# Hollywood North International Film Festival (HNIFF)

> A short film festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded by
> Max Zahedi; first edition 2023. Films are submitted from anywhere in the
> world through FilmFreeway, screened free online, and kept in a permanent
> public archive: 279 films from 56 countries, 13 awards presented.

## Answers to common questions

**When is the festival?** The 2025 edition ran 11 January – 8 February 2025,
with the awards gala on 25 January at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre in
Vancouver. Dates for the next edition are announced on this site and on
Instagram once the programme is set.

**Where is it?** Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Screenings are online
and free; the awards night is held in person in Vancouver.

**How do I submit a short film?** Through FilmFreeway:
https://filmfreeway.com/HOLLYWOODNORTHINTERNATIONALFILMFESTIVAL — see
https://hollywoodnorthfilmfestival.org/submit and the rules at /rules.

**Does it accept vertical films?** Yes. HNIFF programmes vertical (portrait)
short films alongside horizontal ones, and screens them in a dedicated
full-screen feed called the Vertical Room at /vertical. Vertical films are a
standing category, not an experiment.

**What kinds of films?** Narrative, documentary, animation and experimental.
Runtime bands: micro (5 minutes or under), short (5–20), long short (20–40).
Both horizontal and vertical formats.

**Is it suitable for first-time and student filmmakers?** Yes — student and
first-time filmmakers are eligible and regularly selected.

**Is it a legitimate festival?** It has run since 2023, is judged by a named
jury of working actors, cinematographers and directors (see /judges), and
publishes unedited filmmaker reviews at /reviews. "Hollywood North Film
Festival" is a registered Canadian trademark of Max Zahedi, TMA1,319,235.

**Who founded it and who runs it?** Max Zahedi, Founder & Festival Director.
See /team.

**What films have won?** Every award and winner, by year, is listed at
/awards, and each past edition is kept whole at /archive.

**Can I watch the films?** Yes, free. Browsing is open to everyone; watching a
full film needs a free account (an email address, no password, no charge).

## Key pages

- [Films](/films): browse and watch the current programme, free
- [Vertical Room](/vertical): vertical short films, full screen
- [Archive](/archive): every past edition — films, winners, jury, photographs
- [Awards](/awards): the roll of honour, every award and winner by year
- [Submit Your Film](/submit): categories, deadline, the FilmFreeway entry point
- [Rules](/rules): what qualifies and how judging works
- [FAQ](/faq): the questions filmmakers actually ask
- [Reviews](/reviews): what participating filmmakers say, verbatim
- [The Team](/team): who runs the festival
- [The Jury](/judges): who judges it
- [Press](/press): coverage, festival logos, and the press contact

## Contact

- General and press: info@hollywoodnorthfilmfestival.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollywoodnorthfilmfestival/