Reel Pride Film Festival
Canadian LGBTTQ
Short Films Competition
Background
Since 2003, the Short Films Competition has been a unique feature for the annual Reel Pride Film Festival held in Winnipeg, Manitoba since 1985. Audiences have been entertained with Canadian Short Films telling LGBTQ stories and special themes with locales across Canada. On screening night after screening, they vote for the Audience Choice Award. The Pandemic transformed our screening for audiences using virtual technology for two years. In 2022 we returned to our home theatre in Winnipeg – the Gas Station Arts Centre for a full Wednesday night of community enjoyment with a screening of 12 Shorts in the ‘Official Selection’ for the Shorts Competition.
Five Awards
1. Jury Choice Award for Best Short
2. Audience Choice Award for Best Short
3. Best Manitoba Short selected by the Jury
4. Top Emerging Filmmaker* selected by the Jury
5. Best LGBTQ Community Reflection Short selected by the Jury
* with less than three years filmmaking experience, no age limit.
Fast Facts
Short must be Canadian with LGBTTQ content, shot in Canadian locations with postproduction in Canada.
The CALL and Submission form are online at Reelpride.org.
Submissions have no entry fee payable.
All eligible submissions to the CALL are viewed by screeners.
The Official Selection for the Shorts Competition is announced by media release.
The Jury Panel decides their Award choices before the Audience Screening night.
Filmmakers whose Short makes the Official Selection receive an Honorarium.
The Award prizes vary each year. We appreciate the ongoing participation of William F. White International Inc, The Winnipeg Film Group, the Manitoba LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce and our title sponsor RBC.
Many Short Filmmakers have moved on to produce more Shorts that have won Awards at other Festival in Canada and a few at International Film Festivals.
Over the years, several hundred Shorts have premiered at our Competition.
Our loyal Winnipeg LGBTTQ community supports this Shorts Competition Night with strong attendance.
This Canadian LGBTTQ Short Films Competition stands tall as Canada’s only Shorts competition of LGBTTQ stories as we go forward to our twentieth year in 2023!