- Event: New Babylon Montreal Independent Festival
- Date: May 1, 2026
- Venue: Studio Newma, Montreal
- Format: Live screening, filmmaker conversation, awards presentation
- Submission route: FilmFreeway external handoff in a new tab
Rules & Terms
Transparent submission criteria for filmmakers who need clarity, not guesswork.
The festival experience is deliberately simple: independent films, one live screening event, seven awards, and a trusted FilmFreeway handoff. This page replaces the usual PDF maze with a readable web-native format.
Official selections are determined by the festival programming team with an emphasis on originality, storytelling, cinematic execution, and the resonance of the work within the broader New Babylon concept.
The aim is not volume. It is coherence, distinct voices, and a memorable screening architecture for a single evening.
Full 9-Point Checklist
Everything a filmmaker should know before submitting.
Completion window
Films must have been completed in 2023 or later.
Accepted categories
The festival accepts short films, feature films, documentaries, animation, and experimental works.
Subtitles
Films in languages other than English must include English subtitles.
Independent status
Submitted works should represent independent filmmaking, including student projects and debut works.
Screening condition
Selected films will be screened digitally during the live event at Studio Newma in Montreal on May 1, 2026.
Rights ownership
Filmmakers must hold the necessary rights for all music, footage, and materials used in their film.
Multiple entries
Directors may submit multiple projects, provided each film is entered separately.
Programming criteria
Official selections are based on originality, storytelling, and cinematic execution.
Promotional materials
Selected films may have trailers, stills, and excerpts used for promotional purposes related to the festival.
Submission details, payment information, and file delivery are expected to be processed through FilmFreeway. This static site does not collect payment details directly.
Analytics can be attached to outbound submission buttons to measure the handoff from this site to the FilmFreeway listing.
Selected films are screened digitally at the live event. Filmmakers are responsible for ensuring the submitted screening file is suitable for public presentation.
The festival retains the right to use promotional assets supplied by the filmmaker for event marketing related to New Babylon.
- Replace the placeholder FilmFreeway URL with the official festival listing.
- Publish final submission deadlines and fees once confirmed.
- Add the legal entity name and contact details before launch.
Ready To Enter
Review complete. Move to the submission platform.
The festival site stays open as a reference layer while FilmFreeway handles the trusted submission workflow.