Rules & terms

Criteria

• There are no category restrictions. Each work is juried and shown in the related festival category.
• The Festival seeks any combination of inventive, incisive, bold, vital and otherwise provocative work of any style or genre.

Entry

• There is no entry fee. Film submission is free in every category and at every deadline.
• All entries must be completed before the submission deadline.
• Features are 41 minutes or longer. Shorts are 40 minutes or less.

Entry formats

• Formats accepted for exhibition: digital files. Depending on the hall, we may ask for a ProRes file.
• Entries can be submitted as online screeners here or on FilmFreeway. Secure Vimeo screeners are welcome.

2027 dates

• Earlybird deadline: February 15, 2027
• Regular deadline: March 15, 2027
• Late deadline: May 31, 2027
• Accepted digital media due for traffic logging: July 15, 2027
• Notification date: July 20, 2027
• Festival: September 24 – October 3, 2027, North York Civic Centre (5100 Yonge Street, Toronto) and two more venues

Agreements

• Submitting a work confirms that the Canada Kids Festival (Canada Kids Film Festival, CKFF) has permission to exhibit it during the Festival and any Festival tours.
• Submitting a work means the Festival can use moving-image excerpts and reproduce stills to promote the festival.
• The Canada Kids Festival also hosts a Best of Fest screening after the main festival. We will ask for permission if your film is selected.

Programming

• The general program and screening schedule are the exclusive responsibility of the Festival Team.
• Films accepted and included in the program cannot be withdrawn from the screening schedule once the entry form has been signed and submitted to the Festival.

Disclaimer

Every precaution will be taken in handling entries, but neither the Festival organizers, employees, sponsors nor participating organizations can take responsibility for damage to or loss of materials submitted. All films submitted to play at CKFF will be previewed before exhibition, with a log kept of their condition. Filmmakers will be told if a film arrives damaged.

Terms and conditions

I, the authorized representative of the project being submitted (the "Film"), acknowledge and agree as follows in connection with the Film's submission for consideration for the Canada Kids Festival, Canada Kids Film Festival, CKFF (the "Festival"):

1. Acceptance of a film does not guarantee airline or hotel accommodations for talent or production crew.

2. No media will be returned after the Festival.

3. The number of screenings, days and venues is at the sole discretion of the Canada Kids Festival.

4. All films accepted into the Festival will be asked to supply a digital file. Accepted films may be asked to take part in a best-of-festival program after the event.

5. I represent and warrant to the Festival that: (a) I am duly authorized, on my own behalf and on behalf of all other persons or entities who have any ownership rights or interests (including, without limitation, intellectual property rights) in or relating to the Film (the "Film's Owners"), to exhibit this Film at the Festival; (b) exhibition of the Film at the Festival will not violate any law or any right or consent of any person or entity; and (c) the Film is not subject to any litigation, arbitration or other adversarial claim or proceeding, nor is the Film the subject of any threat of litigation, arbitration or other adverse claim or proceeding.

6. I further represent and warrant, on behalf of myself and the Film's Owners, that the exhibition of the Film at the Festival will not violate or infringe any copyright, patent, privacy right, publicity right, trademark, service mark or any other personal or property right of any person or entity, and that the Film does not constitute or include a defamation of any person or entity. I have paid and will pay in full all license fees, clearance fees and other obligations, of any kind, arising from or associated with the exhibition of the Film at or in connection with the Festival.

7. If the Film is accepted by the Festival, I acknowledge, on behalf of myself and the Film's Owners, that the Festival's exhibition or presentation of the Film does not and will not create any confidential or fiduciary relationship between the Festival on the one hand and myself and/or the Film's Owners on the other. I further acknowledge that neither I nor any of the Film's Owners will receive any compensation for such exploitation. No obligation of any kind is assumed by, or may be implied against, the Festival or the Canada Kids Festival Collaborative as a result of the Festival's selection of the Film. Selection of the Film does not constitute an express or implied endorsement or approval by the Festival or the Canada Kids Festival Collaborative of the content of the Film or any opinion expressed in it.

8. I agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Film's Owners, to indemnify and hold harmless the Festival and the Canada Kids Festival Collaborative, together with each of their parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, employees, attorneys, creative advisors, agents and representatives (collectively, "Canada Kids Festival Collaborative Related Parties") from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, fees and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorney's fees and other costs) that may be asserted by any person or entity or may be incurred by the Festival, the Canada Kids Festival Collaborative or any Canada Kids Festival Collaborative Related Parties at any time in connection with the Film or the Festival's use of it, and/or arising from any breach or alleged breach of any representation made by me to the Canada Kids Festival Collaborative, including, without limitation, any express or implied representation in these Terms and Conditions.

9. I warrant and agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Film's Owners, that the Film is being submitted to the Festival voluntarily and without promise or inducement, and that submitting the Film neither imposes nor creates any obligation or responsibility on the part of the Festival, the Canada Kids Festival Collaborative or any Canada Kids Festival Collaborative Related Parties to accept the Film for the Festival, to exhibit the Film at the Festival, to acknowledge the submission of the Film, or to return the Film to me or others. I further agree, on my own behalf and on behalf of the Film's Owners, that in submitting the Film for consideration we waive and relinquish any right to assert any claim or commence any proceeding in any forum or tribunal against the Canada Kids Festival or the Canada Kids Festival Collaborative Related Parties, based upon, arising out of or otherwise relating to the submission, exhibition or failure to exhibit the Film (including, without limitation, claims relating to any failure or refusal to exhibit the Film at the Festival, the exhibition or marketing of the Film at or in connection with the Festival, alleged oral or written representations by the Festival or its representatives relating to the submission or exhibition of the Film, and any other matters arising from or relating to the submission of the Film), whether such claims may be based on theories of contract, implied contract, tort, statute or other legal theory. If any claim is asserted or any proceeding is commenced in violation of this agreement, I agree, on my own behalf and on behalf of each of the Film's Owners, to indemnify the Festival from any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, fees and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorney's fees and other costs) incurred as a result of or in connection with any such claim or proceeding, including, without limitation, reimbursement of all attorney's fees incurred or to be incurred by the Festival, the Canada Kids Festival Collaborative or any Canada Kids Festival Collaborative Related Parties in connection with any claim, arbitration or other proceeding brought or initiated by me or any of the Film's Owners or any other representative of the Film.

10. If the Film is accepted by the Festival, I grant, on behalf of myself and each of the Film's Owners, each of the following rights to the Festival, the Canada Kids Festival Collaborative and their related entities without reservations, conditions or qualifications: (a) the right to use footage, stills and/or titles, and information from or relating to the Film for promotional purposes; and (b) the right to issue and authorize publicity concerning the filmmakers and the Film and to use all associated names, likenesses and biographical information. I also agree to provide contact information for the director and producer(s) of the Film and grant the Festival the right to provide this information to film industry organizations sponsoring Festival events at its discretion.

11. I represent that I am 18 years of age or older or, if I am younger than the legal age to enter into contracts in my province or state, that I have provided the Festival with written consent from my parent or legal guardian.

12. I further agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Film's Owners, that any claim, dispute or controversy arising out of, in connection with, or otherwise related to the Film, the Festival or these Terms and Conditions (including the breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation or validity of them), as well as the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, will be governed by the laws that apply to the Canada Kids Festival and will be submitted to exclusive, binding arbitration before a single arbitrator in Toronto, Ontario. Such arbitration will be administered by the Canada Kids Festival under its Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures then in effect. The arbitrator will be selected by mutual agreement of the parties or, if the parties cannot agree, will be appointed by the Canada Kids Festival under those rules. The arbitrator shall issue a written award and may award any monetary relief except punitive or exemplary damages. The arbitrator shall award, to the substantially prevailing party, its reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the arbitration (including, without limitation, reimbursement of that party's share of the arbitrator's fees and Canada Kids Festival administrative charges), as well as any other relief the arbitrator deems just and proper. The arbitrator's award shall be final, binding and non-appealable. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction in Canada. In agreeing to this exclusive arbitration provision, I waive and relinquish, on behalf of myself and each of the Film's Owners, any right we might otherwise have had to bring or litigate any claim covered by this paragraph in federal or provincial court against the Festival or any Canada Kids Festival Collaborative Related Party, and any right to a trial by jury for such claims.

13. I acknowledge that I have read and understood the rules and regulations for submitting a film to the Festival and that the information in them supersedes any information obtained elsewhere, including, but not limited to, information in any Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) documents and/or rules and regulations documents from prior years.

14. In submitting my film, I freely and voluntarily give my full and complete acceptance of all of the terms and provisions set out in these Terms and Conditions. I acknowledge that no oral representations, inducements, promises or assurances of any kind not set out in these Terms and Conditions have been made to me or the Film's Owners by the Festival, the Canada Kids Festival Collaborative or Canada Kids Festival Collaborative Related Parties.

I have read, understand and agree to the terms and conditions of the Canada Kids Festival.