When the Call for Submissions for 2022 is issued, the details will be provided here, along with links to other related information, and to FilmFreeway, which handles all submissions and fees.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Following are the rules and regulations and categories which apply to the 2021 Festival.
Below are the 2021 Call for Submissions Entry Rules. Please read through all conditions before clicking submit at the bottom of the page.
Eligibility
Canadian filmmakers, producers and distributors are invited to submit their original work to the 2021 Yorkton Film Festival competition for the Golden Sheaf Awards. Canadian productions 60 minutes and under will be accepted. A Canadian production is defined as any production which would qualify as a certified production under current regulations applied by CAVCO. International co-productions are eligible only if the director is Canadian.
All entries must have been completed in the period between February 1st, 2019 and January 31st, 2021 and not have been entered in a previous Golden Sheaf Awards competition. Films that premiered at other festivals prior to February 1st, 2019, or were broadcast prior to that date, are not eligible to enter.
A single production cannot compete in multiple categories. It is eligible to be entered in one main category only.
Exception: 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.
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.
Fees
All entry fees are non-refundable. Entry fees must be submitted with the production at time of entry.
How to submit
The deadline for student entries is 11:59PM CST, December 18th, 2020.
The deadline for all other entries is 11:59PM CST, January 31st, 2021.
Alternative Submission Methods
All festival submissions are handled through FilmFreeway. If you are unable to submit your final copy in digital form and would like to submit your film via an alternative method, please contact the festival office.
Upload and Storage
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.
Adjudication
Qualified jurors, selected by the festival, will judge the entries. Awards may not be given in categories where, in the opinion of the jurors, the entries do not merit distinction. In the case of entries of three or less in any category, the festival reserves the right to collapse that category.
In this event, the entry will be held over for adjudication in the next year’s festival and the entry fee will carry forward.
Entries will be judged in the category in which they are entered. Please consult with festival staff, ahead of submission, if you are uncertain about which category your production belongs in.
Nominations
All entrants nominated for a Golden Sheaf Award will be notified immediately following the jury process. Please check this website for nominations late March for main categories, and early April for craft categories.
Award Categories
Entries will be judged and a Golden Sheaf Award will be presented in the categories and craft award categories listed on the Categories page.
Publicity and Promotion
The festival reserves the right to use excerpts from any entry to promote the festival.
Yorkton Film Festival Bursary
At the discretion of the festival and where there is a demonstrated need, festival registration costs may be covered for nominees to attend the festival.
Only one bursary will be granted per production, with preference given to the director of the production. Bursaries do not cover admission to the Friday night Lobsterfest event, tickets for that event must be purchased by the attendee if they plan to attend that event.
Mini-Cinema Screening Centre
All productions submitted will be available for screening during the festival at Mini-Cinema, an on-demand screening centre during the film festival. Festival participants, distributors, specialty network representatives and buyers, as well as the general public, are invited to screen all festival entries.
Tour
A program of Golden Sheaf award productions may be taken on tour to other Canadian centres, following the festival. If your production is selected, it may be included in these special festival-run screenings.
Library
All productions submitted will be archived in the festival library for viewing by the general public (no rental fee will be charged).
Rights and clearances
The entrant warrants that all necessary rights and clearances to the material contained in their production have been secured. The entrant agrees to grant the festival use of their production for the purposes and in the manner indicated above.
The following is a list of the 2021 entry categories. If you have any questions about any of the categories, please contact the festival office.
Main Entry Categories
Animation
Any frame by frame or computer-assisted animated film or video that relies primarily on creative animation techniques to tell a story.
Children’s/Youth Productions
Any single production or series in any genre that is clearly intended for the entertainment and/or education of children or youth.
Community Television Productions
A production in any genre that is produced by and intended solely for broadcast by a community television company for which it owns the copyright.
Experimental
A filmmaker’s expression in any genre using unconventional and innovative production practices and techniques.
Lifestyle & Reality
A continuing non-fiction series about daily living with topics such as design, home decoration, food, makeovers, sex, travel, and recreational interests etc. Programs may include elements shot in studio or in the field.
Performing Arts & Entertainment
Programs which use music and/or performance to entertain or showcase artistic achievement. Such as, but not limited to, music videos, dance and movement pieces, and live performance recordings.
Scripted
Programs of either dramatized or comedic nature featuring the portrayal of characters, settings, life situations and stories which are partially or entirely fictional.
Series
A program in any genre that follows a thematic or narrative through-line over the course of at least 3-episodes.
Short Subject – Fiction
Fiction productions in any genre, on any subject, which are 15 minutes or less in length.
Short Subject – Non-fiction
Non-fiction productions in any genre, on any subject, which are 15 minutes or less in length.
Student Productions
A production in any genre that is produced and/or directed by a full-time student enrolled in a post-secondary institution. Entrants must not have been previously employed as a producer or director in the film or television industry.
Documentary Arts/Culture
Documentaries relating to the world of art and culture.
Documentary History & Biography
Documentaries with predominantly historical themes or those which document the life of a person or persons.
Documentary POV (Point of View)
Documentaries which present a personal, first-person or filmmaker point of view or narrative.
Documentary Science/Nature/Technology
Documentaries that explore topics and/or issues in the nature/environmental, science, medicine, or technology fields.
Documentary Social/Political
Documentaries about politics, social issues and current events.
Accompanying Categories
Productions entered in any of the main categories and which meet the specific eligibility criteria, may also compete for the following awards:
Emerging Filmmaker Award
Awarded to a filmmaker (specifically a director) in recognition of his/her first professional production in any genre. See entry form for more on eligibility guidelines and submission details.
Indigenous Award
Programs either fiction or non-fiction that explore issues relating to indigenous peoples, tell indigenous stories or present an indigenous perspective. At least one of the key creative positions (producer, writer or director) must be a person of indigenous descent. Please note: you may only be considered for either the Indigenous Award or the appropriate Multicultural Award but not both. See entry form for more on eligibility guidelines and submission details.
Mental Health
Programs in any genre that promote the understanding of, and/or depict the realities of those living with mental health issues.
Multicultural (Under 30 mins)
Programs in any genre that reflect Canada’s racial diversity and multicultural landscape. Entries in this category must be under 30 minutes. Please note: you may only be considered for either the Indigenous Award or the appropriate Multicultural Award but not both.
Multicultural (30 mins & over)
Programs in any genre that reflect Canada’s racial diversity and multicultural landscape. Entries in this category must be 30 minutes or longer. Please note: you may only be considered for either the Indigenous Award or the appropriate Multicultural Award but not both.
Ruth Shaw Award (Best of Saskatchewan)
A cash award honouring the best of Saskatchewan. Open to all Saskatchewan productions in all genres. See entry form for eligibility rules/point structure and submission details.
Craft Categories
These categories are not direct-entry. Craft category selections are forwarded from each main and accompanying category jury for consideration.
Director (Fiction)
Presented to the director(s) of a dramatic production.
Director (Non-Fiction)
Presented to the director(s) of a documentary or other factual production.
Research
This award recognizes the contribution and role of the researcher in documentary production. It can be awarded for content/story research and/or archival stock shot research.
Special Awards
All productions entered in any of the main categories will automatically be considered for the following special awards:
Best of the Festival
The Golden Sheaf Award of excellence will be presented to the most outstanding production of the festival.
The Kathleen Shannon Award
A $1,000 cash award and plaque will be presented to a filmmaker whose production exemplifies diverse, cross-cultural storytelling in novel and unique ways.
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