F-O-R-M Short Film Submissions 2023

Canadian and international artists are invited to apply with a short movement based film to the eighth annual F-O-R-M (Festival Of Recorded Movement) in November 2023.

F-O-R-M presents films that investigate the body in motion through curiosity, experimentation, and imagination. We are interested in films that creatively explore our personal lived experiences and how such themes can be told through narrative or experimental approaches. Cinematography, experimental editing styles, and post-production effects are also considerations that contribute and add layers to the subject matter. We invite proposals to consider the interplay between the camera and the movement, regardless of the form.

F-O-R-M strongly encourages and prioritizes applications from Youth artists, and those from intersectional and traditionally marginalized communities; Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, folks with disabilities, and diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions (LGBTQ2S+).

This year, we have four different categories to apply to that reflect a specific theme in your film. This new approach invites artists who have not historically connected with F-O-R-M, and supports our curiosities to broaden the scope and possibilities of recorded movement. 

• Is this Movement?
• Access First
• Street Dance
• Recorded Movement

You can view the full call on our website here.
You can apply via FilmFreeway here.

GUARANTEED ARTIST FEES: Selected artists will receive a minimum screening fee of $250 CAD

If you have accessibility needs please reach out to tamar@f-o-r-m.ca.

Youth Category: Lead creator must be between the ages of 15-25 (born 1997 or later)

Emerging Category: Lead creator must be 26 years or over (born 1996 or earlier), and self identifies as an emerging artist or be new to the practice of movement-on-screen. See this video from CADAC, What is an Emerging artist? to help decide if this is you! (Video sourced from Creative Spark.)

For the emerging category, we will prioritize films where:

• This is the applicant’s first or second time making a film that centers around movement 
• The film features youth mover(s), ages 15-25 
• There are 2 or more youth working on the production

This year, we have four different categories to apply to that reflect specific themes in your film:

• Is This Movement: This category invites films that challenge our understanding and expectations of what we know "movement" or "dance" to be.
• Access First: This category invites films that have been made with accessibility in mind from the start of the process and included as a core value in the film.
• Street Dance: This category invites films that center street dance styles and their unique interaction with film.
• Recorded Movement: This category invites any movement practices, genres, or styles that may not be reflected in one of the themes above.

This new approach is a way for the festival to reach artists that we have historically not connected with, as well as to broaden the scope of what recorded movement encompasses.

With these categories in mind, we understand that there are many works that intersect all, or a combination of, these themes. Films aren’t one dimensional and are not limited to the category you choose. Feel free to select the best category at your discretion, and to add your thoughts and comments in the final question of the submission form to expand on your choice.

More information about each category can be found on our website here.

For our 2023  festival, we are reimagining what dance-on-screen can be both for the artist and the audience. We're looking at screening short films in different contexts using a variety of platforms and devices.