Introduction to the film festival
The Gimli International Film Festival is Manitoba's premier film festival, and the largest rural film festival in all of Canada! We are once again looking for the best contemporary cinema from Manitoba, Canada and around the world. This includes narrative and documentary, live action and animated, in short, mid-length, and feature film formats from across the globe.
All films which screen at the Gimli International Film Festival are paid standard rate screening fees as outlined in the IMAA Fee Schedule.
GIFF annually screens over 100 films, in the lakeside community of Gimli, Manitoba. A festival with strong Icelandic ties, GIFF is proud to highlight Icelandic film, but also be representative of the diverse communities that make up Manitoba. Wherever you are or wherever you are from, there is always something to enjoy at our festival!
If your film is selected for our festival, we welcome filmmakers to join us and participate in a post-screening Q&A, take in one of our industry sessions, watch other films, network at our many social events, and enjoy the natural beauty of the Interlake region.
This year, GIFF will continue to feature the best in contemporary independent cinema with a strong focus on Canadian and Manitoba-made films. We will also continue to curate film series based on the themes of social justice, under-represented voices, women filmmakers, Indigenous perspectives, and environmental issues.
As an organization, GIFF is actively working to promote accessibility for all and inclusion that accurately represents our diverse culture. We also are working hard to ensure our organization is employing an ethical business model, which includes proper treatment and payment of all staff and contributing artists, as well as being an active contributor to the local community and the greater Canadian film community.
In addition to paying all filmmakers proper artist fees, we also do our best to provide affordable film submission fees to encourage participation from low-income and marginalized communities.
Awards
Grand Jury Prize (feature films) - the Top Prize for a feature film at our festival *all award winners are selected either by an independent jury or our programming team.
"Best of Fest" Audience Choice Award (feature films) - Selected by the Audience for their favourite feature film at our festival
Indigenous Spirit Award - awarded to an Indigenous Filmmaker whose film best represents Indigenous perspective and culture
Best Manitoba Filmmaker (all Manitoba filmmakers eligible) - given to a filmmaker from Manitoba for their outstanding work
Best Manitoban Short Film
Best Canadian Short Film
Best International Short Film
Rules
All films submitted will be screened by our programming team and all films accepted will be paid a base artist fee as dictated by the current Independent Media Arts Alliance Fee Schedule *OR* the fee/percentage agreed upon by the filmmaker/distributor
| Jury Name | Judge photos | Jury Profile |
|---|
Authorization type
Duration (several sessions)
Film Festival Features
Dates & Deadlines
2025-11-15
Submission start time
2025-12-29
Earlybird Deadline
2026-01-29
Regular Deadline
2026-02-27
Late Deadline
2026-02-27
Submission end time
2026-06-02
Finalist notification start time
2026-06-02
Finalist notification end time
2026-07-22
Award ceremony start time
2026-07-26
Award ceremony end time
Categories and fees
2025/12/29
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 40 Dollar
2026/01/29
Regular Deadline
Standard: 50 Dollar
2026/02/27
Late Deadline
Standard: 60 Dollar
2025/12/29
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 20 Dollar
2026/01/29
Regular Deadline
Standard: 25 Dollar
2026/02/27
Late Deadline
Standard: 30 Dollar
Related film festivalMore
View in the applet
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