April 17th - 20th, 2026
The Friends of the Galt Museum and Archives present:
4th Annual Lethbridge Independent Film Festival

Galt Museum & Archives | Fort Whoop-Up | Akaisamitohkanao’pa (Eternal Gathering Place) is announcing an open call for films for the 4th annual Lethbridge International Film Festival 2026.

Any aspect of audiovisual expression – visual, sound, narrative, genre, performance, theme... all approaches are encouraged for submission. This includes music videos. Films that exemplify and/or are made by under-represented voices will be prioritized (i.e. BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, feminist, etc.). Films selected will be screened at the Lethbridge International Film Festival on April 17th - 20th, 2026. In alignment with the Galt’s Mandate, the Lethbridge International Film Festival aims to deepen the sense of belonging for our community by reflecting the world around us with a community centred approach. 
Successful candidates will receive a screening fee, and all selected films will be entered into the LIFF Legacy Audience Choice Awards, with cash prizes awarded to the winning films. Due to the high volume of submissions, unsuccessful candidates will not be notified.
Last year, we proudly selected 54 groundbreaking films, including 37 premieres from every corner of the globe— Germany, UK, France, Spain, Nigeria, Turkey, Sweden, Brazil, Argentina, Palestine, USA, Northern Ireland, Japan, Iceland and of course a diverse selection of groundbreaking works from Canadian filmmakers! We also proudly supported the local film industry by showcasing 13 productions from right here at home!

4 screening areas over 3 days lit up exclusive premieres with cast and crew in attendance as well as special events featuring director and actor Q&As, live scores performed over classic silent films, immersive virtual reality experiences and an electric opening Gala to celebrate our shared love of great cinema. 

LIFF bridges local talent with global creativity, offering a rich tapestry of genres and styles with something for every audience member, regardless of age or taste. 

Entry Guidelines:

  • Successful candidates will receive a screening fee, and all selected films will be entered into the LIFF Legacy Audience Choice Awards, with cash prizes awarded to the winning films

  • Please ensure your FilmFreeway application is as complete as possible, including 2–3 high-resolution stills from - or representative of - the film. If applicable, also include a film poster, trailer, filmmaker headshots, and a short bio.

  • Films may be feature length or short. Short films should ideally be 20 minutes or under but some considerations will be made for longer shorts. 

  • Films that exemplify and/or are made by under-represented voices will be prioritized.

  • If the media link is password protected, please provide all needed info. 

  • If selected you must have an MP4 file of the film of 1080 resolution or higher with a frame rate 24fps or 25fps to be ready to transfer over when requested.

  • Limit 1 entry per person. 

  • Priority will be given to films that have not yet screened in Lethbridge and are not currently available online. Exceptions may be made for films where online release is part of the production model (e.g. Telus Storyhive projects).

  • Feature films must be, at minimum, a Lethbridge premiere. Rare exceptions may be made at the Director’s discretion (e.g. retrospectives). 

  • Music Video’s can be available online.

  • While newer films may be prioritized, there is no age limit for submissions - films from any production year are eligible.

  • There are no refunds on submissions.

  • Films not in the English language must have subtitles.

  • All applicable licenses and waivers of copyrights, moral rights, trademarks, and other such intellectual property rights have been secured by the filmmaker(s). This includes music. 

  • If selected, your film may be screened more than once during the Lethbridge International Film Festival 2026, as some programs include looping or repeat screenings.

  • Due to the high volume of submissions, unsuccessful candidates will not be notified. 

  • If the submission fee is a barrier, please don’t hesitate to email us at lethfilmfest@gmail.com - we’ll do our best to accommodate.

  • At the time of submission, entrants must disclose the extent to which AI has been used during the course of pre-production and production of their entry.

Early Bird Deadline (submission discounts apply): Nov 12th, 2025

Regular Deadline: Jan 15th, 2026

Successful applicants notified (please note unsuccessful applicants will not be notified): Feb 10th, 2026

Screening: April 17-20, 2026

Artist Fee: Successful candidates will receive a screening fee

Awards: All selected films will be entered into the LIFF Legacy Audience Choice Awards, with cash prizes awarded to the winning films.

Submission Fee: $10 - $25 (see the application form for details on which fee applies to you). If the submission fee is a barrier, please don’t hesitate to email us at lethfilmfest@gmail.com - we’ll do our best to accommodate.

Our team would like to acknowledge that we are on Treaty 7 territory - the traditional and ancestral territory of Niitsitapii, the Blackfoot Confederacy, including Kainai, Piikani and Siksika First Nations. As well as most recently the Tsuu T'ina Nation, Stoney Nakoda First Nation and the Metis Nation of Alberta, Region 3. 

*Please note we have now changed our name from Lethbridge Independent Film Festival to Lethbridge International Film Festival, as the name became available and better reflects our scale and scope.

Thank you for considering LIFF!