SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
Tuesday, 15 April 2025
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Vancouver Queer Film Festival
Thursday, 11 September 2025 until Sunday, 21 September 2025
The Vancouver Queer Film Festival is one of the largest queer arts events in Western Canada. We illuminate, celebrate, and advance queer lives through film, education, and dialogue. Each August, we showcase 11 days of outstanding cinema, live performances, community-building events, and great parties, all in the environment of beautiful mountain and ocean views.
We pay screening fees for all selected work. We seek content in all genres, specifically stories that center on 2SLGBTQIA+ protagonists, overturn stereotypes, push boundaries, strive for change, arouse and tantalize, and above all, highlight the tremendous diversity of queer, trans, and Two Spirit people, artists, and communities. We uplift 2SLGBTQIA+ voices and stories from throughout BC, across Canada, and around the world.
VQFF recognizes filmmakers through a variety of juried and audience awards.
RBC NARRATIVE CHANGE AWARD
(Cash Prize)
Sponsored by RBC, nominated by the programming team, and selected by a jury, this $5,000 cash prize honours a Canadian or International film that uses the power of cultural strategy to overturn outdated narratives, inspire change, and expand the audience’s perception of 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
GERRY BRUNET MEMORIAL AWARD: BEST BRITISH COLUMBIA SHORT
(Cash Prize / In-kind Camera Package)
This prize celebrates the best short film made in BC by local filmmakers. All British Columbian films are eligible for this Award. This award was established in 1997 in recognition of Gerry Brunet, a lifelong contributor to the arts and an early Out On Screen board member. It is supported by the Directors Guild of Canada-BC and determined by audience vote.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
(Cash Prize / In-kind Camera Package)
All films selected for the Festival are eligible for the People’s Choice Awards.
We collect Audience votes across all screenings in the following categories:
People’s Choice Awards: Canadian Short
People’s Choice Awards: Canadian Feature
People’s Choice Awards: International Feature
People’s Choice Awards: International Short