Submissions are open for our Fall 2027, festival!
Submit today: https://filmfreeway.com/ContactDanceInternationalFilmFestival
CONTACT DANCE FILM FESTIVAL - Submission Requirements
We are looking for dance films that showcase Contact Improvisation.
Films should focus on Contact Improvisation practices and techniques such as:
* rolling through points of contact
* balancing over the centre of gravity
* friction and sliding
* following momentum
* lifting through momentum rather than muscle power
* “listening” through the surface of the skin
* communication and responsiveness between dancers
We are also interested in relationally based Contact Improvisation dance films—films in which dancers are in a state of communication with one another and/or with their environment, including nature or urban environments.
Movement may be improvised or pre-set (pre-choreographed). We want to include artists who are part of the Contact Improvisation community and who use their knowledge of the form to create choreographed material for the camera. We also understand that pre-setting movement can be helpful when making a dance film, as it allows the film crew to plan camera angles, lighting, and other elements of the shoot.
Contact Improvisation films may be in a variety of genres, including:
* narrative
* theme-oriented
* abstract
* documentary
Films must be 60 minutes or less, although we may consider an exceptional full-length film. Please note that longer films are more difficult for us to program because of our limited screening time. The average film we screen is 3–14 minutes in length.
There are no restrictions on production date. However, to be eligible for festival prizes, films must have been released within the five years preceding the festival.
The FILMMAKER must hold all rights necessary to submit the film and grant the permissions outlined below in the Submission Rules.
We welcome films from filmmakers of all experience levels. If the curation team feels that a film adds value to the festival, it may be selected regardless of whether the filmmaker is a first-time filmmaker and/or is new to Contact Improvisation.
CONTACT DANCE FILM FESTIVAL - Film Submission Fees
Early Bird: $3
Regular: $4
Late Bird: $5
Submission fees may be waived upon request for filmmakers experiencing financial hardship. Please contact us if you would like to request a fee waiver.
CONTACT DANCE FILM FESTIVAL Map of Terms in the Submission Agreement
For the purposes of these Submission Rules:
FILMMAKER — The person or organization submitting the film and/or holding the rights to the film.
PRODUCER — Contact Dance Film Festival, produced by REAson d’etre dance, a charitable dance company.
THE FILM — The film being submitted.
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CONTACT DANCE FILM FESTIVAL - Submission Terms/Agreements
By submitting THE FILM, the FILMMAKER agrees that, if selected, THE FILM will be screened as part of the Contact Dance Film Festival edition for which it was submitted, subject to the screening terms described below:
A. Filmmaker Benefits
The FILMMAKER will receive:
1) free admission to the screening in which THE FILM is presented, both in person and online;
2) a limited number of complimentary in-person tickets for guests; and
3) a 50% discount on dance jams and workshops associated with their screening.
B. Rights to the Film
The FILMMAKER retains all rights to THE FILM.
C. Film Images and Promotional Materials
The FILMMAKER will provide promotional images of THE FILM uploaded through FilmFreeway as part of their submission.
These images may be used by the PRODUCER to promote THE FILM and the festival.
If no images are provided through FilmFreeway, the PRODUCER may create a still image from THE FILM for use in the festival’s online catalogue and promotional materials.
At any time, the FILMMAKER may contact the festival and request that a festival-created still be replaced with an image of their choosing.
D. Eligibility for Festival Prizes
The FILMMAKER understands that, in order to be eligible for festival prizes, THE FILM must have been released within five years preceding the festival screening date.
E. Awards
FILMMAKERS will be notified if THE FILM is receiving an award before the festival begins.
F. In-Person Screening
Selected films will be presented at one time in-person screening in Toronto as part of the Contact Dance Film Festival edition for which they were submitted.
G. Online Screening Format (*important read as FILMMAKERS need to make sure they are comfortable with our Online format before submitting*)
Alongside one in-person screening in Toronto screening programs will also be made available to the public through the Eventive online film festival platform during the festival edition for which they were submitted.
The online screening format works as follows:
1. Audience members purchase an online ticket in advance form everywhere in the world.
2. The online screening program becomes available at the same date and time as the corresponding in-person screening.
3. Once the program becomes available, the ticket holder has 48 hours to open their program.
4. Once the ticket holder opens the program, they have 48 to complete their viewing.
5. Programs have forensic watermarks and are a one-time view.
Eventive commitment "Your content will be protected with multi-platform DRM and invisible per-user forensic watermarking, encoded for optimal playback across a variety of streaming environments, geo-blocked and audience restricted as required, and delivered securely to authorized viewers."
6. Online tickets cannot be purchased after the program’s opening date has passed.
One of the founding principles of REAson d’etre dance is to increase access to dance arts for people who are neurodivergent, disabled, or experiencing other circumstances that can make attending dance events challenging.
For this reason, we do not offer concurrent online screenings in which the online programs open and close at the same time as the in-person programs. A concurrent online screening can create accessibility barriers because it gives viewers a very limited window in which they must be available to watch the program.
This can be particularly challenging for people with disabilities or neurodivergence, as well as people living in different time zones, working shifts, caretaking, or experiencing other circumstances that affect when they are able to participate.
Instead, our online programs open at the same time as the in-person programs, but viewers have 48 hours to open the program and 48 hours to watch it once they have opened it.
This approach allows us to balance two important considerations: protecting filmmakers from prolonged online exposure of their films while ensuring that people with different access needs and circumstances have a reasonable opportunity to experience the programs online.
We hope this flexible format helps make the festival more accessible while also respecting the work, wishes, and rights of the filmmakers.
H. No Additional Screenings
THE FILM may NOT be programmed by the PRODUCER for any additional in-person or online screenings beyond the festival screening and online screening formats described above.
I. Festival Trailer and Promotional Excerpt
The FILMMAKER grants the PRODUCER permission to use no more than five (5) seconds of THE FILM in a festival promotional trailer.
The excerpt may appear on social media and/or other video or online platforms used by the festival, including YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, the REAson d’etre dance website, and the Contact Dance Film Festival website.
Other than this maximum five-second excerpt, THE FILM will not be uploaded by the PRODUCER to social media or other public video platforms other then the Eventive online festival platform according to the online screening format described above.
J. Information Required from Filmmakers
FILMMAKERS will be asked to provide the following information:
* Film title
* Film length
* Country of origin
* Country of filming
* Filmmaker(s)
* Release date
* Choreographer
* Dancers/performers
* Camera/cinematography
* Location(s) of filming
* Short film description — 50 words or less
* Other credits, as applicable
K. Curation Results
FILMMAKERS will be notified of the curation results approximately one month after the submission deadline.
L. Captions and Accessibility
To increase access for Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences, all selected films containing spoken dialogue, narration, or other essential audio information must have captions.
We prefer that FILMMAKERS provide their own captions. FILMMAKERS may either:
* submit an open-captioned version of the film, with captions permanently visible on the video; or
* provide a .SRT caption file containing the captions and their corresponding time codes.
If open caption version or SRT caption file is not submitted the FILMMAKERS agree to let the PRODUCER create a SRT file for the movie. The FILMMAKER will be sent a copy of the captions for approval before the film is screened.
M. Festival Laurels
Selected FILMMAKERS will receive digital festival laurels that they may use to promote their participation in the Contact Dance Film Festival.
N.
Sharing of profits. There are no profits to share as the ticket sales do not cover festival costs and the festival is there for subsidized by arts-based operation funding.
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CONTACT DANCE FILM FESTIVAL - Final statement of agreement
By submitting THE FILM, the FILMMAKER agrees to the terms and conditions outlined above.
When selecting a FILM, the PRODUCER agrees to the terms and conditions outlined above.
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