Introduction to the film festival
Bold, vibrant, inclusive, and innovative: for over 50 years, the FNC has brought audiences the best in national and international auteur cinema, showcasing originality and diversity through works by both emerging and renowned filmmakers. At the heart of the festival is a celebration of all things new: new voices, new approaches, and new technologies. As Canada’s oldest film festival and a major cultural event in Quebec, the FNC presents over 200 films from 60 countries each year, highlighting the finest in contemporary cinema.
Awards
> INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
The best of today's cinema: the boldest and brightest films from around the world.
• Louve d'or - Best international feature film
• Loup argenté - Best international short film + Academy Award® Qualifying Festival (https://www.oscars.org/oscars/rules-eligibility)
• Daniel Langlois Innovation Award - recognizes a work that stands out for its daring aesthetics, creative use of new technologies, and/or groundbreaking treatment of a sensitive subject matter
• Best Performance Award - Best actor or actress in a feature film of the competition
> NATIONAL COMPETITION
Shining a light on our talent. Diversity, eclecticism and inventiveness: the new cinema that defines us.
• National Grand Prize - Best Canadian feature & short films
• Audience award - Canadian short film
> NOUVEAUX ALCHIMISTES
Experimentation, poetry, transcendance: formal exploration at the heart of artistic expression.
• Nouveaux alchimistes Award - Best feature film
• Dada International Award - Best international short film
• Dada National Award - Best national short film
• Best Animation Award - Best animated short film
> TEMPS Ø
The wild bunch, bold cinematic rebels and adventurous films.
• Audience Award
> INTERNATIONAL PANORAMA
Committed voices tracing paths of understanding through intimate perspectives.
• Audience Award
> FIPRESCI
• International Film Critics Award - Best first feature film selected from the following sections: International Competition, National Competition, les Nouveaux alchimistes, Temps Ø.
> FIERTÉ
• Fierté Montreal Award : Best 2SLGBTQIA+ feature film of the Festival
> RENCONTRES PANCANADIENNES DU CINÉMA ÉTUDIANT (RPCÉ)
National meeting and competition of student short films.
• RPCÉ Award - Best student short film
• Young Wolf Award - Best student short film from College level
> CAMPUS CRITIQUE
Critical incubator for university and college students.
• Grand Prize - Best Review
> P'TITS LOUPS
Films for kids and the young at heart.
• Audience Award
> FNC NOUVEAU MARCHÉ
Four days of professional gatherings.
• Pitch Premières Œuvres Award - Best film pitch, Pitch Premières Œuvres competition
• SLA Location Award - Equipment rental services prize awarded to a project selected in the Pitch Premières Œuvres competition
• Nouveau marché Award - Best feature film project in development, Nouveau Marché competition
• ArteKino International Award - Prize presented by the ArteKino Foundation for a feature film project in development, Nouveau Marché competition
> THE ESSENTIALS (LES INCONTOURNABLES): The greatest names in cinema.
> HISTORY OF CINEMA: Tributes, retrospectives, films about cinema.
> SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Premieres, events, happenings.
Rules
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The festival accepts submissions of:
• Short film: under 59 minutes;
• Feature film: 59 minutes and over.
All works selected by FNC must comply with the following premiere status requirements:
• short & feature films: Quebec premiere.
***** IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Films and artworks that have been presented before our dates, via an online platform accessible all over Canada (Canada-wide geoblocked) DO NOT qualify for submission.
All works which do not comply with these premiere status requirements (meaning works that have been broadcast on television or screened publicly in theatres before the festival dates) are not eligible for consideration.
Works must be subtitled in either French or English if the original language is neither French nor English.
Only works completed after January 1, 2025, will be considered.
Works previously submitted and rejected by the festival are not eligible for consideration.
| Jury Name | Judge photos | Jury Profile |
|---|
Authorization type
Duration (several sessions)
Film Festival Features
Dates & Deadlines
2026-02-13
Submission start time
2026-03-27
Earlybird Deadline
2026-04-27
Regular Deadline
2026-05-12
Late Deadline
2026-05-12
Submission end time
2026-09-09
Finalist notification start time
2026-09-09
Finalist notification end time
2026-10-07
Award ceremony start time
2026-10-18
Award ceremony end time
Categories and fees
2026/03/27
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 50 Dollar
2026/04/27
Regular Deadline
Standard: 55 Dollar
2026/05/12
Late Deadline
Standard: 65 Dollar
2026/03/27
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 45 Dollar
2026/04/27
Regular Deadline
Standard: 50 Dollar
2026/05/12
Late Deadline
Standard: 60 Dollar
Related film festivalMore
View in the applet
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