What Happens to Your Film After You Hit Submit

Submitting a film — whether through our site or on FilmFreeway — starts a process most filmmakers never see from the inside. Here's the shape of it.

Every entry first goes through an eligibility check: runtime, completion date, and whether it fits an existing category. Eligible films then go to a selection panel, which decides what actually screens — this is a programming decision, not a competitive one yet. Films that are selected move into their section (National, International, Indigenous, Made by Kids, or World Focus) and are then scored by a specialized jury within that section. Top-scoring films become Top Nominees; our Academy of Kids Content casts the final vote for the winner, and in some categories the public gets a vote too.

Notification for 2027 goes out July 20 — after the March 15 regular deadline and the May 31 late deadline, and before accepted films' media is due July 15. If you don't hear back before your own event calendar needs an answer, our submission page has the exact 2027 dates.