The Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF) is pleased to announce that submissions for the 2023 Festival are officially open. The Festival is scheduled to run from October 26 to November 5, 2023. WIFF is accepting submissions in three categories – WIFF Local (features and shorts), Canadian features and International features. Learn more about each category below and submit through FilmFreeway.

WIFF Local

Every year, WIFF is proud to present an extensive slate of local programming, including feature-length and short films. The 2022 WIFF Local slate included 5 feature films and 14 short films. All WIFF Local submissions are reviewed and selected by an independent jury of industry professionals.

“WIFF is created and sustained by members of our community, and it is very important for us to highlight some of the great talent right here in Windsor-Essex,” says Vincent Georgie, Executive Director and Chief Programmer of WIFF. “Every year, our audiences fill the theatres to support the local talent presented on screen. We can’t wait to see what our local filmmakers have been working on for 2023.”

Submit to WIFF Local on the FilmFreeway portal here.

Canadian Feature Films 

Every year, WIFF is proud to present an extensive slate of Canadian programming, including feature narratives and documentaries. Canadian film represented just under 25% of the programming in 2022.

All submitted Canadian films will be considered for the WIFF Prize in Canadian Film. WIFF is committed to celebrating excellence in Canadian film by honouring Canadian films and filmmakers with an annual cash prize of $25,000. An independent jury comprised of film industry experts selects the winner. In 2019, the prize was established and awarded to Kuessipan directed by ​​Myriam Verreault, and in 2022 was awarded to Riceboy Sleeps directed by Anthony Shim. Nominees are announced at the WIFF at TIFF party, an annual celebration held on the rooftop of the TIFF Bell Lightbox during the Toronto International Film Festival.

“Showcasing Canadian film is at the forefront of WIFF’s mission, and year over year we get to share some of the best Canadian film with our community in Windsor,” says Vincent Georgie, Executive Director and Chief Programmer of WIFF. “It was important for us to take this mission seriously, and to put some dollar value behind it with the WIFF Prize in Canadian Film. We can’t wait to see what’s new from Candian filmmakers in 2023.”Access the WIFF FilmFreeway portal here.

International Feature Films

WIFF is proud to present an extensive slate of international programming, including feature narratives and documentaries.

The 2022 Festival consisted of 177 films from over 32 countries, including 39 pre-release titles. Major international titles from the 2022 Festival included Triangle of Sadness directed by Ruben Östlund, All Quiet on the Western Front directed by Edward Berger, Close directed by Lukas Dhont and Women Talking directed by Sarah Polley, among many others.

“WIFF is proud to bring our audience a wide selection of films from all over the world,” says Vincent Georgie, Executive Director and Chief Programmer of WIFF. “WIFF is an opportunity for audiences to see what’s new from filmmakers they love, as well as discover emerging talent and smaller independent films that may otherwise not be shown locally.”

Access the WIFF FilmFreeway portal here.

The 2023 festival is proudly presented by the Toldo Foundation.