Young filmmakers across Grey and Bruce counties are being given a chance to see their work shine on the big screen as submissions open for the 2026 Grey Bruce Youth Film Festival.
Libraries throughout the region are inviting students to submit short films for consideration, with a deadline of May 8.
The festival showcases animated and live-action films created by students in grades seven through twelve who live in Grey or Bruce County. Eligible films must be no longer than ten minutes. A selection of submissions will be chosen for a special screening at the Galaxy Cinemas in Owen Sound this June, where filmmakers will have the opportunity to share their work with a live audience.
In addition to the public screening, students whose films are selected will be eligible for cash prizes, with winners determined by a panel of judges and announced following the event. Festival organizers say the experience offers young creators valuable exposure and a taste of the professional film world.
Selected films will also reach a wider audience beyond the theatre. Chosen entries are slated to air on Rogers TV Grey County Channel 53 in Owen Sound and surrounding communities. All films submitted to the festival will also be considered for screening at the Meaford International Film Festival as the opening short ahead of a feature presentation.
Application forms are available at participating public libraries throughout Grey and Bruce counties or can be downloaded online. Completed submissions must be received by Friday, May 8, 2026.
The Grey Bruce Youth Film Festival is coordinated by the Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library and is made possible through partnerships and sponsorships from organizations and libraries across the region, including Galaxy Cinemas, Rogers TV, the United Way of Bruce Grey, and the Meaford International Film Festival.
