Welcome to EIFF!
History of EIFF
The Edmonton Short Film Festival has been supporting the local film scene since 2013. It was founded by Groover Soldier Productions in order to allow independent film makers a professional venue
to screen and share projects. By 2014 it was incorporated into a non-profit and was partnered with the Alberta Government, and the City of Edmonton along with Telus, Blue Pixel College and other
community supports to provide a cash reward along with a special educational event. In 2015, there was a festival at the Alberta Museum where there was special guests including independent adjudicators
as well as a Canadian Film maker, Bryan Michael Stoller, who has been making films for 30 years. In its first year, over 250 minutes of film was screened for 18 different projects. EIFF features diverse
selections of shorts with their own subjects, and run times. Its goal continues to be to promote the local film community and Alberta short film.
For Film Lovers
For 2022, the EIFF will have 152 films including both shorts and full feature length films. There are many genres to choose ranging from drama to comedy. In addition,
there are animated films in both stopmotion and 2D animation. There are all kinds of different films whose directors use their own life experience and their imaginations
to come up with all kinds of different ideas. With so many films to choose from there is something for everybody! Whether you are a film lover, a film director, or just
looking for family fun, the EIFF will have something to make you laugh, scream, cry, or just be in amazement!
Want to Submit?
For filmakers and directors, we accept any kind of genre of film as long as it is thought provoking or has an engaging story. If a submission has been accepted in the past
please wait 3 years until the next. All languages are accepted, but for non English films we require English subtitles. Be sure to submit each format as DCP or BluRay.
For Electronic please follow H.264, or mp4 in 1920 x 1080 in 23.98fps. Each film will have a maximum screening of 3 times, and can receive different awards. Please be
ready to have 3 High Resolution stills, Social Media handles, and a 350 max character Director’s Bio if your film is selected.
Red Carpet Gala
For October 2022, the Red Carpet Gala will show the winners’ selected films. Thank you to everyone who submitted. On October 15, we will feature Shorts such as Tango
Through Life, by Director Zsófia Opra Szabó, Clowning Around, by Director Kylie Hitchcock, Hearth of the Lion, by Director Vicki Van Chau, and many more. The following
day we will showcase the Longshorts which will run up to 60 minutes, much longer than Shorts.
Volunteer
FIf you have passion for the film industry and a great attitude, consider volunteering for the EIFF, you may also meet new people. The festival takes place on two days over the weekend.
Some of the things you might be doing include set up/take down, adjudication, Ballot counting/collecting for Peoples’ Choice Award, taking tickets, Ticket sales, making/serving popcorn,
Photography/Videography, Volunteer Management, or Security. Volunteers will gain free access to all our events year round, and VIP tickets to the After-Party
If you are interested, email us, and let us know what kind of position you are wanting to do.
Location
For 2022 the venue will have two locations. The first one is Landmark Cinemas 9 City center, which usually plays the top motion pictures from their latest release dates.
It has 9 theatres and is noted for its excellent quality. The second location is Metro Cinema at the Garneau. The Garneau has been running since 1941, keeping most of
its original design. With updated technology and comfortable seats it is a unique venue to view each film.
What's New & Exciting!
Local Heroes Film Festivals is put on by the Edmonton Short Film Festival to do smaller events. Candace Makowichuk is the first executive director to expand the Edmonton Short Film Festival’s programming as well as connect Albertan-made films with more people. Candace Makowichuk has been in local non-profit or almost 20 years. She has been an executive director of many arts organizations including Harcourt House, where she was its first director and helped move it into a public run centre, the Art Gallery of St. Albert, where she added seven permanent staff, a $500, 000 budget as well as 11 arts programs including a children’s program that reaches 20,000 children per year. She also helped Snap Gallery set up in the Great West Saddlery building. She did this while also being an instructor at MacEwan University in arts and cultural management as well as maintaining an arts practice.
Candace Makowichuk explains that The local Heroes Film Festival helps since it allows the Edmonton Short Film Festival to be able to showcase more films than just the annual one-day festival “So this is a way of being able to showcase some of the other films that we receive.” She also mentions how it has also helped due to Covid restrictions in recent years. Candace Makowichuk mentions that Alberta has a strong film sector. She hopes more people start to recognize this “because we’ve got some pretty amazing filmmakers here in the community.” She says most independent filmmakers are creating short films for more cost benefit which makes it a more accessible medium. She also says that more smaller events will bring films to the community, they’re short, free and the films made by Albertans tend to reflect Albertan issues, stories, and identities. This week’s event will celebrate Black History Month.
Link: https://edifyedmonton.com/culture/visual-arts/film-festival-heroes/
