, and exhibition formats.

By submitting a film, the applicant confirms that:

• They hold all necessary rights for festival exhibitions.
• All music, images, performances, and other copyrighted material have been properly cleared.
• Brazil Film Fest Toronto may use film stills, posters, trailers, and excerpts of up to 30 seconds for promotional purposes related to the festival.

Submissions Open: July 31, 2026

Submission Deadline: August 25, 2026

Notification of Selection: August 30, 2026

Festival Dates: October 9–11, 2026

Submissions received after this deadline will not be accepted.

There is no submission fee.

For questions regarding eligibility or the submission process, please contact:

info@brazilfilmfest.ca

Submissions must be made through the official Brazil Film Fest Toronto Short Film Submission Form (Google Forms):