Festival Data:

• Established: 1991
• Genre: Gay - Lesbian (click to see)
• Attendance: 35000
• Media Attendance: 50
• Accredited Industry Attendance: 150
• Total Number of Films Submitted: 600
• Total Number of Films Screened: 200
• Total Screenings: 90
• # of Shorts Screened: 140
• # of Features Screened: 60

• Competitive
• Students Section
• Has Panels

Festival Website:

Festival Description:

Inside Out Toronto Gay and Lesbian Film Festival is committed to the promotion and exhibition of Canadian and international LGBT artists and their works while encouraging the production of new work.  Over 11 days, the Festival draws crowds of more than 30,000 to screenings, artist talks, panel discussions, installations and parties that highlight more than 200 films and videos from 30 countries, with sold-out screenings daily. In 2009 Inside Out had more than 150 guest filmmakers and artists attend the Festival from all over Canada, Israel, USA, France, Germany, Spain and more. Programming highlights included many Canadian, North American and World premieres, including The Fish Child (Argentina), An Englishman in New York (UK), Miao Miao (Taiwan), Private Lessons (Belgium) and Chef's Special (Spain).

Industry came out to the Festival in greater numbers with Showcase, CBC Television, BRAVO, the Independent Film Channel, Out TV, Mongrel Media, CFMDC, VTape, MTV Logo and other distributors all sending buyers and distribution representatives to look at the festival's selections and secure work for theatrical distribution and broadcast. As well, representatives from more than 40 Canadian and international festivals attended Inside Out to seek out new works for their programming.

The Queer Youth Digital Video Project
In 1998, with the support of Charles Street Video, Inside Out initiated the Queer Youth Digital Video Project to provide opportunities for youth to learn video production in a supportive atmosphere. Queer youth under the age of 25 are mentored through the process of making their first videos from storyboarding to shooting, to post production and editing. The works are screened at the Festival and many go on to play at festivals around the globe. Each year, the videos are compiled on tape and distributed free to schools and community organizations. To date, 57 youth have created work through the Project.

The John Bailey Film and Video Completion Fund
In 2001, Inside Out launched the inaugural John Bailey Film and Video Completion Fund. Named in recognition of the contribution of the long-time Inside Out supporter and Advisory Board member, the Fund awards grants ranging from $500 to $2,000 to Canadian filmmakers with work in the final stages of production.

Mark S. Bonham Scholarship for Queer Studies in Film and Video
Inaugurated in 2002, this annual $5,000 cash scholarship assists a Canadian student who identifies as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Trans to pursue post-secondary studies in the field of film or video.

Film Submissions:

• Accepts direct submissions
• Submission formats: Beta-SP, Digi-Beta, 16mm, 35mm
• Call for Entry: http:/ / www.insideout.on.ca/ festival09/ submit.html