official rules and regulations:

The Judging Panel will review all completed film concept plans, business plans, and other supporting documents submitted by the candidates.

  1. Decisions, judgments, and selections of the committee are at the discretion of the committee and are final. 

  2. By participating in the competition, each applicant agrees to these Official Rules and to all decisions of the Judging Panel which are final and binding. 

  3. DRIFF reserves the right to use all participant’s names, likenesses, pictures, portraits, voice, biographical information, written submissions, and written or oral statements, for advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation to participants unless required by law. 

  4. By submitting an application for, and entering the competition, each applicant advancing to the final phase of the competition authorizes DRIFF to conduct a credit check and background/reference check as deemed necessary.

  5. If selected as the winner, the candidate agrees to accept the $30,000 prize amount award from DRIFF and the payment will be specifically used towards the creation of the short film as specified. 

  6. Upon acceptance, the supplied budget will be fully reviewed and scrutinized by members of the DRIFF Board of Directors.

  7. Any/all additional services utilized will be at the candidate’s own expense and not reimbursed by the organizers of this competition.

The Grand Prize

The selected applicant will receive $30,000 in cash and in-kind support to be applied to the production of a short film that will be screened at the DRIFF Shifting the Narrative Drive-in event on August 18, 2022.

In-kind services available to the winner include:

  1. Equipment loan as needed (provided by Durham College).

  2. Mentoring support, as needed.

  3. One-on-one session with ACTRA representatives.

  4. Closed Captioning and Described Video Services (100% in-kind provided by Difuze).

  5. Exhibition Copy Encode (Digital only. 100% in-kind provided by Difuze).

Application Process

  1. Fill out and submit your entry to Shifting the Narrative: Emerging Filmmaker Incubator by visiting the DRIFF website online at www.driff.ca/incubator-form.

  2. The submission deadline is Sunday March 13, 2022 at 11:59 p.m.

Submission Requirements

  • Synopsis of the project (max 250 words) which includes the main story developments, and tells the basic story from beginning to end.

  • Director’s vision (up to one page in length).*

  • One to two-page resume for each member of your creative team (producer, writer, and director) whether it’s one person or several,  which will indicate training, education, experience, accolades, outline past projects and history of team collaboration.*

  • A production schedule (from pre-production to final edit) that builds to completed film by August 1.*

  • Film budget (including location, equipment, crew, actors, post production).*

  • Up to one page detailing any other information that sets this project apart (e.g. personal connection to the story material, successful crowdfunding campaign, confirmed cameo by a well-known actor, established fan base on social media).

  • A screenplay (or detailed outline) for this project.*

  • A document that includes a link to your best short film (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) Please include the password.

  • A letter of reference, supplied as .doc or .pdf.*  

* All attached documents need to be stored in a dedicated Google Drive folder accessible to contests@driff.ca and named with a prefix of the applicant’s name (e.g. FIRSTNAME_LASTNAME_REFERENCE.PDF, FIRSTNAME_LASTNAME_RESUME.PDF, FIRSTNAME_LASTNAME_BUDGET.PDF, FIRSTNAME_LASTNAME_SCHEDULE.PDF, etc.).

Selection Process

  1. The DRIFF Committee will choose up to six applicants to advance to the next phase for additional consideration.

  2. Those candidates will be interviewed by the DRIFF Committee to ensure quality and professionalism.

  3. The Judging Panel will choose three finalists to appear before the Judging Panel by March 18 to present their respective film concepts and plans, and to demonstrate a previous work. During this appearance, the finalists must be prepared to answer questions from the judges.

  4. Following the final presentation, the Judging Panel will select one filmmaker as the Grand Prize Winner (GPW).  The winning entry will be awarded the grand prize of $30,000 paid by e-transfer according to a defined schedule of dates and deliverables.

  5. By accepting the grand prize, the winner releases and discharges DRIFF and our partners, participating sponsors, information providers, content providers, advertisers, advertising agencies, promotional and marketing agencies, and any other legal entity involved with or otherwise providing services related to this competition and all their respective employees, officers, directors, representatives, and agents from any liability or damage due in whole or in part to the award, acceptance, possession, use or misuse of the grand prize or from participation in this competition. 

  6. Information regarding the GPW will be posted on www.driff.ca and DRIFF’s social media platforms and will be released to the public through media alerts and other written and oral venues.

  7. The winner will be supported by up to two consultations with industry mentors to be provided by DRIFF according to area(s) of need stated by the GPW.

  8. The winning film will be screened at the DRIFF Drive-in event on August 18, 2022.

Winner’s Obligation

  1. Finished product: 8-12 minute screen-ready film.

  2. Deadline for completion – August 1, 2022.

  3. The GPW must adhere to the staged delivery schedule as laid out in the contract for completion of the film.

  4. The GPW cannot utilize the $30,000 awarded by DRIFF towards any other expense than the creation of this film. Funds must be budgeted to purchase $2-5M insurance on borrowed equipment and film site requirements.