Submit Your Project

Please read the below BEFORE submitting:

​

Film selections and awards will be based on excellence in filmmaking, not on the level of circus skills displayed. 

​

Before submitting your project to CIFF, please review the categories below, and decide which category best fits your project:

​

• Student: The Student category is open to all films created by filmmakers students of all levels (primary through higher education). To qualify for this category, the director, director of photography, and/or editor must be an enrolled student at an educational institute at the time of project completion. It is encouraged, but not required, that all involved in the project are students.

• Short Shorts - The Short Shorts category is solely a length-based category. All genres of circus films are welcome. Films must be 5 minutes or less. Promo videos/reels will not be considered.

• Shorts - Documentary: The Shorts - Documentary category is open to all projects that are under 45 minutes in length. The films must fit the documentary format, and must follow some narrative.

• Shorts - Non-Documentary: The Shorts - Non-Documentary category is open to all projects that are under 60 minutes in length. These films must NOT fit into the documentary genre. These projects can include, but are not limited to, experimental, music videos, show videos.

• Feature Length: The Feature Length category is open to all projects that are 40 minutes or greater in length. They may be any genre of film featuring circus.

​​​

​

Guidelines for all submissions:

All competing films must have been completed no earlier January 2023 to be eligible for submission.

Films considered X Rated will NOT be accepted.

Films must not have received a wide theatrical release.

Festival applicant MUST have rights to all images, music, etc.

Films must not be promotional materials or reels.

Applicant must sign liability waiver and  limited media release, but will retain rights to their own work.