Langley City Film Festival

The LCFF Film Festival is being held on Saturday, October 18, 2025.

The festival aims to; provide a space for emerging to established B.C. filmmakers to submit and showcase their original films in the City of Langley.

In addition to the sections mentioned in the following paragraphs, the festival will also organize special events such as film workshops and industry days. More information about these special events will be provided closer to the festival dates.

1. All films submitted, must be submitted by one of its key contributing members who reside in BC to be eligible for consideration.
2. Youth (18 years and under): All youth submissions must be submitted by youth 18 years of age or younger. To submit to this category, the total running time of the film needs to be between 30 seconds - 5 minutes (including credits) and must speak to the theme of Natural Environment or Emotion of Sound. All films must have been created between May 1, 2023, to May 1, 2025, to enter this category. Filmmakers are welcome to enter more than one film for consideration. They must fill out an application for each film entered.
3. Adult (19 years and over): All adult submissions must be submitted by adults 19 years of age or older. To submit to this category, the total running time of the film needs to be between 2 - 20 minutes (including credits) and must speak to the theme of Natural Environment or Emotion of Sound. All films must have been created between May 1, 2023, to May 1, 2025, to enter this category. Filmmakers are welcome to enter more than one film for consideration. They must fill out an application for each film entered

Three jurors were selected by the ARCH committee, the City of Langley, and the Langley Arts Council. There will be no joint winners.

1. Selection Process: Only films that have been registered can be considered for selection. Film registrations are accepted exclusively online through this registration page.
   1. Selection Process; Part 1: The LCFF Committee will review each of the submitted films to ensure they fit the film festival guidelines before these films are presented to the jurors for adjudication.
   2. Selection Process; Part 2: The jurors will have an allocated amount of time to review the submissions. The selection of winners will be made under the following criteria:
      1. Originality; the uniqueness and originality of the premise or story.
      2. Creativity; the effective use of imagination as evidenced in the entry.
      3. Plot; the actions, events, conflicts, and turning points that propel the story forward.
      4. Pacing; the timing of the action, unfolding of plot elements, and character development.
      5. Structure; the framework of the film or script. Effective use of three-act, odyssey, linear, or non-linear story progression.
      6. Characters; personalities that are distinctive, compelling, multi-layered, and unpredictable. A protagonist and antagonist with clear and active goals.
      7. Cinematography; the quality of cinematography or videography demonstrated in the work.
      8. Direction; the quality of direction exhibited in the work.
      9. Entertainment Value; does the story keep the viewer's or reader's attention? Is it fun, engaging, or thought-provoking?
      10. Dialogue; voices that are natural, succinct, and unique to each character. Use of language that effectively reveals character and moves the story forward.
      11. Overall Quality of Production; is the entry well constructed and well executed as a whole?
2. Submission Deadlines: Regular Submission Deadline: May 1, 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted.
3. Registration Fees
   1. Youth Category (18 years and under) = Free
   2. Adult Category (19 years and over) = $25.00
4. Materials to submit: Films are to be submitted in their original version for the selection process. Films in English do not require translation. Films in other languages must be subtitled with English Subtitles. All Projects must be uploaded via YouTube or Vimeo link within the online application. The LCFF Film Festival reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the applicant, any Project that is not submitted via one of these formats.
5. Dialogues/Subtitles: If your project includes non-English dialogues, please ensure all subtitles are hardcoded to your video file (we do not accept a translated list of dialogue on paper). 
6. Completion: Projects need to be created between May 1, 2023, to May 1, 2025, to be eligible for consideration for the 2025 edition of the Festival.
7. Premiere Status: Films submitted to the LCFF do not need to retain any sort of premiere status.
8. Declaration of Rights Upon Submitting a Film: LCFF will only accept the submission of a film if the submitter is the holder of all usage rights to the film necessary for the submission and use of the film within the context of participation in LCFF. By submitting a film through the online application the submitter is agreeing they have the appropriate rights to submit the film.
9. Notification: All the submitted films will be notified in writing if their film has been successful or not. If your film is invited to the official selection of LCFF, you will be contacted by the Festival to finalize the logistical and practical details of your screening during the Festival.

The invitation to participate is issued by the LCFF Committee and jurors. Only officially selected films/projects can participate in the Langley City Film Festival. Upon completion of the Festival selection process, an LCFF committee member will attempt to contact the Applicant using the contact information provided on the submission form to notify the Applicant of the Project’s acceptance status. The LCFF disavows any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible for any failure to contact the Applicant using the contact information provided on the submission form. It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to ensure that the contact information provided on the submission form is correct.

No film may be withdrawn from the festival program after its participation has been publicized. Participation in the festival requires unconditional adherence to all regulations set out in these guidelines. The LCFF committee reserves the right to rule on any cases not provided for in these guidelines.

1. Acceptance Form
   Selected films will receive an Acceptance Form to be duly completed and returned no later than 20 days after being notified by an LCFF committee member. Receipt of the form by the Festival implies the legal acceptance of the invitation by all concerned and will be considered definitive and irrevocable.
2. Announcement
   The invitation of a Project to participate must remain confidential until the announcement of the program by the LCFF. Failure to comply will result in its exclusion from the selection. The general scheduling and screening times are the sole responsibility of LCFF.
3. Screening Formats
   Selected films MUST provide an adequate DCP file to be screened (with English subtitles). The Festival reserves the right to refuse any copy that, on the advice of the Festival technicians, is considered to be of inadequate quality for public screening.
4. Catalog
   All the material required for the Festival catalogue (synopses, cast and credits, and a brief director’s comment on the film) must be submitted in the final draft through the application.  This information will be used to advertise the Festival. The LCFF reserves to right to include and or edit these submissions for grammar, spelling, etc. if necessary.
5. Press Material
   The presenters of films participating in the Festival must send the promotional material for distribution to the press (photo still from the film, video material, audio clips, etc.).
6. Official Logo
   All forms of promotional activity after the presentation of the program by the LCFF must mention their participation in the Langley City Film Festival, including the official logo of the LCFF Festival, as supplied by the LCFF Committee. Films awarded a prize must also state which award was won, following the official graphic designs predetermined and supplied by the LCFF Film Festival.

A representative from the LCFF will be in touch with selected filmmakers to organize attendance and post-screening Q&As.

1. Covid-19 Protocols
   The LCFF committee will continue to monitor the ongoing pandemic and will update filmmakers if guidelines and Provincial Mandates change. Information regarding the LCFF will be communicated to the filmmakers via email.

All materials for promotion and advertising must be received through the online application as a digital file.

Insurance is not provided by the City of Langley, or the Langley Arts Council leading up to, during, or after the festival.

The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless the City of Langley and Langley Arts Council from and against any claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred because of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

The participant declares and guarantees that he/she is the holder of all usage rights necessary for the use of the film in the context of this agreement. The participant affirms that any third parties involved in the production and distribution of the film have agreed, where necessary, to its use in the context of the LCFF as specified in this agreement. The participant guarantees that by using the film in the context of this agreement, no rights of third parties, including persons depicted in the film, are infringed.

BY SUBMITTING, YOU CERTIFY:

1. You have read and agree to the rules and regulations above.
2. This film is not subject to litigation nor is threatened by any litigation.
3. You are duly authorized to submit this film to the LCFF and its Competition and understand that the Festival holds the right to screen my film for Festival screening and promotional purposes and to extract clips from this film for promotional purposes. You understand this may include online streaming of clips on Festival or Festival sponsor sites.
4. You understand that the LCFF Film Festival ("Festival"), the Langley Arts Council, and the City of Langley (“Foundations”) are not responsible for any type of damage to or loss of the print during screenings, at any other time during the Festival, while the film is in the Festival’s possession or while en route to or from the Festival, and you release LCFF Film Festival ("Festival"), the Langley Arts Council, and the City of Langley (“Foundations”) from any and all liabilities regarding damage to or loss of the print while en route to/from the Festival or while it is in their possession.