Breakthroughs Film Festival

Breakthroughs Film Festival Breakthroughs Film Festival is the only festival in Canada devoted exclusively to short films by emerging women and gender-diverse filmmakers.

Breakthroughs Film Festival is the only festival in Canada devoted exclusively to short films by emerging women & non-binary directors. We show films from any and every genre made by talented filmmakers from all over the world.

“Breakthroughs” refers to the struggle emerging artists continue to face in an industry where they must work even harder to make their voices heard.

Celebrate with us on April 15 at the Small World Centre with a FREE screening of Paying for It, the bold feature from ...
03/25/2026

Celebrate with us on April 15 at the Small World Centre with a FREE screening of Paying for It, the bold feature from Sook-Yin Lee, preceded by BFF25 filmmaker Juliet Belisario short film Cocoon 🦋

Woven from Chester Brown’s graphic novel and moments from Lee’s own life, Paying for It is a semi-autobiographical dramedy on s*x work ꩜ Paying for It was named one of Canada’s Top Ten Feature Films of 2024 at TIFF

Following the screening, directors Sook-Yin Lee and Juliet Belisario will be joining us for a Q&A.

Reserve your tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/paying-for-it-cocoon-free-canadian-film-day-screening-tickets-1984765215187?aff=oddtdtcreator

This March, help us celebrate our 15th anniversary by donating $15 to our Donation Drive! ⭐️Donations support breakthrou...
03/18/2026

This March, help us celebrate our 15th anniversary by donating $15 to our Donation Drive! ⭐️

Donations support breakthroughs and the future of filmmaking by expanding access, funding filmmaker prizes, and growing mentorship and community spaces—empowering the next generation of storytellers. ꩜

Visit www.breakthroughsfilmfestival.com/donate

Be part of the story for emerging women and gender-diverse filmmakers today. Plus, all donations made during March will be entered for a chance to win a 2026 Festival Pass.

Thank you, as always, for your support! 🫶

Happy International Women’s Day 💗 Celebrate today with us by donating $15 for our 15th anniversary and help support emer...
03/08/2026

Happy International Women’s Day 💗 Celebrate today with us by donating $15 for our 15th anniversary and help support emerging women and gender-diverse filmmakers.

‼️ All donations made during our March Donation drive will be entered to win a 2026 Festival Pass ‼️

Your support helps expand access, fund filmmaker prizes, and grow workshops, mentorship, and community spaces for the next generation of storytellers. Donate today and be part of the future of filmmaking 🌠

Donate here: https://www.breakthroughsfilmfestival.com/donate

The wait is over! Submissions for the 15th Annual Breakthroughs Film Festival are officially OPEN! 📭Breakthroughs Film F...
02/12/2026

The wait is over! Submissions for the 15th Annual Breakthroughs Film Festival are officially OPEN! 📭

Breakthroughs Film Festival is dedicated exclusively to showcasing short films of any genre by emerging women and gender-diverse filmmakers. 🌱

Please note that all entries must be submitted exclusively through FilmFreeway.

Submission Deadlines:
Early Bird: March 26, 2026
Regular: April 30, 2026
Late: August 13, 2026

We can’t wait to celebrate our 15th year with you at ! ⭐️

Submit: https://filmfreeway.com/BreakthroughsFilmFestival

A huge thank you to the generous sponsors who made possible! ⭐️ Thank you to Creative Arts Financial, Liaison of Indep...
12/04/2025

A huge thank you to the generous sponsors who made possible! ⭐️ Thank you to Creative Arts Financial, Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT), Mint Dentistry, Ontario Camera Rentals, Rolling Pictures, Trinity Square Video, and Women in Film & Television - Toronto!

Because of you, we’re able to spotlight new and bold voices from women and gender-diverse filmmakers while continuing to close the gender gap in the film industry. Thank you for your support!

Got something to say about films that break the binary? Then don’t forget to enter the Peliplat Beyond the Binary writin...
12/02/2025

Got something to say about films that break the binary? Then don’t forget to enter the Peliplat Beyond the Binary writing challenge!

With $1,100 in prizes available, tell us about the films or shows that rethink gender norms, uplift gender-diverse creators, or reshape identity, and share why these stories resonated with you. ⭐️

More info: https://www.peliplat.com/en/writing-challenge/2025111405001/beyond-the-binary

We’re so excited to be partnering with Peliplat to bring you the Beyond the Binary Writing Challenge! ⭐️Win up to $800 ...
11/25/2025

We’re so excited to be partnering with Peliplat to bring you the Beyond the Binary Writing Challenge! ⭐️

Win up to $800 by sharing your take on films or series that challenge traditional gender expressions, celebrate gender-diverse creators, or reimagine identity, or feature gender-diverse characters or filmmakers.

Tell us why these stories matter to you and how they’ve shaped the way you see the world. ❤️‍🩹

Deadline is December 15th! More info: https://www.peliplat.com/en/writing-challenge/2025111405001/beyond-the-binary

The wait is almost over! BFF25 STARTS TOMORROW!💥Join us at 7pm at Paradise Theatre tomorrow and Saturday. Tickets are ...
11/20/2025

The wait is almost over! BFF25 STARTS TOMORROW!💥

Join us at 7pm at Paradise Theatre tomorrow and Saturday. Tickets are going fast so grab them while you can.

Get your tickets on our website: https://www.breakthroughsfilmfestival.com/

Eyeing some merch? Now’s your chance to win some! Enter our raffle for a chance to win your choice of BFF 2025 merch! ...
11/17/2025

Eyeing some merch? Now’s your chance to win some! Enter our raffle for a chance to win your choice of BFF 2025 merch! ⭐️ Swipe to see the merch you can win ➡️

Plus, get a FREE sticker for every TWO raffle entries you purchase! 🎪

Your raffle proceeds will directly support the Breakthroughs Film Festival and our mission to promote the work of emerging women and gender-diverse filmmakers.

Winner will be announced before the Saturday screening Q&A.

Note that the raffle will also be available in-person at the screenings but if you’d like to enter early, enter online at breakthroughsfilmfestival.com/raffle 💥

We can’t wait to see you rock your BFF25 merch!

Illustrations by La Pupila

We’re thrilled to be presenting Rosa’s Flowers with the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival! In 1998 Indonesi...
11/17/2025

We’re thrilled to be presenting Rosa’s Flowers with the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival!

In 1998 Indonesia, two girls promise to stay friends forever. Decades later, Emily and Rosa’s unbreakable bond traverses the border beyond memory, dreams, and time.

🎞️ Rosa’s Flowers
🎬 Dir. Amanda Ann-Min Wong
📍 Paradise Theatre
🎟️ The Truth Bleeds | Friday, November 21st at 7:00pm
⭐️ Co-presenter: Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival

tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/bff-2025-the-truth-bleeds-qa-tickets-1766496280929?aff=instagram&fbclid=PAdGRleANl1sNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp0nm-MaR8okhkqkbNdvr-JsW-rSpNJueKVpH4skCQhoen2cM9TDkBK5N9fvo_aem_wRoqY4R7a2j4EqZUMcwecg

We can’t wait to present Summer Triangle with Workman Arts Rendezvous with Madness Festival! A young girl goes to the r...
11/16/2025

We can’t wait to present Summer Triangle with Workman Arts Rendezvous with Madness Festival!

A young girl goes to the rooftop to find her cat and discovers a boy who is attempting su***de. She forces the boy to search for her cat with her in the last moments of his life.

🎞️ Summer Triangle
🎬 Dir. Maryam Esmaeili & Ali Babaei
📍 Paradise Theatre
🎟️ The Truth Bleeds | Friday, November 21st at 7:00pm
⭐️Co-presenter: Workman Arts Rendezvous with Madness Festival

tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/bff-2025-the-truth-bleeds-qa-tickets-1766496280929?aff=instagram&fbclid=PAdGRleANl1sNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp0nm-MaR8okhkqkbNdvr-JsW-rSpNJueKVpH4skCQhoen2cM9TDkBK5N9fvo_aem_wRoqY4R7a2j4EqZUMcwecg

The 2025 Breakthroughs Film Festival starts next Friday! ⭐️ Featuring 2 shorts programs with 20 short films and an indus...
11/14/2025

The 2025 Breakthroughs Film Festival starts next Friday! ⭐️ Featuring 2 shorts programs with 20 short films and an industry workshop, we can't wait to welcome you back to our 14th annual festival.

As always, tickets are available on our website: https://www.breakthroughsfilmfestival.com/

Read more to learn about our festival schedule:

The Truth Bleeds + Q&A
🗓️Friday, November 21 | 7:00 - 9:30 pm | Doors open at 6:15 pm
📍Paradise Theatre
🎞️ Featuring: The First Indigenous Female Pornographer, Alice Is Fine, I’ll Try to Explain It, Summer Triangle, Under The Kasaya, S.A.D., Magdalena, Te Amo, Filante, The Birthday, & Rosa's Flowers

Grant Management & Budget Clinic
🗓️Saturday, November 22 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm
📍32 Lisgar St
📢 Moderated by Lauren Saarimaki with Alice Wang & Leila Ois
⭐️ Co-presented with POV Film

Too Much, Not Enough + Q&A
🗓️Saturday, November 22 | 7:00 - 9:30 pm | Doors open at 6:15 pm
📍Paradise Theatre
🎞️ Featuring: Your Own Flavor, Mawtini (My Homeland), Cocoon, Worlds’ End, Please Love Me, And Granny Would Dance, Who are you? Who am I?, On a Sunday at Eleven, Signs, & Hair!

Reception Party
🗓️ Saturday, November 22 | 9:30pm
📍Bar Neon, 1226 Bloor St W
⭐️ All Saturday ticket holders are invited to our reception party at Bar Neon after the screening! Join us and meet fellow filmmakers!

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Toronto, ON

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