Why should I submit to Mirror Mountain?
1. Free festival pass for all filmmakers who submit
Everyone who submits a film to Mirror Mountain, regardless of whether or not it is selected, gets a free pass to attend the entire festival.
2. Free to submit for local filmmakers
Films of any length can be submitted for free if they were shot and/or edited within a 125 km radius of Ottawa. This area includes Gatineau, Maniwaki, Mont Tremblant, Montebello, Hawkesbury, Cornwall, Potsdam, Brockville, Smiths Falls, Perth, Renfrew, Arnprior and more.
3. Free submissions for alumni
If you directed a film that was officially selected in a previous edition of Mirror Mountain, you can submit again at no cost.
4. Your money back
If your film is officially selected to screen in the festival, we’ll reimburse your original submission fee.
5. We pay artist fees
If your film is officially selected to screen in the festival, you will also receive a small fee to thank you for letting us screen your work.
6. Fewer restrictions
We have no premiere or date-of-completion requirements. Your film is still eligible even if it has screened in the Ottawa region before, has distribution, has been broadcast on television, or is available to view online.
7. Stay in the loop
After you submit your film, you’ll get a notification from the festival to confirm we’ve received your application. Later, you’ll receive a notification informing you of the results, regardless of whether or not your film was selected.
8. Awards for winning filmmakers
Awards are given out in several categories after the completion of the festival. Award winners receive a certificate and a selection of prizes donated by our sponsors.
9. Friendly and alternative atmosphere
As a community of filmmakers and artists, we strive to cultivate a vibrant, dynamic and welcoming atmosphere, where creators and audience members from diverse artistic and cultural backgrounds can come together to engage and grow through shared work and conversation.
Fees and Deadlines
Submissions open: February 21st 2022
Earlybird deadline: July 18th 2022
Shorts $10
Medium-length $20
Features $30
Regular deadline: December 19th 2022
Shorts $15
Medium-length $25
Features $35
Final deadline: May 22nd 2023
Shorts $20
Medium-length $30
Features $40
Notification date: June 19th 2023
Lineup announced: July 3rd 2023
If your film is selected, you will be expected to submit a high-quality Quicktime H.264 file as your screening copy by no later than July 10th 2023, or your film may not be screened. Filmmakers are responsible for ensuring that their Quicktime file is in good working order.
Event dates: July 22nd – 23rd 2023
Short is defined as any film less than 20 minutes in length, including credits.
Medium-length is defined as any film between 20 and 60 minutes in length, including credits.
Feature-length is defined as any film longer than 60 minutes in length, including credits.
NEW THIS YEAR! Mirror Mountain is now also accepting submissions of interactive media to be considered for temporary exhibition in the festival lounge. Any works that allow the audience to participate directly, including VR, explorable 360° video spaces, playable videogames, film/video installations, net art and more are now eligible to be submitted using our new Interactive Media category on FilmFreeway.
All prices listed in USD. Submission fees are non-refundable. Waivers or discounts on submission fees are not offered.
Film submissions of any length are free if your film was shot and/or edited within 125 km of Ottawa. You may be asked to provide documentation supporting your claim.
Film submissions of any length are free if you directed a film that was officially selected to screen at a previous edition of Mirror Mountain.
Rules and Regulations
Please read all of the rules carefully before submitting.
Mirror Mountain accepts any genre of film, including drama, comedy, documentary, animation, thriller, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, musical, dance, poetry/spoken word, experimental, music video, cult and more. We also accept submissions of interactive media artworks, including VR, explorable 360° video spaces, playable videogames, film/video installations, net art and more.
The festival welcomes submissions from diverse filmmakers from all backgrounds, including but not limited to, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two-spirited and non-binary filmmakers, POC and Indigenous filmmakers, persons with disabilities, and diasporic and transcultural filmmakers.
Submissions are reviewed by a volunteer jury of experienced filmmakers and local arts and culture professionals. Visit our About page for more information.
– Submission fees are non-refundable.
– Waivers or discounts on submission fees are not offered.
– Films may originate from anywhere in the world.
– You may submit multiple films in a single year, but you must pay the full submission fee for each film.
– Mirror Mountain does not accept submissions sent by email or physical submissions sent by post.
– Mirror Mountain is not responsible for improperly functioning preview copies/screeners.
– Mirror Mountain is under no obligation to watch updated screeners. The jury will only review submissions once.
– Do not send a press kit or other support materials unless requested.
– All submitted films must be in English or accompanied by English subtitles.
– There are no premiere requirements. Your film may have screened in the Ottawa region before.
– There are no date-of-completion requirements. Your film can be dated from any year.
– Films that have distribution, have been broadcast on television, or are available to view online, are still eligible for submission.
– You must be the copyright holder of the film and its soundtrack, or have obtained permission to use copyrighted materials in any part of your work. You may be asked to supply documentation supporting your claim. Works that consist of parody, satire and critical review are excepted under Canadian copyright law.
– Mirror Mountain reserves the right not to select any material they deem inappropriate for any reason.
– Mirror Mountain reserves the right to remove any film from the festival lineup at any time.
Submit
Submissions are only accepted through the following platforms:
Interactive Media works can only be submitted through our FilmFreeway page.
Local films that were shot and/or edited within 125 km of Ottawa should only be submitted via our Local Submission Form.
Alumni films from directors who have had a film screened at the festival before should only be submitted via our Alumni Submission Form.
Mirror Mountain Film Festival 