Cinema and media on themes of education.
Beginning 2027, McGill University’s Mosaique Research Network for Studies in Literacy, Discourse and Society, with collaboration from the Centre Sanaaq–Ville de Montreal and the Participatory Cultures Lab, presents the Montreal Education Film Festival.
Founded and hosted by scholars in the Department of Integrated Studies in Education, McGill University, the festival centres cinema and media on themes ranging from multilingualism, organic literacies, STEAM, the integration of Arts and language(s) into STEM learning, ESL pedagogies and language policy.
MEFF explores local and global experiences of education as a lived, cultural and social practice on the move across classrooms, communities, migrations and histories.
The festival brings together storytellers, filmmakers, educators, researchers, artists, students, scholar practitioners and communities through screenings and public dialogue about the moving image and its place within education.
Education as a lived, cultural and social practice.
Multilingualism
Education and language experiences across local and global contexts.
Organic Literacies
Literacy, discourse and society within education.
STEAM
The sciences, technology and the Arts, including the integration of Arts and language(s) into STEM learning.
ESL Pedagogies
English as a second language teaching and learning experiences.
Language Policy
Language policy within local and global experiences of education.
Education on the Move
Classrooms, communities, migrations and histories.
Submit films across four categories.
Short Films
Films ranging from 5–30 minutes.
Feature Films
Films ranging from 40 minutes to a maximum of 120 minutes.
Animated Films
Animated films connected to the education-themed film categories.
Documentaries
Documentary films that explore education, teaching, learning, language or literacies.
Important dates.
Submissions will be accepted from August 2026 to May 2027.
Rules and terms.
Applicants must review the festival requirements before submitting their films.
- Language and subtitles: Montreal is a multilingual city with an official French language policy. All invited/submitted films must be subtitled in French and/or English as applicable prior to screening at the in-person festival in October.
- Films not in English: Films that are not in English must include both English and French subtitles if selected to be screened.
- Education-centred content: Accepted submissions must contain themes that directly speak to education in a specific local or global context.
- STEAM content: Themes must speak to the sciences, technology and the Arts, specifically the integration of Arts and language(s) into STEM learning.
- Accepted film forms: Individually written and directed/produced films, feature films, experimental films, co-created research documentaries, video-essays, grassroots storytelling, participatory artfilms, poetic films, fiction/live action, animation and archival cinema are accepted.
- Synopsis: A synopsis of the submitted film must accompany the submission.
- Rights holder: Applicants must be the rights holder of the script and all related materials.
- Submission limit: A maximum of two submissions per applicant is allowed.
- Categories: Applicants must submit films to at least one category.
- Film duration: Short films must be 5–30 minutes. Films ranging from 40 minutes to 120 minutes maximum are also accepted.
- Awards: To be considered for an award, applicants must submit competing submissions by the stated deadline. No extensions will be granted.
- Application fee: A non-refundable application fee of $5 CAD is required at the time of submission.
- Early bird fee waiver: Submissions submitted by the early bird deadline, October 2026, may ask for fees to be waived.
Who may apply?
K–12 Students
Applicants may be students from K–12 classroom projects created with the supervision of a student or parent. Affiliation with a school must be declared.
Applicants Under 18
Applicants who are not 18 years old must submit under the supervision and with the consent of an adult.
Post-Secondary Students
Applicants may be or may not be post-secondary students.
Teachers
Teachers may submit films related to the festival’s education-centred themes.
Scholar Practitioners
Applicants may be scholar practitioners affiliated with an educational institution.
Affiliations
Affiliation with an educational institution or community partners is highly encouraged.
Submit your film to MEFF.
Submit films to at least one category. A synopsis must accompany every submission, and a maximum of two submissions per applicant is allowed.
Applicant’s who are finalists of films in PCL’s CellPhilms submitted for online screening at the PCL’s International CellPhilm Festival in June are welcome to submit winning submissions to be adjudicated alongside short films in MEFF as long as they meet the education themed film category.
Submission support.
Persons with a disability who require accommodation and/or assistance as part of the submission process should please contact the MEFF team in advance to discuss available accommodations as applicable.
