WIFF is a nationally recognized, industry-leading cultural destination, with an admissions of 50,000+ in 2025. The upcoming festival is scheduled for October 29 to November 8, 2026, and intends to present more than 300 screenings across 4 screening venues throughout downtown Windsor.
WIFF 2025 included over 230 feature films from over 50 countries. WIFF is also proud to present the $25,000 WIFF Prize in Canadian Film and the $3,000 WIFF Best Local Short Prize.
Key Dates to Remember
Canadian Features
Open to fiction, documentary, animation, or experimental films of 70 minutes or more. Films completed no more than 18 months prior to WIFF 2026 will be considered for admission. Films must be original works and must not have been previously submitted to WIFF. The production must qualify as Canadian (defined as any production which would qualify as a certified production under current regulations applied by CRTC. International co-productions are eligible only if the director is Canadian).
International Features
Open to fiction, documentary, animation, or experimental films of 70 minutes or more. Films completed no more than 18 months prior to WIFF 2026 will be considered for admission. Films must be original works and must not have been previously submitted to WIFF.
Local Shorts
Open to films with a runtime of 20 minutes or less, with at least one of the producers, writers, directors, and/or lead actors being a current resident of Windsor-Essex. The film must be a premiere screening for Windsor-Essex that has not been:
(a) screened commercially, publicly at festivals or in theatres, or broadcast in Southwestern Ontario before December 3rd, 2026,
(b) made available to stream publicly anywhere on the internet before November 8, 2026.
Local Features
Open to films with a runtime of 70 minutes or more, with at least one of the producers, writers, directors, and/or lead actors being a current resident of Windsor-Essex. The film must be a premiere screening for Windsor-Essex that has not been:
(a) screened commercially, publicly at festivals or in theatres, or broadcast in Southwestern Ontario before December 3rd, 2026,
(b) made available to stream publicly anywhere on the internet before November 8, 2026.
WIFF is committed to celebrating excellence in Canadian film by honouring Canadian films and filmmakers with an annual cash prize of $25,000. The list of nominees is announced by WIFF in early September, and an independent jury comprised of film industry experts selects and announces the winner during the first weekend of the Fall Festival.
All submitted eligible films will be considered for the prize. Learn more about the prize, past nominees, and winners.
In 2025, WIFF was pleased to introduce the Best Local Short Prize, a $3,000 cash prize to support emerging
filmmakers and the local filmmaking community.
Five nominees and the winner were chosen by the WIFF Local independent jury made up of industry professionals. All submitted Local Shorts are eligible for the prize.
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