The Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF) is a competitive international women directors’ film festival established in 2001, as a not-for-profit organization.

The Female Eye has been voted one of the “Top 50 film festivals in the world worth the entry fee” by MovieMaker magazine for 11 consecutive years (2013–2023).

FeFF showcases high-calibre independent films that illuminate the best of debut, emerging, and established women directors from around the globe. Our competitive Script Development Program is a three-tier program comprising the Good to Go, a closed-door session with decision-makers for screenwriters with scripts that are “good to go”; the Script-Reading Series, where main scenes are read by ACTRA members before a live audience and industry guests who provide feedback to the writers, and the LIVE PITCH a juried pitch competition. The winner takes home $2,500 cash prize.

FeFF is big on audience engagement and networking. Audience Q&As follow each screening. Festival delegates receive a VIP All Access Pass to the festival (screenings, script development, industry panels, tributes, workshops, and the closing awards ceremony). The Female Eye, noted for its intimate atmosphere and accessibility, attracts film enthusiasts, emerging and internationally recognized directors, screenwriters, seasoned industry professionals, celebrities, and decision-makers in the film and television industry.

The Female Eye serves to bridge the gap between the written and film arts. We produce a robust Industry Initiatives Program consisting of panels, masterclasses, workshops, script development, and pitch and networking sessions. Annually, FeFF honours an Honorary Director and Honorary Maverick with a Best in the Biz Tribute, an “intimate conversation with” and award presentation.

FeFF is an accredited festival by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and a Telefilm Talent to Watch partner.

Awards & Prizes

Awards are presented for best films and best screenplays at the closing awards ceremony. Film award categories: Best of Show (feature film category), Best Foreign Feature, Best Canadian Feature, Best Debut Feature (s) , Best Feature Documentary, Best Short Documentary, Best Short Film, Best Animation, and Best Experimental. Screenplay award categories: Best Screenplay, Best Foreign, Best Canadian, Best Comedy, Best Drama, and the Audience Choice Award. FeFF reserves the right to the adapt award categories to meet programming. FeFF Awards are hand-welded one-of-a-kind engraved statuettes. Development and equipment grants augment the film awards annually.

The seventh annual Live Pitch is a juried industry event and is sponsored by Cinespace Film Studios. One lucky winner takes home $2,500 for Best Live Pitch!

Rules & Terms

Films must be directed by women and be produced within two years of the festival . They cannot be streaming, televised, or playing theatrically in Canada. We give priority to films that have not yet screened in Toronto.

The fee for the competition is applicable to all deadlines and genres. Filmmakers and screenwriters must elect to compete for an award. The flat fee to enter the competition is $100 regardless of the deadline, genre, or project duration. FeFF programmers can also choose to nominate a project into the competition if they feel a project is award-worthy.

FeFF has the right to disqualify any film not submitted through FilmFreeway without refund of any application fees.

The applicant holds the sole responsibility of copyright clearance of any copyrighted material in the film.

Films not in English must be subtitled in English.
40 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • MICHELLE KRUSIEC

    I wasn't able to attend this festival, but the communication prior to the event and during the festival was well organized and responsive. I was disappointed we couldn't attend, but we were so thrilled to be in the company of such great filmmakers. We received an Honorable Mention which made our absence even harder, but we truly thank this hard working and dedicated team.

    August 2023
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  • naz çaybaşı

    Thank you so much for the Best Foreign Short Film Award! It's an honor for me. I couldn't attend the festival but all communication was perfect!

    August 2023
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  • Faith Howe

    Female Eye International Film Festival

    Tkaronto/Toronto Premiere 🎥✨

    We had the great honour of opening the @femaleeye Film Festival last week, where we began with a traditional address from Shelley Clarke and the Eagle Women Singerz. 🧡

    Five of the Survivors featured in the film were in attendance for comments following the feature presentation.

    It was moving to view with our largest audience to date, as we moved through the Survivors truth together- this film of child abuse in all its forms, resistance, resilience, and healing. 🧡 🥰😘

    When we were led through the making of The Nature of Healing, we rapidly became aware we were graced to be in the room with greatness. The impact was powerful, leaving those who worked on the film forever changed. We were fueled with a driving force that audiences would have the same experience.

    At the Female Eye Film Festival this happened.

    To the Female Eye, Leslie Coles and the Board, we are grateful for your Official Selection and positioning of this film. And then weren't we all filled with surprise and delight to win a Special Jury Award, the Most Impactful Film!! 😎🥰😘

    From all of us in front of and behind the scenes Niawen'ko:wa 🧡 🧡 🧡

    August 2023
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  • Virginia Abramovich

    The film selection, the energy, the community and all the events of this festival are outstanding. I highly recommend it and feel honoured and privileged to participate in it. Huge thanks to the FeFF team for organizing such a warm and female empowering event.

    August 2023
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  • Jennifer Linton

    An excellent festival well worth the cost of submission. Highly recommended.

    August 2023
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