The Mosquers Film Festival is a short film competition that aims to educate, entertain, and build bridges by showcasing talent and the diverse Muslim experience. The Festival was formed in 2006 to create a long-term proactive plan to counter media stereotypes of Muslims and the Islamic faith. Since then, The Mosquers has become a recognizable organization in Canada and continues to attract increasing interest internationally.

The Festival culminates in a red-carpet event featuring the screening of finalist films, live entertainment, and an awards presentation. The evening concludes with a mixer - an opportunity for filmmakers, guests, and attendees to connect in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

Below, you’ll find answers to the most common questions about submitting your film to the Mosquers. Whether you’re wondering about eligibility or technical requirements, this section is here to guide you through the submission process.

GENERAL

  • The Mosquers accepts films from any genre: live action, animation, comedy, documentary, etc. Furthermore, the competition is open to applicants from all over the world.

  • Nope! We’re open as long as one of the two are fulfilled:

    Showcase talents of Muslim filmmakers

    Submissions may be about any topic as long as a member of the film making team identifies themselves as a Muslim

    Showcase the Muslim experience

    We welcome people of all faiths to submit to the Film Festival and share stories that explore experiences with Muslims or Islam.

  • You can submit your film on FilmFreeway or directly on our website at www.themosquers.com/submit

    Please read the 2026 Submissions Guidelines carefully for information on submission requirements, formats, rules, waiver code, etc.

  • Absolutely! We pride ourselves on being an accessible platform for all filmmakers, that’s why submissions are completely free on our website.

    If you would like to submit for free on Film Freeway, please read the Submissions Guidelines for the fee waiver code

  • Films completed prior to August 15th, 2024 are not eligible for submission.

  • Films that have been released theatrically or publicly uploaded in Canada prior to the Film Festival are not eligible for submission.

    If you have questions about Premiere Status and whether your film meets this requirement, please contact our Submissions Director.

Technical

  • Acceptable formats are: 4K/1080p/1080i/720p, 23.97/24/30 FPS, High Quality Audio

    Please contact our Submissions Director for information with capturing quality audio as this is a crucial component in your film.

    *Permission is needed in advance if your format differs from the above formats.

Official Selection and Screening

  • All filmmakers will be notified by email about selections status, regardless of whether the film is an Official Selection or not.

    If you are an Alberta filmmaker, your film will be separated into the Canadian Film category and you will automatically be chosen as an Official Canadian Selection. Canadian filmmakers will not be notified about whether your film will be screened or not. We strongly encourage all Canadian filmmakers to attend the Mosquers Film Festival in person to find out which entries will be screened!

  • We define Canadian Filmmakers as those who currently (at the time of the selection process) reside in Canada.

  • Our Submissions Director and committee screens and reviews each film prior to shortlisting the finalists. The Submissions Director is then responsible for organizing a panel of independent, non-affiliated judges who must meet strict criteria regarding technical experience, community involvement, and a number of other factors. This panel of judges then reviews and selects the winners from the shortlisted finalists.

READ OUR SUBMISSIONS GUIDELINES

If you are unsure of whether you will qualify or have any further questions, please reach out to us at submissions@themosquers.com