FAQ & Rules
What is AM-FM?
The African Movie Festival in Manitoba (AM-FM) is an annual celebration of African cinema, storytelling, and cultural expression. Founded to showcase the richness and diversity of African film, AM-FM brings together filmmakers, artists, and audiences from across Africa, Canada, and beyond. Through screenings, discussions, masterclasses, and community events, the festival creates a vibrant space for cultural exchange, creative learning, and dialogue. AM-FM is committed to amplifying African voices and building bridges between communities through the power of film.
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What is the Manitoba Gaze?
Manitoba Gaze is a special showcase within the African Movie Festival in Manitoba (AM-FM) dedicated to celebrating the creativity and talent of emerging filmmakers from Manitoba. Open to filmmakers of all backgrounds, Manitoba Gaze spotlights short films that reflect the province’s diverse voices and stories. Films selected for this program are eligible for the “Best of Manitoba” award, presented during AM-FM’s Awards Ceremony. Manitoba Gaze is more than a screening—it’s a platform for new talent to shine, connect with industry professionals, and engage with local and international audiences.
When is the festival held?
The African Movie Festival in Manitoba (AM-FM) is an annual event. It takes place every September and features a week-long celebration of African cinema through film screenings, panel discussions, workshops, and cultural events. Each year, the festival brings together filmmakers, artists, and audiences from around the world to engage with stories from the African continent and its diaspora.
When can I submit my film to the festival?
Film submissions for the African Movie Festival in Manitoba (AM-FM) typically open in February and close in late May or early June each year. Exact dates are announced on our website and social media platforms. We encourage filmmakers to check the Submit Your Film page regularly for deadlines, eligibility criteria, and submission guidelines.
Will I get paid for screening my films?
Once your film has been accepted for screening, you will be paid a pre-determined screening fee based on the length of your film.
What process takes place after I submit my film?
Once your film is submitted, it goes through a multi-step review process:
a) Eligibility & Technical Check – We ensure your film meets the submission requirements and technical standards.
b) Jury Screening – Our selection jury, made up of film professionals and community members, watches and scores each film based on originality, storytelling, technical quality, and relevance to our festival themes.
c) Programming Decisions – Films with the highest scores and strongest fit with our program are selected for screening.
d) Notification – All filmmakers are notified of the selection results by email. Selected films will receive details about screening schedules, promotional materials, and next steps.
Throughout this process, we maintain a strong commitment to fairness, transparency, and artistic merit.
Can Africans in Canada submit films to the festival?
Absolutely! The African Movie Festival in Manitoba (AM-FM) welcomes submissions from Africans living in Canada. In fact, one of our core goals is to amplify the voices of African filmmakers both on the continent and in the diaspora. If you’re of African descent and based in Canada, we encourage you to share your stories with us. Your work helps reflect the diverse experiences, cultures, and perspectives of African communities in Canada and beyond.
Are there opportunities for other arts during the festival?
Yes! While AM-FM focuses on film, the festival is a celebration of African creativity in all its forms. We regularly include live performances, visual arts exhibitions, music, dance, and artisan showcases as part of our programming. Whether it’s a spoken word piece, a fashion presentation, or a musical performance, we welcome collaborations with artists from a variety of disciplines. If you’re an artist interested in being part of the festival, we’d love to hear from you.
Why should you submit your film to AM-FM or Manitoba Gaze?
Submitting your film to the African Movie Festival in Manitoba (AM-FM) or Manitoba Gaze offers a unique opportunity to showcase your work to an engaged and diverse audience that celebrates African and Black diaspora storytelling.
Here’s why you should consider submitting:
a) Global & Local Visibility: AM-FM attracts filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences from Canada, Africa, Europe, and beyond. Manitoba Gaze, our local spotlight, elevates emerging Manitoba-based talent and screens their work alongside international films.
b) Award Recognition: Selected films are eligible for our annual Zulu Awards, with categories for international features, shorts, documentaries, and the best of Manitoba. These awards increase your film’s credibility and exposure.
c) Networking & Growth: Meet and connect with fellow filmmakers, producers, and festival programmers. AM-FM offers panels, post-screening discussions, and social events to help grow your professional circle.
d) Support for Emerging Filmmakers: Whether you’re an experienced director or just beginning your journey, we welcome bold, fresh voices. We particularly encourage submissions from underrepresented communities.
e) A Platform for Meaningful Stories: AM-FM values films that spark conversation, celebrate culture, and challenge conventional narratives.
If your film does any of these, it belongs here.
Festival Rules and Regulations
All those applying to AM-FM (African Movie Festival in Manitoba) must agree to the following rules and regulations:
- Individuals and groups (“Applicant”) submitting films to AM-FM for consideration and possible showing must possess all necessary rights and permissions for all video and audio tracks submitted to AM-FM. AM-FM is not responsible for clearing, publishing, performance or other rights for the films it screens or promotes on its site or at the festival.
- All successful applicants grant AM-FM the non-exclusive rights to showcase the film for the purposes of the festival and/or its promotion (until December 31, 2026).
- AM-FM retains the right to alter, shorten or cancel the festival, and will not be held liable for compensation in any of these situations. AM-FM agrees that in the event of festival cancellation, all rights related to the selected submission will revert to the Applicant and where relevant, the Applicant’s associates.
- All applicants, by submitting to AM-FM, hereby allow AM-FM to preview the film. By agreeing to these rules and regulations all applicants pledge that they hold the rights to this film and have the right to distribute this material to AM-FM. All applicants understand that once submitted, their entry cannot be withdrawn. They understand that although AM-FM will take every precaution, AM-FM cannot be held responsible for loss or damage of submission materials. If accepted, AM-FM reserves the right to keep all films filed for AM-FM educational and archival purposes. If accepted, lead artists expressly grant AM-FM the royalty-free, irrevocable, non-exclusive right and license to exhibit their film or video and to use, reproduce, publish, translate, and exhibit any and all publicity materials related to the film, including but not limited to stills, press releases, bios, and trailers, in whole or in part, without limitation to territory, and/or to include said publicity materials with other works in any form, media, or technology. AM-FM agrees not to claim these rights in relation to submissions that are not selected for the festival.
- All applicants agree to hold AM-FM, its management, employees and volunteers, as well as any of its funders, sponsors and affiliated entities, harmless from any damages or losses relating to any materials applicants may submit.
- Successful Applicants may not have another public screening of their film in Winnipeg between May 2025 and the AM-FM (October 2025) without express permission from AM-FM.
- Export your final video reference details below:
- LABEL: Your films as “FilmTitle_TeamName”
- USE: Frame size: Either (HD) 1920×1080 OR (2K) 2560×1440
- USE: Aspect ratio: 16:9 (Except if its a creative decision)
- USE: Frame Speed: 24fps (ONLY)
- USE: Audio in stereo
- USE: .mp4 (h.264) as your final export video file
- Vimeo’s compression guidelines are also a helpful guide
- AM-FM will pay screening fees in Canadian dollars for officially selected films screened at the festival depending on the length of the submitted film as follows. Fees will be paid within 30 days after successful screening at the festival.
- $150 Shorts (5 to 30 mins from opening logo to end credits)