AFCOOP Updates - May 29th, 2025

Visiting filmmaker at HIFF today, panel Saturday morning!

May 29, 2025

What a great opening night of HIFF yesterday! HIFF passes are now sold out, but individual tickets are still available.

Screen Nova Scotia Awards Gala this Saturday: Congrats again to all the nominees and the chair of the AFCOOP board, Sobaz Benjamin for receiving the Community Recognition Award!

Also, AIFF Filmmaker Lab deadline is TODAY!

HALIFAX INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS FESTIVAL ON NOW!
 

SATURDAY FILMMAKER PANEL:
“WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?”
ON PUSHING ESOTERIC WORK THROUGH THE SYSTEM

FEATURING CARSON LUND, LOUISE WEARD, AND HEATHER YOUNG
MODERATED BY TARA THORNE
FREE ADMISSION
@ THE BUS STOP THEATRE
SATURDAY, MAY 31 at 11 a.m.

Join for a FREE morning roundtable with HIFF visiting filmmakers Carson Lund (Eephus- stration Movie) and Heather Young (There, There), moderated by Tara Thorne (Lakeview). This group of celebrated artists will break down the process, challenges and victories of getting original, esoteric work made within (or in spite of) their respective film industries.

Complimentary coffee and pastries courtesy of Uncommon Grounds.

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES & SUBMISSIONS

AIFF FILMMAKER LAB APPLICATION DUE TODAY!

The AIFF Filmmaker Lab, supported by the RBC Foundation, welcomes 10 emerging filmmakers from Atlantic Canada into the world of film festivals through workshops, a one-on-one consultation with a festival strategist, a coordinated industry experience at AIFF, and a private screening of their work.

Learn more about this great program and how to apply by clicking the button below:

CreativePEI Seeks Applications For Executive Director Position Starting Fall 2025

The Executive Director is the driving force behind CreativePEI’s strategic vision, connecting the dots between artists, non-profits, culture sector workers, funders, and policymakers.

Application Deadline: June 13, 2025

Digital Arts Resource Centre (DARC) Indigenous Residency

DARC is proud to once again partner with the Hnatyshyn Foundation to present the DARC Indigenous Residency. New this year, the DARC Indigenous Residency will be open to Indigenous artists from across Canada!

This one-month intensive on-site artist residency is offered to mid-career Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) artists who are seeking to develop their current practice, experiment with a new medium, or continue an existing project.

Artists in residence are provided with access to DARC’s facilities, including the DARC Microcinema, Soundstage, Digital Edit Suite, and Recording Studio. Artists also have access to an array of audio-visual equipment and up to 16 hours of advisor time for the duration of their residency. Additionally, artists in residence are provided with an artist fee for their work as well as for an artist talk or presentation following the residency period and free access to cultural events and workshops with DARC and partnering organizations. Out-of-town artists will receive subsidies for both housing and travel expenditures.

Learn more about the residency by going to DARC’s website.

Deadline to apply is June 30th, 2025.

Info Session on Tuesday, June 10th at 12PM EST/1PM AST

Sign up now to attend the info session at: https://amsnetwork.ca/partners/darc/programs/4-9860

Fee Waiver from the Dufferin Film Festial


The second annual Dufferin Film Festival will take place August 15-17, 2025, in Orangeville, Ontario, featuring screenings, networking events, workshops, and a VIP Awards Night.

They understand that filmmaking is already a major financial investment, and submission fees can be a real barrier—especially for emerging or independent creators.

To help reduce that pressure, they are offering free submission waivers to Atlantic Canadians.

Waiver Code: DFFWAVE2025
Final Deadline: May 30, 2025
Submission Eligibility: Canadian Short Films (Maximum Length of 20 minutes)

Submit via: FilmFreeway

The Parrsboro Film Festival [PFF] is inviting Atlantic Canadian filmmakers to submit films for the 15th Annual Parrsboro Film Festival short film competition.


PFF will take place this year from Friday, October 3rd to Sunday, October 5th, 2025.

There are two categories of films to choose from:

  • Short films under 6 minutes

  • Short films from 6 to 20 minutes

Films must have been completed within the past 24 months.

All genres of film will be accepted.

 

The short film competition will take place Saturday morning, October 4th, between 9am and 1pm.

The audience will vote for their favourite film at the end of each category.

Cash awards for The Audience Favourite in each of these two categories will be presented Saturday at the end of this portion of the Film Festival.

Submission deadline is Monday, August, 4th, 2025.

Applicants will be advised by Monday, September, 8th, 2025 if their submissions were selected or not.

Short films will be jury selected.

Mosaic International Film Festival: Call for Submissions


The Mosaic International Film Festival is your platform to showcase culturally diverse storytelling through film. Whether you're a local or international filmmaker, this is your chance to share your unique voice, experiences, and cultural identity with audiences in Atlantic Canada and beyond.

Submissions close May 31, 2025—don’t miss your opportunity to be part of this vibrant celebration of independent cinema!

Why Submit?

A forum for bold, unique storytelling

A global stage connecting filmmakers and audiences

Founded in 2019 as a local showcase, Mosaic has grown into an international festival, uniting cultures through film while fostering education and creativity in the industry.

Submit today and be part of the mosaic!

Nova Scotia residents: Email [email protected] for submission vouchers!

SENDING FILM FOR PROCESSING?

AFCOOP mails a package to our partner lab on the first Tuesday of every month!

You can drop the film off anytime to our technical coordinator, Cody at anytime! The next mail day is June 3rd!

For more information on getting your film processed, email Cody: [email protected]

AFCOOP’s Filmmakers Job Board is a place to connect with filmmakers and film crews looking for work, or volunteers looking to gain experience in Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada.

Submitting to the AFCOOP Job Board is totally free! All posts are subject to approval by AFCOOP staff and will be reviewed before they appear on the site.

Note: You don't have to create an account to post a job. If you wish, simply enter your email to sign up at the time of job submission.

See it all HERE!

ABOUT AFCOOP: Established in 1974 the Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative (AFCOOP) is a non-profit, community organization dedicated to supporting the production and presentation of independent film and moving-image-based work in a collaborative, learning environment.

AFCOOP acknowledges that we are located and operate in Kjipuktuk, in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi’kmaq, Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet), and Passamaquoddy Peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1726. The treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognized Mi’kmaw and Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet) title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations. We are all treaty people.