Submissions

Submissions Are Open for OFFA 2026!
Help us celebrate 13 years from June 17th to 27th 2026.

OFFA Celebrates 13 Years — June 17–27, 2026

The Oakville Festivals of Film and Art (OFFA) celebrates its 13th anniversary with our most ambitious festival yet. From the moment you arrive, you’ll understand why this socially engaged, event-driven festival is so beloved by filmmakers and audiences alike. Our curated Industry Summit offers an intimate space to connect, collaborate, and learn from industry leaders, while our diverse programming immerses guests in film, conversation, and the arts. And new for 2026: OFFA expands beyond Oakville and Mississauga into Burlington, extending our reach and cultural impact across the Halton–Peel region.

 For more than a decade, OFFA has brought the Oakville Film Festival to local, Canadian, and international filmmakers—building a truly community-oriented event with both national and global appeal. With over 100 film screenings across our independent cinema and performing arts venues, OFFA presents a full week of live gala premieres, Q&As, networking socials, and professional workshops. You’ll quickly see why OFFA has become an essential stop on the Canadian festival circuit.

At OFFA, great storytelling is at the heart of everything we do. Our films explore the human condition and the social issues that shape our world—from stories centered on women, families, and immigrants to those amplifying Indigenous and BIPOC voices. Each year, we proudly present a National Indigenous Peoples Day Gala, showcasing powerful Indigenous features and shorts that celebrate culture, resilience, and creativity.

 We’re proud of our long history of attracting filmmakers from around the globe who come to engage in our welcoming, inspiring festival and Industry Summit. Supporting local talent, and emerging filmmakers,  and giving creatives a platform to share their work remains central to our mission. Our juried awards program recognizes excellence across genres, including Honourable Mentions for acting.

Join us in Oakville — a small community with a big heart —  for ten unforgettable days of film, conversation, and connection.

Visit www.offa.ca for details.

Location: Oakville, Ontario, and Burlington Ontario Canada and some events online (hybrid festival mainly live but some virtual events)

2026 Submission Guidelines

OFFA  proudly accepts entries on FilmFreeway, the world’s #1 way to enter film festivals and creative contests. Note: OFFA is a Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival.

Please provide a screener link to a Vimeo, YouTube, or other online screening platform.

DCP
If your film is selected, you must provide EITHER a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) of your film for a LIVE festival screening, or a high-resolution digital file will work for virtual screenings. If you do not have a DCP and need one, Oakville Festivals of Film & Art has arranged a discounted rate with film.Ca for DCP creation. Information will be available on our Film Freeway page soon!

Short Films
Short Films (up to and including 22 minutes) that are chosen for the festival should be delivered via an acceptable format digital LINK.

Languages
If your film is in a foreign language, we require either English subtitles or an English dubbed soundtrack.

Criteria

Length

Features
Maximum 120 minutes (two hours)

Documentaries
90 minutes MAX, or 1 hour, or 45 minute long. Shorter documentaries are twin-billed.

Short Films
Up to and including 22 minutes. There are special rates for student filmmakers.

Short Web Series
Maximum 22 minutes

Ratings

We do not accept films with an “Adult” rating (pornography)

Dates & Deadlines

Earlybird Deadline March 9 2026.
Regular Deadline April 6, 2026.
Notification Date  May 4, 2026.
EVENT DATES: June 17-27th 2026.

Canadian_Screen_Awards_trophy.svg
OFFA is a Canadian Screen award qualifying festival.
Subscribe to Newsletter

Find out about our upcoming events

Be part of the OFFA Film Club!

X