Tier 2
Montreal, Canada
Last verified 12 June 2026
Spanning two weeks in Montreal, Fantasia is a testament to bold genre cinema watched with one of the most sophisticated audiences on the planet. Founded in 1996, it is generous with travel and hosts the co-production market Frontieres.
BIFA Best Film · Best British Independent Film
In-person official selection at this BIFA Section A festival is sufficient (one Section A festival confers eligibility; the alternative is two Section B British festivals). No win required. Online-only screenings do not qualify. British independent film (BFI cultural test). 2026 window: 1 Nov 2025 to 30 Nov 2026.
BIFA Short · Best British Short Film
In-person official selection is sufficient; no win or competition placement required. BIFA Short Section A: one Section A festival confers eligibility. British production, under 40 minutes.
CSA Animated · Canadian Screen Award — Best Animated Short
Acceptance into at least two CSA-eligible Canadian festivals qualifies a feature documentary or theatrical short for the Canadian Screen Awards.
CSA Doc Short · Canadian Screen Award — Best Documentary Short Film
Acceptance into at least two CSA-eligible Canadian festivals qualifies a feature documentary or theatrical short for the Canadian Screen Awards.
CSA Feature Doc · Canadian Screen Award — Best Feature Length Documentary
Acceptance into at least two CSA-eligible Canadian festivals qualifies a feature documentary or theatrical short for the Canadian Screen Awards.
CSA Short · Canadian Screen Award — Best Live Action Short Drama
Acceptance into at least two CSA-eligible Canadian festivals qualifies a feature documentary or theatrical short for the Canadian Screen Awards.
The main submission deadline for Fantasia International Film Festival is around 15 April 2026. Confirmed for the current edition.
Submitting to Fantasia International Film Festival costs from USD 55 as a rough guide. Entry fees usually rise closer to the deadline and vary by category.
No premiere requirement. Fantasia International Film Festival accepts films that have screened elsewhere.
Fantasia International Film Festival takes place in Montreal, Canada.
Fantasia International Film Festival is a legitimate, established film festival: it is listed in Circkit's curated, human-vetted festival database, which deliberately excludes known scam festivals and certificate mills; it ranks among the upper tiers of the festival circuit. As with any festival, confirm the current deadline and fee on the official site before you pay. You can also run Fantasia International Film Festival through Circkit's free Scam Radar for an independent safety check.
Want an independent check? Run Fantasia International Film Festival through the free Scam Radar.
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