2027 call for submissions now open!

Eligibility, Rules & Terms

• Only Canadian filmmakers, producers and distributors are eligible and are invited to submit their original work to the 2027 Yorkton Film Festival competition for the Golden Sheaf Awards.
• Canadian productions 60 minutes and under will be accepted, exception (Best Feature Documentary and Best Feature Drama/Comedy, which must be over 70 mins.). A Canadian production is defined as any production which:

1.  As been Certified by the Canadian Audiovisual Certification Office (CAVCO) as a “Canadian film or video production.” OR
2. Recognized as an audiovisual treaty coproduction by the Ministry of Heritage. OR
3.  Directed and produced by Canadians and its copyright is owned by Canadians.

•  All entries must have been completed in the period between February 01, 2025, and January 31, 2027, and not have been entered in a previous Golden Sheaf Awards competition.
  Films that premiered at other festivals or were broadcasted before February 01, 2025, are not eligible to enter.
• A single production cannot compete in multiple main entry categories. It is eligible to be entered in one main category only. 

             Exceptions: -

1. If your production is part of an anthology series where episodes are produced by different production companies, then each production company may submit their work as a standalone entry. A separate entry form and fee are required for each entry.
2. If you are also entering your production in the Technical Award category, any of the Accompanying categories and or Craft categories. Additional fee applies

• Rough cuts can be entered with the understanding that the file submitted will be used throughout the adjudication process and the film cannot be submitted in future years.
• The final decision regarding interpretation of the rules and regulations including the eligibility of any production for admission into the competition will be the responsibility of the festival.

How to submit

• All festival submissions are handled through FilmFreeway.
• Entrants are responsible for the technical quality of their submissions. 
• Entries which cannot be adequately judged because of technical problems prior to upload/submission will be deemed ineligible.
•   Recommended video specs for export:

                          Bit rate: 8Mbit.

                          Codec: H.264

                          Resolution: 1920x1080p, or 1280x720p

                          Frame rate: 23.98, or 29.97 fps

                          Audio: 48khz 2 channel, stereo audio

 Fees and Entry Deadlines 

• Early bird until end-of-day Dec. 16th, 2026
• Regular until end-of-day January 31st, 2027
• Early bird -Student Production until end-of-day Nov. 12th, 2026
• Regular – Student Production until end-of-day Dec. 16th, 2026

All main entry category submissions(expectations: Commercial, Outstanding Colour Grading and Best Non-Fiction Podcast categories) will be automatically considered for the Special Awards (Ruth Shaw Award- Best of Saskatchewan and Best of Festival) where applicable, (no additional fee is required).

Refunds

• Entry fees must be submitted with the production at time of entry.
• All entry fees are non-refundable. This policy applies to all entries, regardless of the circumstances including those that may be disqualified for any reason.