Submissions
As a Queer-led and 2SLGBTQ+-centred organization, we strive to be a community leader in the elevation of films by and about 2SLGBTQ+ people of all ages, races, and abilities through promotion, production, and exhibition. In 1991, Inside Out began as a small film and video festival, bringing together a community eager to see stories created by and about Queer people. In 2027, we celebrate 37 years of bringing Queer stories to the screen, and creating space for our community to see itself, connect, and be inspired.
The Festival will feature a competitive film program with five juried awards: Best International Feature, Best First Feature, Emerging Canadian Artist, Best Canadian Feature, and Best Canadian Short. Additionally, cash prizes will be awarded for three Audience Awards: Best Short, Best Narrative Feature, and Best Documentary.
The 2027 Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival will be held May 20-30, 2027.
Please visit our FilmFreeway page to review Inside Out’s submissions requirements and polices before submitting your project. If you have any questions, please view our FAQs below or email us at programming@insideout.ca
Submissions FAQ
How do I submit my film?
All submissions must be made via FilmFreeway. We do not accept submissions by email. A separate entry form is required for each film being submitted.
Are rough cuts accepted?
Works-in-progress and rough cuts are accepted but a completed exhibition copy should be available for final approval by the deadline (February 7, 2027). We encourage you to submit your film as close to completion as possible.
Do you require captions to submit?
Captions are not required when submitting your film for consideration. However, all films selected to screen at Inside Out must include captions or subtitles in English. While we cannot offer caption creation services, we’re happy to provide recommendations.
What films are eligible for submission?
We are seeking films that are inclusive of—and of interest to—the 2SLGBTQ+ communities. This includes narrative, documentary, experimental, and animated films, both feature-length and shorts. Films with a completion date no more than 18 months before the festival dates are eligible. Films completed after the previous year’s festival will be given preference.
Are there submission fees?
Yes. Submission fees help us provide filmmaker support during the festival so every dollar goes back into creating the best festival experience for you and our community. We aim to eliminate as many barriers as possible, so if you need assistance with fees, please reach out to us at programming@insideout.ca.
Why do I have to disclose my use of AI?
The festival exists in large part to provide a platform for authentic 2SLGBTQ+ creative voices. Generative technology that substitutes synthetic representations for queer writers, performers, voices and creative labour potentially conflicts directly with that mission. Disclosure also helps the programming team understand how and why AI tools are being used in filmmaking.
Rules
- Only secure online screeners will be accepted for preview. If you wish to submit in any other format, please email programming@insideout.ca for approval.
- All films selected to screen at Inside Out must include either captions or subtitles in English.
- Works-in-progress and rough cuts can be submitted only if a completed exhibition copy will be available for final approval by February 7, 2027.
- Inside Out reserves the right to excerpt programmed works (up to 3 minutes) along with photographic stills for promotional and marketing purposes.
- All submissions must be received by January 10, 2027 (If you need an extension you must contact programming@insideout.ca)
- Acceptable screening formats at the Festival are DCP, Quicktime.
- Films with a completion date no more than 18 months before the festival dates will be accepted, films with a completion date later than the previous year’s festival dates will be given preference.
Terms & Conditions
The Festival will make every effort to ensure the safe keeping of all productions submitted for competition which are in its care or control. However, the Applicant in applying to the Festival agrees to release the Festival, its Officers, Directors and other representatives, from any and all claims arising in any way from the submission of materials by or on behalf of the Applicant, whether on film, video or otherwise to the Festival.
Key Dates
Submissions Open: September 4, 2026
Earlybird Deadline: October 25, 2026
Regular Deadline: December 13, 2026
Late Deadline: January 10, 2027
Notification Date: April 23, 2027
Submit Now:
AI Policy
Since the Festival’s inception in 1991, Inside Out has been a home for films created by and about 2SLGBTQ+ people. We acknowledge that AI can be a helpful tool in the filmmaking process, but we wish to preserve the human-led creative practice that has helped Inside Out grow from a small community of film lovers, to the largest Film Festival for 2SLGBTQ+ communities in Canada.
To ensure this, we now require all filmmakers to disclose any significant AI usage during the submission process. Inside Out permits assistive uses of AI and certain limited generative uses, as outlined below. Films incorporating generative AI in ways that replace or materially substitute for human creative authorship, performance or production are not eligible for Official Selection. This policy will continue to evolve with the technology and continued conversations with our community. We encourage you to reach out with any questions, concerns, or feedback as your thoughts and feelings matter to us.
How Inside Out Defines AI:
Assistive AI: technology that analyzes, organizes, cleans, enhances or modifies existing human-created material without generating substantive new creative content.”
Generative AI: technology that creates or materially transforms text, images, video, voices, music, performances or other audiovisual material in response to prompts or other inputs.
AI is a broad term that applies to many tools that have been incorporated into programs that are essential to the filmmaking process and deeply integrated into everyday life
Please review the chart below to determine whether or not your AI use requires disclosure or makes your film ineligible for official selection:
Declaration of AI use:
We ask that all filmmakers confirm that they have read our AI policy and declare any AI usage that falls within the Limited/Conditional Use section outlined above when filling out their FilmFreeway submission form. It is the responsibility of the submitter to be honest and open about their AI usage as Inside Out’s programming team does not have the desire to police or the capacity to verify AI use. Failure to disclose or false information may result in disqualification and could impact your ability to submit in the future. Inside Out reserves the right to request clarification or additional details regarding your AI usage to determine your film’s eligibility.
Filmmakers remain responsible for ensuring that any use of AI complies with applicable copyright, privacy, publicity, contractual and other rights, and that appropriate consent has been obtained for the use or alteration of any person’s image, likeness, voice or performance.
We also acknowledge that transparency about AI use goes both ways and we guarantee that your work is being reviewed by a 100% human team and that none of your private and/or secure information will be shared with generative LLMs or GPTs.
We welcome input and feedback and as the technology evolves, we will revisit, review, and update our policy and guidelines.
If you have any questions regarding Inside Out’s AI policy, please reach out to programming@insideout.ca.
Click here to view our Quick Guide
