“My experience with F-O-R-M 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)

How to apply:

Submit via our FREE application form or via FilmFreeway ($5 - $15 to submit) below:

About F-O-R-M

Canadian and international artists are invited to apply with a short movement based film to the eighth annual F-O-R-M (Festival Of Recorded Movement) in November 2023.

F-O-R-M 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 (Do It Yourself) editing styles/approaches, and post-production effects are also considerations that contribute and add layers to the subject matter. We invite proposals to consider the interplay between the camera and the movement, regardless of the form. 

F-O-R-M strongly encourages and prioritizes applications from Youth artists, and those from intersectional and traditionally marginalized communities; Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, folks with disabilities, and diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions (LGBTQ2S+).

Our 2023  festival will continue to offer a hybrid of in-person events in Vancouver and online programming. The festival will be responsive to government guidelines surrounding COVID-19. Our priority is to create events that are safe for festival artists and the broader community. 

If you have any questions about our application process please e-mail Associate Artistic Director Tamar Tabori at info@f-o-r-m.ca

If selected, artists will receive a minimum screening fee of $250 CAD as well as free admission to all festival screenings and events.

Categories

This year, we have four different categories to apply to that reflect a specific theme in your film:

  • Is this Movement?

  • Access First

  • Street Dance

  • Recorded Movement

This new approach invites artists who have not historically connected with F-O-R-M, and supports our curiosities to broaden the scope and possibilities of recorded movement. 

We understand that films aren’t one dimensional and are not limited to the category you choose. Select the best category at your discretion, and we encourage you to add your thoughts and comments in the final question of the submission form to expand on your choice.

Is this Movement?

still from Floating Departures by Shannon Cuykendall (screened 2022)

This category invites films that challenge our understanding and expectations of what we know "movement" or "dance" to be. In what ways is "movement" expressed in this film? Who and what is being choreographed? How can movement become formless and what is dance with no titles or names? This category is open to experimental approaches to movement and film and how they inform one another. 

Think about editing as choreography, how pace and rhythm can shape the way a film is experienced or how the movement is perceived.

Ask yourself:

  • In what ways is the body present, or not present? 

    • How does this evoke movement for the viewer? How is it manifested on screen?

  • What and/or who is being choreographed in this piece? 

    • How does editing contribute to the movement of the piece?
      How has the movement informed the ways the work was filmed? 

Here are some examples for inspiration:
Birds (2000) by David Hinton
Ninde (2015) by Nils Janssens
Family Practice (2021) by Sarah Wong
Habitat 86 (2020) by Sasha J. Langford
Ready to Assemble (2020) by Denise Solleza
Bookanima (2019) Shon Kim

Street Dance

still from SYNC by Layla Wei and ScRach MarcS (screened 2021)

This category invites films that center street dance styles and their unique interaction with film. The possibilities are endless—we want street dancers to see themselves on screen and reflected in our festival.

In the past, we have programmed films that have featured:
Hip hop
W*acking
Popping
Tutting
Breaking
Experimental forms

Here are some examples for inspiration:
AION (2021) by Sevrin Emnacen-Boyd
E_GO (2018) by Eric Cheung
The Meeting Place (2022) by Juan Imperial
All It Gives (2019) by Talia Woodland
Maleta (2022) by Sophia ‘Sosa’ Gamboa
The Bushwaackers and Paddy Show (2022) by Konichiwaack

Access First

still from Sanctuary by All Bodies Dance Project (screened 2020)

This category invites films that have been made with accessibility in mind from the start of the process and included as a core value in the film. Films should be either:

  • made by artist(s) with physical / mental disability (Creative people with lived experience of disability, neurodivergence, madness, spoonie-ness, chronic illness, intergenerational trauma, and/or membership in Deaf, Blindness, and/or Deaf/Blindness communities)
    and/or centers voices of artists within these communities 

  • made with specific audience in mind (ie. audio described version is available, tactile technology accompanied with film, ASL interpretation is embedded in film etc..) 

  • If technology outside of traditional cinema space is required, please add more information in the application form (ie. needs human resource support, larger space / specific audience, wearable technologies etc..) 

Here are some examples for inspiration:
Inclinations (2019) by Danielle Peers
Sanctuary (2019) by All Bodies Dance
Ho.Me (2019) by All Bodies Dance
Rhizophora (2015) by Davide De Lillis


Recorded Movement

still from Vasantham by Ashvini Sundaram (screened 2022)

This category invites any movement practices, genres, or styles that may not be reflected in one of the themes above. We invite your ideas and concepts around the theme of Recorded Movement, and to challenge this definition as you see fit. How do you define movement? How do you portray this definition within your practice or discipline? How does this movement collaborate with film? 

In the past, we have programmed films that have explored: 
Walking & Running
Surfing 
Skateboarding
Badminton 
Contemporary dance 
Calligraphy

We accept films in many genres, including but not limited to: 
Animation (Drawing, Stop Motion)
Documentary
Experimental 
Narrative
Music Videos 
See past festival trailers and films here for inspiration

Submission Requirements

  • Applicants must identify as either a Youth Artist or Emerging Artist:

    • Youth — Lead creator must be between the ages of 15-25 by November 2022 (born 1998 or later)

    • Emerging — Lead creator must be 26 years or over (born 1997 or earlier), and self identifies as an emerging artist or be new to the practice of movement-on-screen. See this video from CADAC, What is an Emerging artist? to help decide if this is you! (Video sourced from Creative Spark.)

  • For the emerging category, we will prioritize films where:

    • This is the applicant’s first or second time making a film that centers around movement 

    • The film features youth mover(s), ages 15-25 

    • There are 2 or more youth working on the production

  • All films must be between between 3 - 15 minutes

  • All applicants must agree to the rules and regulations

  • Please do not apply with multiple films. Only the first work submitted by a filmmaker will be considered.

  • If you have a film in progress which is not yet complete, but that will be completed by July 15th, you are welcome to submit. Please make sure to note in your submission that it is a work in progress, and include the date you expect it to be completed by.

Application Deadline: May 15th, 2023
Notification Date: July 21, 2023

How To Apply

  • Submit via our FREE application form here

  • Submit via FilmFreeway ($5 — $15 to submit)

Applicants will be notified on July 21, 2023 if the film was selected for programming. Successful applicants will have until August 11th, 2023 to deliver their films in 1080x1920p, mov or mp4 format.

Questions?

If you have any questions about our application process please e-mail info@f-o-r-m.ca, or fill our the contact form below:

“F-O-R-M was a surreal experience. Being raised in the world of dance and only recently trying to establish myself as a filmmaker, I think it’s amazing that a festival like this exists. I will forever be grateful for being accepted into the F-O-R-M community with such amazing likeminded people who share my experiences.”
— Sam Adam-Johnston, 2022 Artist (NOAH)
“I was so grateful to be asked to be part of this year’s festival. As a dance artist who is primarily involved in commercial and street dance, it was really honouring to have my work be featured and appreciated by a different artistic community. I think the festival is a fantastic way to bring together many different perspectives through the art of movement on film.”
— Clarence Tang, 2022 Artist (Bushwaackers)