Langley City Film Festival, Film Submissions

The Langley City Film Festival is a biennial celebration of film presented by Langley City Recreation, Culture and Community Services, the Langley City Arts, Recreation, Culture and Heritage Committee, and the Langley Arts Council. The festival aims to provide a space for emerging and established British Columbia filmmakers to submit and showcase their original films in the City of Langley.


Theme: Storytelling in Modern Filmmaking


Festival Date: April 3, 2027

Venue: Langley Community Music School Auditorium
4899 207 Street, Langley, British Columbia


Submission Deadline: January 15, 2027

Application Fee

  • Youth (18 and under): Free
  • Adult (19+): $25 per film entry, payable using the payment button below.

Application fees are non-refundable. 


Award Categories

  • Best Visual Storytelling – $800
  • Best Storytelling Through Sound – $800
  • Best Storytelling Through Character – $800
  • Best Overall – $1,000

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be a resident of British Columbia.
  • Submit a film produced in British Columbia between January 1, 2022, and January 14, 2027.
  • Submit a film that is between 30 seconds and 30 minutes in length.
  • Ensure their submission reflects this year's festival theme.

Eligible Film Types

We welcome submissions in all genres and formats, including:

  • Narrative
  • Documentary
  • Animation
  • Experimental
  • Student films
  • Hybrid and emerging formats

Submission Requirements

  • Films must be submitted by a key creative team member who resides in British Columbia.
  • Multiple submissions are welcome; however, a separate application and fee are required for each film.
  • Films must be submitted via a YouTube or Vimeo link. Selected films must also be provided in DCP format for festival screening.
  • Films containing dialogue in languages other than English must include hard-coded English subtitles.
  • Premiere status is not required.

Beyond the Screen

In addition to film screenings, the festival will feature workshops, industry events, and networking opportunities. Details will be announced closer to the festival date.

Selection Process

Only films submitted through this application page will be reviewed for consideration for this year's festival. The LCFF Committee will review each submitted film to ensure it meets the festival guidelines before forwarding eligible films to the jurors for adjudication.


Jury Evaluation Criteria 

Films will be evaluated using the following criteria:

1. Storytelling & Originality
The strength, originality, and emotional impact of the story. This includes the uniqueness of the concept, narrative development, pacing, structure, and the film's ability to engage the audience from beginning to end.

2. Characters & Dialogue
The quality and authenticity of the characters and performances. Dialogue should feel natural, reveal character, support the narrative, and contribute meaningfully to the story.

3. Creative Vision & Direction
The effectiveness of the director's artistic vision and execution. This includes creativity, cohesion, tone, and the successful communication of the story through filmmaking choices.

4. Visual & Technical Excellence
The overall quality of cinematography, camera work, lighting, composition, editing, production design, and technical execution.

5. Sound & Music
The effective use of sound design, music, dialogue recording, and audio mixing to enhance the storytelling and viewing experience.

6. Overall Impact
The film's overall quality, originality, and lasting impression. Jurors will consider how successfully all creative and technical elements work together to create a compelling cinematic experience.


Notifcation of Acceptance 

All applicants will be notified in writing by email at events@langleyarts.ca regarding the status of their submission. If a film is selected for the official LCFF program, the filmmaker will receive a participation agreement to confirm their acceptance.

The LCFF Committee reserves the right to make decisions on any matters not addressed in these guidelines.


Usage Rights 

By submitting a film, the participant declares and warrants that they hold all rights necessary for its use in connection with the Langley City Film Festival. The participant further confirms that any third parties involved in the production or distribution of the film have granted all permissions required for its presentation as part of the festival.

The participant also warrants that the exhibition of the film by the LCFF does not infringe upon the rights of any third party, including copyright holders or individuals depicted in the film.


To Submit

1. Fill out the application, below. Please note, this will take a few minutes to load.

2. Pay the application fee.