Films must involve movement (of any genre, practice, or interpretation) and respond to the 2026 curatorial theme Information Overload!!! FORM gives creative rein to artists and will have dedicated staff available to help with any technical or artistic questions that might arise throughout the creation process.

An abundance of information exists in the world. Information consumes us from many angles. We are drifting in a sea of news, pop culture, and social media trends. Seeing image after image can feel absurd, hilarious, or draining.

What do we do when we’re oversaturated with information? Do you choose to embrace the chaos? Do you resist it? How do you cope with this excessiveness? How does it make you feel?

Consider how the theme resonates with you and bring your personal perspectives. We are open to proposals that respond to and interpret the theme in any way (visually or conceptually; agreeing with it or challenging it, etc).

The Mini Commissions Program is an opportunity for youth to play and experiment with movement and film. FORM has seen firsthand the power that young artists have when their creative voices are empowered—we want to bring down the barriers and provide a space where youth can discover their creative outlets in a supportive space. Exploration, experimentation, and education are key values that guide this program. Where do your ideas come from, and where will they take you? How can you transform your ideas into a video? What can you learn about yourself in the process of creating art? 

This program is led by Co-Artistic Director Erin Lum and is supported by Outreach Coordinator Adam Smith. Learn more about them here.

July: Workshops and Conceptualization Phase

• July 6: Selected artists are notified, Agreements and Artist Info form sent to artists

• July 9: Program Orientation (online) 

• July 16: Agreements and Artist Info due

• July 17: Workshop Intensive led by local professional artists (in-person in Vancouver)

August-October: Creating and Filming Phase 

• August 5-7: Mentorship Check-in 1 with Erin (video call & written report)

• August 19: Cohort draft sharing and feedback session 1 

• September 26-27: Mentorship Check-in 2 with Erin (video call & written report)

• October 5: Deadline for final films! 

• October 10* TBC: Cohort film screening and feedback session 2

November: Festival and Film Premieres!

• November 2-5: Mini Commissions films premiere online on the @formvancouver Instagram, one film per day

• November 6-8: FORM 2026 Festival [in-person] in Vancouver

  • Artists attend festival screenings, workshops, and events as a cohort
    Artists participate in Artist Talkback on November 8 (in-person)

• November 30 TBC*: Festival reflections and program debrief; final meeting (in-person)

***The cohort will gather in-person in Vancouver for all meetings and activities, with the possibility of virtual/hybrid formats if necessary. 

Complete the Airtable form digitally with written answers responding to the application questions. 

Participate in a short 15-minute video call, responding to the application questions, with one of our team members. This meeting will be guided as a casual conversation, recorded and shared with the FORM team. If you are interested in this option, please select a preferred time for a call found in the application form. (Video interviews will be conducted June 22-23, 2026. Calls must be booked by June 19.)

FORM presents films that investigate the body in motion through curiosity, experimentation, and imagination. We are interested in films that creatively explore our personal lived experiences and how such themes can be told through narrative or experimental approaches. Cinematography, experimental and DIY editing approaches, and post-production effects are also considerations that contribute and add layers to the subject matter. We invite the interplay between the camera and the movement, regardless of the form.

Our 2026 festival will be held in-person across so-called Vancouver from November 6-8. Learn more FORM and explore our past festivals by visiting our About page!

FORM is interested in how movement can be utilized as a vehicle for expression. Our definition of movement is broad and ranges from highlighting physical forms of movement like dance and sports, to thematic forms of movement like migration and gentrification. Some ways we’ve seen movement expressed are through walking, shadows, animation, the movement of nature, and dance practices. 

Movement can be understood in relation to the body, or it can extend beyond into other realms. We believe that everyday gestures and mundane interactions are forms of movement. Movement can also be represented through the intangible, such as a transformative social justice movement. Our curiosity is to broaden the scope and possibilities of recorded movement. 

Additionally, we recognize the movement that happens behind the camera, such as approaching filming and editing as choreography. We’re constantly evolving our understanding of how movement and film relate, and your films help us shape these curiosities. How do you define movement? How do you portray this definition within your practice or discipline? How does this movement collaborate with film?

See examples of past films here or in this video: What is Recorded Movement?

The Mini Commissions Program is meant specifically for high school students and/or Youth artists (aged 15-18, born 2008 or later) based in Vancouver.  If selected, the applicant’s legal guardian must give written permission for them to participate in the program. No previous filmmaking experience or knowledge is required, just an interest in pursuing your creative voice! 

If you are unsure about your eligibility or want further clarification on this program’s application, please contact Erin Lum [erin@f-o-r-m.ca]. 

Artists will have three months to complete their creations and are expected to meet specific deadlines throughout this period. This includes:

• Sign a letter of agreement (along with their guardian) with specific delivery dates 

• Adhere to FORM’s Rules and Regulations 

• Complete 2 written Reports and 

• Be responsible for prompt communication with program coordinators throughout their process (via email or Instagram messages) 

• Submit their films, adhering to required formats, with synopsis and credits by deadlines

• Attend festival events (with complimentary access) 

The funds will be disbursed as participants complete program milestones, such as signing their Agreement and completing workshops, Reports, and final films. 

We want to hear from you and your unique ideas, not a computer! Learning how to communicate your thoughts and intentions is an important part of being an artist. We encourage you to think of this proposal as an opportunity to strengthen these skills, which will only help you grow creatively.

We’re aware of the use of AI as an access tool for elements such as grammar and phrasing… but we ask that the ideas and words are still yours. We require that you disclose if and how you have used AI tools (such as ChatGPT or Gemini) in your proposal when submitting.