International Short Film Open Call

Artists from around the world are invited to submit a short movement-based film
to be screened FORM’s 11th annual festival in November 2026

All movement genres and practices are invited to submit

Deadline: May 17, 2026 by 11:59 PM PDT

About FORM

FORM 2025, Commission artist kristen ‘katchflow’ pictured with friends, photo by pomona

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.

Learn more about form

Our 11th annual festival will take place in-person in November 2026 across so-called Vancouver, including outdoors screenings in public spaces through our Public Screens Program. 

How FORM Defines “Movement”

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?

Our programming team makes an ongoing effort to invite artists to submit who have not historically seen themselves represented on screen or have not previously connected with FORM. We will be prioritizing films that consider and incorporate either accessibility and/or street dance in their work.

Learn more about these curatorial intentions:

Street Dance

Accessibility

  • A creative process that intentionally integrates accessibility from the start of the process and is included as a core value in the film. Accessibility-forward creative processes are a way of making art and being in relationship with our artists, audience, and community.1

    At FORM, we are continually learning about how accessibility inspires creative practices, fosters community care, and informs tools of collective liberation.2 Holding conversations with artists in the community who work within disability justice frameworks is a key pillar of our ongoing process in expanding our understanding of how to integrate these values holistically into our work.3 We strive to remain responsive to our community and acknowledge the mistakes we make along the way, and are eager to learn from these experiences. Our practice of integrating accessibility is non-linear. We believe that being transparent about our limitations in providing access support is just as important as sharing what we are able to offer.

    1.  A key principle from Kinetic Light’s curriculum and teachings on access in the arts, shared through their ongoing workshop series Access ALLways

    2. Inspired by Sins Invalid’s 10 Principles of Disability Justice

    3.  Throughout 2024, FORM connected with local artists romham pàdraig gallacher, Sarah Wong, Brandon Wint, and Harmanie Rose, among others.

  • Films that intentionally incorporate accessibility and disability justice in their creative approaches include (but are not limited to):

    • Work made by self identified disabled artists (individuals with personal experiences of navigating chronic illnesses, disability, d/Deafness, neurodiversity, and/or mental health conditions)

    • A project that amplifies the perspectives of artists from the disability community through meaningful relationships

    • An audio described film

    • A film with ASL interpretation embedded 

    Examples from past FORM artsist:

    • Artists may apply with a maximum of 2 films each

    • Selected artists must identify as either a Youth or Emerging Artist:

      • Youth: Lead artist must be between the ages of 15-25 by November 2026 (born 2001 to 2007)

      • Emerging: Lead artist must be 26 years or over (born 2000 or earlier), and self-identify as an Emerging artist or be new to the practice of movement and/or filmmaking. For the Emerging category, we will prioritize proposals where:

    • Applicant is exploring movement-based filmmaking for the 1st or 2nd time

    • Youth mover(s) ages 15-25 are featured

    • 2 or more Youth are involved in the production

    • See this video What is an Emerging artist? to help determine if you are an Emerging artist (source: CADAC)

    • International applications and films accepted

    • Film genres accepted (but not limited to):

      • Animation (i.e., drawing, stop motion)

      • Documentary

      • Experimental

      • Narrative

      • Music Videos

    • Films between 3-15 minutes are prioritized

      • While we prioritize films within this length, we are open to discovering films shorter or longer than this. Please reach out via email if you have questions about your film's eligibility.

      • Please note: we unfortunately cannot consider films that are 35+ minutes.

    • Applicants must agree to the Rules and Regulations

      • Please note: if selected, artists must own all necessary rights and permissions of the video and audio material in their films (i.e., you must have the rights to use copyrighted music) by September 2026.

    Here is a resource about Licensing Music for Short Films (source: Show Me Shorts Festival)

  • Selected artists will receive a screening fee of $300 CAD as well as free admission to all festival screenings and events.

How to Apply:

There’s TWO ways you can submit your film!

FREE Application form

Applicants will be notified on July 3, 2026 if their film is selected for programming.

Successful applicants will have until July 24, 2026 to deliver their films to FORM in 1080x1920p, mov or mp4 format.

Please note, closed captions must be included in your final film deliverable if your film includes spoken dialogue.
If this requirement is a barrier, please contact danielle Mackenzie Long at danielle@f-o-r-m.ca to discuss alternative options/support for meeting this requirement. 

  • If you have any questions about our application process, please e-mail Co-Artistic Director danielle Mackenzie Long (danielle@f-o-r-m.ca)

FORM 2024 Opening Screening: Where we dwell, Artist Glo Romy Pictured,
Photo by Sheng ho

“I can’t say thank you enough for all your support throughout this entire festival! I really appreciate and admire your passion and dedication to the community and I feel so honoured to have been a part of this year’s festival. Thank you for seeing the vision and helping it come to life — WE did that 💖🎉”
— Glo Romy, 2024 Artist (Bossy)

FORM 2025 Opening screening: tracing the form, form team Pictured l-R: Sophia Mai wolfe, danielle mackenzie long, erin lum, photo by han pham

“Being part of the Artistic Committee this year felt like such an affirming experience. It pushed me to really understand my own artistic voice, what I care about, what themes I naturally gravitate toward, and what I might want to express in future grant applications. I also loved finding filmmakers from Toronto whose work excited me. Hearing how other people think about art made me feel more connected to a creative community I’m still growing into.”
— Tanisha Kumar, 2025 CFP Artistic Committee Member

FORM 2025 From the cypher to the screen, Artist pictured l-R: Colby mclean, adam smith, josh cameron, iris gao, harry zhang, Photo by Pomona

“My experience with FORM was super magical. It was inspiring and exhilarating to see beautiful ideas on screen. It is a beacon of hope for the next generation of artists and a testament to the current emerging ones. There is so much beautiful art out there to discover.”
— Sophia Laurio, 2022 Artist (Maleta)