Crazy8s 2026
Fun. Fast. Crazy8s!
Running since 1999, Crazy8s is an annual 8-day short filmmaking challenge that provides support and funding to 6 emerging and mid-career filmmakers to produce a short film, and provides training opportunities to crew and cast. After a Gala Screening and Afterparty, the films go on to be seen by audiences worldwide at film festivals and on other distribution channels.
Films
Gala Screening + Afterparty
Crazy8s 2025 Gala Screening + Afterparty
Crazy8s is Presented by DGC-BC
Crazy8s Film Society is proud to present this celebration of 6 new short films—made by 6 inspiring filmmaking teams in just 8 exhilarating days—at our annual Crazy8s 2025 Gala Screening at The Centre in Vancouver. This also marks Crazy8s’ 26th year since the very first screening in 1999.
Following the Gala Screening, head over to Science World for your time to shine at our “vaudeville at the movies“ inspired Afterparty—Vancouver’s largest single-evening film and television industry party!
Walk the “blue carpet,” partake in specialty and premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at the bars from vendor sponsor Lavish Liquid, and hit the dance floor or our chillout floor, both featuring live DJs. Strike a pose at our photo booth, poster gallery and selfie station. The on-site Triple O’s will be open and offering their full menu all evening.
Come celebrate this year’s filmmakers, and our 26th year, with us!
Important Notes
Tickets
- Early Bird: $50 (plus service charges)
Now until March 12 @ 12pm - Regular Advance: $55 (plus service charges)
March 12 @ 12pm until March 29 @ 12pm / sold out - At the door: $60
From 6:00 pm at The Centre box office, if still available. Ticket payment at the door by credit card.
Note: TICKETS ARE ONLY SOLD AT THE CENTRE. No tickets are sold at Science World.
Your ticket provides entry to both the Gala Screening at The Centre and the Afterparty at Science World.
Gala Screening
- Doors at 6 pm – Arrive early – Seating is not assigned
- Show starts promptly at 7 pm
- Concession at The Centre accepts debit or credit card payment only
- Minors will receive a yellow wristband at The Centre for identification and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
Afterparty
- All Access and Special Guest ticket holders with blue wristband please use “Special Guest” Lineup at Science World
- Bars at Science World accept debit or credit card payment only. Bars are open on both levels.
Selected Projects
Top 6 Finalists
In alphabetical order by project title:
In alphabetical order by project title:
| PROJECT TITLE | GENRE | LOGLINE | DIRECTOR(S) | WRITER(S) | PRODUCER(S) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Decision | Drama | A sharp-witted 30-year-old man with cerebral palsy living in assisted care has his independence tested when his overprotective mother secretly enrolls him in a risky medical trial - forcing him, his girlfriend, and his neighbor to confront what freedom really means. | Cory Thibert | Steven Cayer | Jelian Quincina, Alexa Gogoescu |
| Full Asian | Comedy/Drama | Feeling out of place as a half-Japanese male, Benny undergoes a new surgical procedure called “Beyond Asian”. This advanced technology allows individuals to erase their non-Asian heritage and implant artificial memories, transforming them, into fully Asian. | Ely Davidson | Ely Davidson | Ione Fernando, Madeline Zimmerman |
| Gone Viral | Thriller | Amelia is a true crime podcaster who is struggling to build a sustainable following and is convinced the algorithm is working against her as a creator of color. After investigating the production of a mysterious juice that makes influencers go viral, Amelia makes a horrifying discovery. | Kat Reynolds | Felicia Simone, Kat Reynolds | Mariam Barry, Ian Nsenga, Jessica To, Adrian Neblett, Mimi Dejene |
| The Last Caller | Mockumentary | An intense and committed bingo caller questions his identity and the very future of his field when inflamed vocal nodes impede his performance during the biggest day in his hall’s history. | Mariel Calvo | Miguel da Ponte | Miguel da Ponte, David Lundmark, Co-Producer; Kai Pitkanen, Associate Producer |
| Mould | Drama/Body Horror | When overwhelmed twenty-something Stevie’s body begins turning into clay, she must fight to mould herself back into her original form. | Morgan Abele, Kiki Evans | Morgan Abele | Noah Rosellini |
| The Thing Inside Her | Surreal Comedy Horror | As the hormones from her recently removed IUD wear off, a woman realizes the horrifying truth about her boyfriend—he’s a giant slug. | Jacki Gunn, Della Haddock | Jacki Gunn | Lizzi Pedersen, Patrick Tozer |
Top 12 Semi-Finalists
In alphabetical order by project title:
In alphabetical order by project title:
| PROJECT TITLE | GENRE(S) | LOGLINE | DIRECTOR(S) | WRITER(S) | PRODUCER(S) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fireworks | Drama/Coming-Of-Age | Desperate to outrun her paralyzing and aggressive Tourette Syndrome, Shirl’s daily tasks, aspirations, and connection to the world are interrupted. | Zakiah Shana Dumansky | Zakiah Shana Dumansky | Natalia Facchini, Jillian Burke |
| 2 | Full Asian | Comedy/Drama | Feeling out of place as a half-Japanese male, Benny undergoes a new surgical procedure called “Beyond Asian.” This advanced technology allows individuals to erase their non-Asian heritage and implant artificial memories, transforming them, into fully Asian. | Ely Davidson | Ely Davidson | Ione Fernando |
| 3 | Gone Viral | Thriller | Amelia is a true crime podcaster who is struggling to build a sustainable following and is convinced the algorithm is working against her as a creator of color. After investigating the production of a mysterious juice that makes influencers go viral, Amelia makes a horrifying discovery. | Kat Reynolds | Felicia Simone | Mariam Barry |
| 4 | Hey Spirits! | Horror/Comedy | Hunter, Okemow, Junior are three native friends travelling to the City from the Rez, who stop at a “haunted” mansion overnight. They soon realize the real threat they’re facing is neocolonialism, not spirits. | Tristin Greyeyes | Savannah Erasmus | Andrea Feltrin |
| 5 | Mould | Drama | When overwhelmed twenty-something Stevie’s body begins turning into clay, she must fight to mould herself back into her original form. | Morgan Abele, Kiki Evans | Morgan Abele | Noah Rosellini |
| 6 | Overture (prev. Ashes) | Drama | A timid naval cadet breaks every rule in his program to honour his best friend's last wish. | Justin F. Lee | Justin F. Lee | Hannah Yang, Ava Marie Safai |
| 7 | Plan Jinn | Supernatural Thriller | A Pakistani woman, desperate to escape a forced arranged marriage, devises a plan to fake a Jinn possession, only to find the spirit she invoked may have truly answered her prayers for freedom. | Zeeshan Dhanani | Zeeshan Dhanani | Siqiao Ai, Jackie Yang |
| 8 | Preethiya Saanvi (Dear Saanvi) | Dramatic Comedy | When a magic mirror brings Saanvi face-to-face with her 17-year-old grandmother from 1956 India on the morning of her wedding, the two women must confront the expectations they've inherited—and reimagine what identity and freedom can look like across generations. | Medha Gautham | Medha Gautham | Ritisha Jhamb, Jasmine Hans |
| 9 | Still Blooming | Romantic Dramedy | Warm, gentle, deeply human, a love story between two trans elders that also honours family, grief, and chosen kinship. | Aryn Mott | Aryn Mott | Dani Malsbury |
| 10 | The Decision | Drama | A sharp-witted 30-year-old man with cerebral palsy living in assisted care has his independence tested when his overprotective mother secretly enrolls him in a risky medical trial—forcing him, his girlfriend, and his neighbor to confront what freedom really means. | Cory Thibert | Steven Cayer | Jelian Quincina |
| 11 | The Last Caller | Mockumentary | An intense and committed bingo caller questions his identity and the very future of his field when inflamed vocal nodes impede his performance during the biggest day in his hall’s history. | Mariel Calvo | Miguel daPonte | Miguel daPonte |
| 12 | The Thing Inside Her | Surreal Comedy Horror | As the hormones from her recently removed IUD wear off, a woman realizes the horrifying truth about her boyfriend— he’s a giant slug. | Jacki Gunn, Della Haddock | Jacki Gunn | Lizzi Pedersen, Patrick Tozer |
Top 40 Quarter-Finalists
In alphabetical order by project title:
In alphabetical order by project title:
| TITLE | SUBMITTER | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 86 Me | Nicholas Tremblay |
| 2 | Anglerfish | Grayson Lang |
| 3 | Ashes | Justin F. Lee |
| 4 | Attrition | Laurie R. Poirier |
| 5 | Aunty! | Shanthini Balasubramanian |
| 6 | Cut | Steven Hu |
| 7 | dead-air | Pamath Vinlaka Yakandawela |
| 8 | Deadname | Rae Vyse |
| 9 | Diet Pop | Adam Fox |
| 10 | Emergency Contact | Shane Leydon |
| 11 | Exposure Therapy | Ana Pacheco |
| 12 | Fireworks | Zakiah Shana Dumansky |
| 13 | Full Asian | Ely Davidson |
| 14 | Glitches | Snow Li |
| 15 | Gone Viral | Felicia Simone |
| 16 | Hey Spirits! | Savannah Erasmus |
| 17 | I Was There | Melanie Light |
| 18 | Internal War | Amir Arab |
| 19 | Jade, My Darling | Aileen Wu |
| 20 | Kosher Kush | Malka Martz-Oberlander |
| 21 | Letting Go | Rory Wood |
| 22 | Lucy | Alexandra Sturman |
| 23 | Maemuki Forever | Sana Matsuda |
| 24 | Memory's Echo | Max McManus |
| 25 | Mould | Morgan Abele |
| 26 | My Tangerine | Gelareh Hashemishayan |
| 27 | Neapolitan Ice Cream | Cai Holm |
| 28 | Plan Jinn | Zeeshan Dhanani |
| 29 | Portrait of a Woman in a Refrigerator | Elyse Maloway |
| 30 | Preethiya Saanvi (Dear Saanvi) | Medha Gautham |
| 31 | Still Blooming | Aryn Mott |
| 32 | Symbiosis | Tina Kardan |
| 33 | The Closet | Amelia Wasserman |
| 34 | The Decision | Steven Cayer |
| 35 | The Humanitarian Project | Brandon Giddens |
| 36 | The Last Caller | Miguel daPonte |
| 37 | The Revisionist | Aman Mann |
| 38 | The Sparrow and The Wolves | Panta Mosleh |
| 39 | The Thing Inside Her | Jacki Gunn |
| 40 | Tomorrow the World is Ending | Cameron Heo |
Top 40 Quarter-Finalists
In alphabetical order by project title:
Top 40 will be announced on November 15, 2023, 12 pm.
| TITLE | SUBMITTER | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Bloody Mess! | Shanthini Balasubramanian |
| 2 | A Proclamation of (In)Finite Sadness | Camille Hollett-French |
| 3 | A World Away | Sam Sullivan |
| 4 | Below the Line | Mattisse Weyler-Hubert |
| 5 | Breaking Bank: The Caregiver Edition | Kent Donguines |
| 6 | Confession | Summer Gillespie |
| 7 | Diet Pop | Adam Fox |
| 8 | Diselderly Conduct | Ruby Morgan |
| 9 | Evolutionary Tango | Jane Kusak |
| 10 | Exes Anonymous | Anya Kapustianyk |
| 11 | Gatekeeper | Anthony Poon |
| 12 | Gilded Lily | Angelika Jacklyne |
| 13 | God's A Drag | Hannah van Dijk |
| 14 | How to Build a Cult and Brainwash Men | Corina Bizim |
| 15 | I'm Starting To Feel Something | Cam Kletke |
| 16 | Last Online | Hani Mefti |
| 17 | Liberated | Emslie Attisha |
| 18 | Life Eternal | Amanda Wandler |
| 19 | Mat Leavers | Ophelia Now |
| 20 | Monkey In the River | Amy Yao |
| 21 | My Mother, The Zombie | Samantha Pineda |
| 22 | Occupied | Martina Vos |
| 23 | One Night Out | Laura Poirier |
| 24 | Our Monsters | Mia Petrovic |
| 25 | Pepe sul Cuore (Pepper on the Heart) | Oriana Di Nucci |
| 26 | Rats and Wrath | Justine Roo |
| 27 | Red Light Rebel | Hannah Yang |
| 28 | Sandy | Berlin M Westwood |
| 29 | Seeing is Believing | Allana Miller |
| 30 | She Who Fights Wolf | Ana Carrizales |
| 31 | The Bar | Conor Bolton |
| 32 | The Edge | Ambika Vas |
| 33 | The Forgetting | Ajay Banks |
| 34 | The Intercom | Ilia Borodine |
| 35 | The Nude | Claire Johnstone |
| 36 | The Reveal | Jackie Hoffart |
| 37 | The View Between Barriers | Jayzee Calingasan |
| 38 | Voices on the Floor | Snow Li |
| 39 | Where is My Head? | Spencer Zimmerman |
| 40 | Who You Gonna Call? | Malka Martz-Oberlander |
Top 12 Semi-Finalists
In alphabetical order by project title:
Top 12 will be announced on November 29, 2023, 12 pm.
| PROJECT TITLE | GENRE | LOGLINE | DIRECTOR(S) | WRITER(S) | PRODUCER(S) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Proclamation of (In)Finite Sadness | Fantasy/horror/comedy | In a surreal and darkly comedic journey, a woman grapples with her personified Sadness and navigating the absurdity of modern existence, self-acceptance, and her Beetlejuice-esque alter ego. | Camille Hollett-French | Camille Hollett-French | Producer: Camille Hollett-French Producer: Kyra Weston |
| Breaking Bank: The Caregiver Edition | Comedy | Four Filipino immigrants dealing with insurmountable struggles, embark on a side-splitting journey when they use their caregiving skills to commit the perfect bank robbery to help them take care of those around them. | Kent Donguines | Kent Donguines | Producer: Kyle Guerrero Producer: Jordan Connor |
| W7éyle (Moon's Wife) | Sci-Fi, Drama, Indigenous | When a groundbreaking pill promises eternal life, a couple’s love is tested as they confront what it means to live, love, and leave a legacy in the face of an irreversible decision: have children or to live forever. | Amanda Wandler | Amanda Wandler | Producer: Tharyn Fabbro |
| Monkey In The River | Horror/Drama | An ambitious Chinese doctor, an unplanned pregnancy, and a past she thought she left behind—when a forgotten family curse rises from the shadows, she must confront generations of silence to reclaim her voice and choose her own fate. | Amy Yao | Amy Yao, Jackie Yang | Co - producer: Jackie Yang Co- producer: Tyler Sun Co-Producer: Elaine Yan |
| My Mother, The Zombie | Horror | My Mother, The Zombie is a coming-of-age horror short film about an introverted fourteen-year-old, who seeks normalcy despite caring for her zombie mother. This is a story about grief, family and love. | Samantha Pineda | Loretta Seto | Co-producer: Loretta Seto Co-producer: Lila Ferradans Producer/Production Manager: David Volpov |
| Our Monsters | Coming of age Drama | A pair of neighbouring kids, Daniel and Peter, team up to defeat the monster in Daniel’s closet. When the mission goes south, Daniel must face the reality that some monsters are harder to fight than others. | Mia Petrovic | Mia Petrovic | Lead producer: Steven Hu Producer: Tristan Miura Producer: Jordan J. Rivera |
| Pepe Sul Cuore (Pepper on the heart) | Drama/Comedy | Following the death of her grandmother, Antonia struggles to help heal her mother’s ailment, the Mal’occhio, that only the Nonna could cure. | Oriana Di Nucci | Oriana Di Nucci | Producer: Micah Kelpin Producer: Kyle D. Robertson |
| Red Light Rebel | Comedy-Drama | A pastor stuck at a red light finds himself at a crossroads with God. | Hannah Yang | Hannah Yang | Producer: Ava Maria Safai, Associate Producer: Justin Lee |
| The Edge | Comedy-Drama | When uptight Feven throws the perfect party, her self-involved bestie, Priya, brings the fun - but as usual takes it too far - causing things to take an unexpected nose dive. In a night laced with comedy, introspection, and far too many drugs, the two friends confront their inner conflicts, and ultimately find surprising clarity...despite their blurry vision! | Ambika Vas | Ambika Vas | Co-Producer: Dayleigh Nelson Co-Producer: Sossina Shenkute, Lead Producer: Paul Almeida |
| The Nude | Comedy | Newly single and out of her depth, Daphnée's hunt to find the one person who saw her accidental nude leads her through a hilariously chaotic journey of self-discovery and modern love. | Katrina Reynolds | Claire Johnstone | Producer: Sarah Peguero Producer: Katrina Reynolds Executive Producer: Claire Johnstone |
| The Reveal | Comedy | The Reveal is a comedy about a nonbinary comedian named Stevie who struggles to support their sister's baby gender reveal party while harbouring some news of their own: that they have started on testosterone. | Jackie Hoffart | Jackie Hoffart | Producer: Jillian Beausoleil Producer: Andrea Feltrin |
| Where Is My Head? | Black Comedy / Satire | Where Is My Head? follows a wannabe influencer who falls in love with a decapitated head after she accidentally runs over a cyclist while filming a TikTok. | Spencer Zimmerman | Pat Mooney, Spencer Zimmerman | Lead Producer: Siobhan Connors Producer: Spencer Zimmerman Producer: Jessica To Associate Producer: Vanessa Wakely |
Top 6 Finalists
In alphabetical order by project title:
Top 6 will be announced on January 15, 2025, 12 pm.
In alphabetical order by project title:
| TITLE | SUBMITTER | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 86 Me | Nicholas Tremblay |
| 2 | Anglerfish | Grayson Lang |
| 3 | Ashes | Justin F. Lee |
| 4 | Attrition | Laurie R. Poirier |
| 5 | Aunty! | Shanthini Balasubramanian |
| 6 | Cut | Steven Hu |
| 7 | dead-air | Pamath Vinlaka Yakandawela |
| 8 | Deadname | Rae Vyse |
| 9 | Diet Pop | Adam Fox |
| 10 | Emergency Contact | Shane Leydon |
| 11 | Exposure Therapy | Ana Pacheco |
| 12 | Fireworks | Zakiah Shana Dumansky |
| 13 | Full Asian | Ely Davidson |
| 14 | Glitches | Snow Li |
| 15 | Gone Viral | Felicia Simone |
| 16 | Hey Spirits! | Savannah Erasmus |
| 17 | I Was There | Melanie Light |
| 18 | Internal War | Amir Arab |
| 19 | Jade, My Darling | Aileen Wu |
| 20 | Kosher Kush | Malka Martz-Oberlander |
| 21 | Letting Go | Rory Wood |
| 22 | Lucy | Alexandra Sturman |
| 23 | Maemuki Forever | Sana Matsuda |
| 24 | Memory's Echo | Max McManus |
| 25 | Mould | Morgan Abele |
| 26 | My Tangerine | Gelareh Hashemishayan |
| 27 | Neapolitan Ice Cream | Cai Holm |
| 28 | Plan Jinn | Zeeshan Dhanani |
| 29 | Portrait of a Woman in a Refrigerator | Elyse Maloway |
| 30 | Preethiya Saanvi (Dear Saanvi) | Medha Gautham |
| 31 | Still Blooming | Aryn Mott |
| 32 | Symbiosis | Tina Kardan |
| 33 | The Closet | Amelia Wasserman |
| 34 | The Decision | Steven Cayer |
| 35 | The Humanitarian Project | Brandon Giddens |
| 36 | The Last Caller | Miguel daPonte |
| 37 | The Revisionist | Aman Mann |
| 38 | The Sparrow and The Wolves | Panta Mosleh |
| 39 | The Thing Inside Her | Jacki Gunn |
| 40 | Tomorrow the World is Ending | Cameron Heo |
Juries + Story Editors
Video Pitch Jury
For Top 40 Quarter-Finalists
Live Pitch Jury
For Top 12 Semi-Finalists + Top 6 Finalists
Story Editors
For Top 12 Semi-Finalists
Rules + Regulations
Crazy8s accepts all genres of live action, scripted short film pitches including drama, comedy, science fiction, horror, fantasy, musical, mockumentary, etc. We do not accept animation, AI, or documentary pitches.
Crazy8s Film Society believes in equality, diversity and community. The program welcomes contributions from all, and is not limited to, people of varied age, culture, ethnicity, gender, gender-identity, language, race, sexual orientation, and religious views.
Awards + Prizes
- $2,000 Cash
- Up tp $50,000 In-Kind Sponsorship for Professional Production Gear/Services
- Professional Colour Timing + Sound Mixing
- Professional Story Editing
- Professional Casting Services
- Production Insurance
- Professional Directing/Producing/Post-Production/Locations/Production Design Mentorship
- …and more
Rules
By submitting a project for consideration to Crazy8s, you hereby acknowledge that you have read, understand and agree to all of the following terms and conditions (the “Rules and Regulations”).
The Rules and Regulations are subject to all Canadian federal, provincial, regional and municipal laws, regulations, rules, and restrictions (collectively, the “Requirements”), including those relating to COVID-19 and public health and safety and welfare where required.
The Rules and Regulations may be updated, supplemented, and/or amended at any time by Crazy8s in order to comply with the Requirements. All dates, deadlines, events, and schedules set forth herein are subject to change, postponement, and/or cancellation due to circumstances relating to COVID-19 if applicable.
All applicants, cast members, writers, directors, producers, and crew members shall comply at all times with the Requirements and any other rules, requirements established by Crazy8s throughout all stages of their participation in the Crazy8s Program, including in all pitching, editing, and production activities.
General
Eligibility
Directors, Writers, or Producers of a project are eligible to be the primary applicant for Crazy8s.
ALL Director(s), Writer(s), and Producer(s), and either the 1st or 2nd Lead Actor of a project, must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada, and must also be residents of British Columbia. Proof of residency will be required at the Top 40 Quarterfinalist stage.
Applicants must be at least 19 years of age. Full-time time high school students are not eligible to apply. Post-secondary students are eligible to apply but should be aware that the time commitment for winning projects is heavy and may not be compatible with full-time studies.
Applicants are ineligible to apply to the Crazy8s Program if they have worked for the Crazy8s Film Society in the program/season immediately preceding the present application.
The project Director may also be the Writer, or the Writer may also be the Producer. However, the roles of Producer and Director must be filled by different people.
Directors may take a Producer credit but cannot be the Lead Producer on the project.
Past Crazy8s Directors for a winning project may not re-apply as Directors, but can work on Crazy8s films in other roles, including Lead Producer, for subsequent years.
Crazy8s accepts all genres of live action, scripted short film pitches including drama, comedy, science fiction, horror, fantasy, musical, etc. We do not accept animation, AI, or documentary pitches.
Film concepts must be based on an original idea. Chain of Title documentation will be required proving that applicants have the rights to tell the story. If the short film concept is based on a real person, real event, a short story, a poem, a play, or any other original work, it is essential to have written permission from the person who created the original concept. This includes other people’s work that inspired the current developing short original film, and the use of any AI-generated content elements inspired by other people or their work. AI-generated content or elements must comply with applicable laws and regulations, including those related to copyright, image rights, and intellectual property.
Elements of AI can be used in eligible projects, but cannot be the only or main component. A real person(s) must be the primary creative contributor(s) of the submitted material, including the video pitch, script, live pitch and one-sheet, and final film. A pitch, concept, script, and any other elements or material that contains no original authorship by a real person is not eligible. Applicants must be able to provide proof that a real person(s) is/are the primary creative contributor of the submitted material. Final decisions on AI-related eligibility are at the discretion of Crazy8s Film Society.
Applicants are free to adapt any work that is currently in the public domain, which includes work created by people who have been dead more than 50 years.
The full run time of all completed Crayz8s short film projects must be at least 5 minutes in length, but shall not exceed 18 minutes in length, including on-screen credits. This translates into approximately 5-10 pages of script. The maximum script length is not negotiable.
- Applicants reapplying with a project submitted in a previous season must reapply with a project video pitch and script sample draft that is substantively different in content or approach, from the material previously submitted. The determination of whether the resubmitted project meets this criterion is at the discretion of the Crazy8s adjudication panel.
Canadian Certification (CAVCO)
All directors, writers, and producers of each Top 6 Finalist team must be Canadian Citizens or Canadian Permanent Residents.
Each team’s attached Directors, Writers, and Producers proceeding to the Top 40 Quarterfinalist stage and live pitch session, must each submit a CAVCO ID as proof of their Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Resident status prior to their live pitch.
The Top 6 Finalist teams/projects must meet CAVCO guidelines for Canadian Production, which states that the production must have 6 out of 10 Canadian content points as follows:
- 2 Points Director (must be Canadian or Permanent Resident)
- 2 Points Writer (must be Canadian or Permanent Resident)
- 1 Point Lead Actor (either 1st or 2nd lead must be Canadian or Permanent Resident)
- 1 Point 2nd Lead Actor
- 1 Point Cinematographer
- 1 Point Production Designer
- 1 Point Editor
- 1 Point Music Composer
- Each Top 6 team is responsible for making the CAVCO application or CRTC and application after the Gala Screening and Afterparty.
Copyright
The Crazy8s Film Society will own the finished films. Filmmakers are encouraged to screen their films at international film festivals and use the film to promote themselves as filmmakers. The filmmakers are responsible for their own film festival entry fees.
Filmmakers will retain the rights to produce sequels, feature films, television series, web series, or any other production based on their Crazy8s short films.
The Crazy8s Film Society will work to sell the finished films to Canadian broadcasters and other distribution methods. We also encourage the filmmakers to take an active hand in the distribution of their films.
Royalties
A percentage (50%) of the net proceeds after expenses from all sales will go to the filmmaker(s) as a royalty. It is up to each winning team to decide how that Royalty will be split amongst the team members, but it is advised that the Director(s), Writer(s), and Producer(s) share any royalties received. Filmmakers keep 100% of any received film festival cash awards.
Performers will also see a royalty from gross sales, administered through the Union of BC Performers.
The Crazy8s Film Society’s portion of distribution proceeds go back into the Society to help fund the program in future years.
Schedule
Note: One or more of the foregoing dates and/or events may be postponed, cancelled, rescheduled, conducted online, or subject to restrictions on attendance due to COVID-19 concerns and health and safety, if required.- September 5 (Fri) launch – Crazy8s 2026 registration opens at 12:00 pm NOON
- September 21 (Sun) Registration and Information Session – Online
- October 17 (Fri) – Submission Deadline – 11:59 pm
- November 8 – 9 (Sat-Sun) – Video Pitch Jury Deliberation TBA – In-Venue/Onlne
- November 12 (Wed) – Top 40 Announcement – 12:00 pm NOON
- November 22 (Sat), November 23 (Sun) – In-Person Pitches – In Venue
- November 26 (Wed) – Top 12 Announcement – 12:00 pm NOON
- December 10 (Wed) – First Full Script Draft Deadline – 12:00 pm NOON
- December 12 (Fri) – Script Coordination Workshop – Online
- December 13 (Sat) – Story Editing Workshop – In Venue
- December 14 (Sun) – Table Reads – In Venue
- December 19 (Fri) – Second Full Script Draft Deadline – 12:00 pm NOON
- January 5 (Mon) – Final Full Script Draft Deadline 12:00 pm NOON
- January 10 – 11 (Sat-Sun) – In-Person Pitch Jury Deliberation TBA – In-Venue/Online
- January 14 (Wed) – Top 6 Announcement – 12:00 pm NOON
- January 17 (Sat) – Production Workshop #1 – In-Venue
- January 18 (Sun) – Producer Workshop –Online
- February 21 (Sat) – Production Workshop #2 – In-Venue
- February 22 (Sun) – Equipment + Post-Production Partner Meet & Greets – In-Venue
- March 6 (Fri) – March 8 (Sun) – Production Days
- March 9 – 13 (Mon–Fri) – Post-Production Days
- March 13 (Fri) – Final Completed Film Delivery – 6:00 pm + QC Screenings
- April 10 (Fri) – Paperwork Due
- April 11 (Sat) GALA SCREENING + AFTERPARTY – The Centre and Science World
- April 18 (Sat) – Marketing and Distribution Workshop
- April 19 (Sun) – Directing Semina
Program Phase 1 - 4 (Pitch to Production)
Phase 1: Video Pitch + Script Sample
(See SCHEDULE above for specific dates).
- At least one of the Director(s), Writer(s), or Producer(s) must participate in the video pitch.
- Both your video pitch and your script sample must be submitted by the registration/submission deadline or your application is disqualified.
- Video pitches longer than 3 minutes will be disqualified. The pitch should contain the beginning, middle and end of the story. (See FAQ on the Crazy8s website for more information.)
- Each video pitch must start with a slate containing the name of the project and name of the Director(s), Writer(s), and Producer(s) (if Producer is attached at the time of application). Please mention any other attached team members that the jury should know about, e.g: proposed Lead Actor, Cinematographer, Editor, etc. Please do not submit a completed short film, as this will disqualify your application.
- If the video pitch contains any AI-generated elements or was created in part with the use of generative AI, you must disclose this in your video pitch and specify how AI was used.
- Video pitches and script samples are assessed by a panel of industry professionals and Crazy8s alumni. The adjudication panel is disclosed after the Top 40 quarterfinalists are announced. Crazy8s staff do not adjudicate the video pitches or script samples.
- Your script sample must be of the project you’re pitching. It should be submitted in industry-standard script/screenplay format and must include the first three pages of your current script draft, plus a title page that has your script title, the date of the draft, your name, and your contact information i.e. email address, phone number. (See FAQ section for more information)
- You can upload your script sample (PDF files only) under the “Files & Attachments” section at the bottom right side of your project page. Please do not submit a script sample that is longer than 3 pages (not counting the title page), since the jury will not read past the first 3 pages.
- If the script sample contains any AI-generated elements, including using AI to edit your draft or using generative AI to help create characters or scenarios, you must disclose this on your title page and specify how AI was used.
Phase 2: Live Pitch – Top 40 Quarterfinalists
See SCHEDULE above for specific dates).
- The Top 40 Quarterfinalists selected for the live pitch session will be contacted by Crazy8s in mid November to schedule a time to pitch in-person to a jury of industry professionals (may include Crazy8s alumni) on a weekend in late November. This second adjudication panel will not have seen the video pitches or script samples previously submitted for review by the initial-stage adjudication panel. The adjudication panel is disclosed publicly after the Top 12 semifinalists are announced.
- Each team’s attached Directors, Writers, and Producers must each submit a CAVCO ID prior to their live pitch session, as proof of their Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Resident status.
- Each team is asked to submit a digital one-sheet document with a short synopsis of their project and a bio of the Director prior to their live pitch session, and to bring six hard copies with them to the live pitch session.
- If the one-sheet contains any AI-generated elements, including using AI to edit your one-sheet draft, or using generative AI to help create any content, you must disclose this on your one-sheet and specify how AI was used.
- If your live pitch script/content contains any AI-generated elements, including using AI to edit your pitch draft or using generative AI to help create any pitch content, you must disclose this in your pitch and specify how AI was used.
- A Director and a Writer must be attached to the project by the time the project is pitched to the live pitch jury.
- If a project/team does not yet have at least one attached Producer at the in-person pitch and the project proceeds to the Top 12,at least one Producer must be secured by the end of November or early December.
- The Director must be present for the live pitch. If the Director cannot attend in person, they must be available by videoconference (e.g. Zoom, Google Meet)
- Each team will have 5 minutes to pitch their story and themselves to the jury, followed by 5 minutes to respond to questions from the jury.
- No reels are permitted as part of your live pitch – this is primarily a verbal pitch. The live pitch jury is separate from the video pitch jury, and will not have seen the video pitches or script samples from the first judging round. Crazy8s staff do not adjudicate the live pitches.
Note: The live pitch sessions may be conducted completely online if required by public health and safety and welfare guidelines related to COVID-19.
Phase 3: Script Development – Top 12 Semifinalists
(See SCHEDULE above for specific dates).
The Top 12 Semifinalists selected to go into the story editing phase must sign a legal disclaimer stating that their film concept is based on their original idea to which they have the rights; or the filmmakers will need to provide documentation showing they have the rights to adapt the original idea. This documentation must be provided by the First Full Script Draft submission deadline in early December.
Each Top 12 Team will be assigned an industry professional Story Editor who will work with the project/team until delivery of the Final Full Script Draft to the script evaluation jury. Consultation with the Script Editor may be conducted in person or online or both. The Writer(s), Director(s), and Producer(s) must attend the first Story Editing Workshop consultation session.
The Top 12 Teams will deliver a final full script draft, with a minimum length of 5 pages and a maximum length of 10 pages, in an industry-standard script format.
- If the full script draft contains any AI-generated elements, including using AI to edit your draft, or using generative AI to help create any content, you must disclose this on your title page and specify how AI was used.
The Script Editor may continue to be attached to the project/team if it is selected as one of the Top 6 Teams.
Note: Story Editing consultation sessions may be conducted completely online if required by public health and safety and welfare guidelines related to COVID-19.
Phase 4: Production + Workshops – Top 6 Finalists
(See SCHEDULE above for specific dates).
The script evaluation jury (the same as the live pitch jury) will read and evaluate the scripts and select the final Top 6 teams and projects that will go into production. Crazy8s staff do not select the final teams/projects.
Once selected the Writer(s), Producer(s), and Director(s) of the Top 6 Teams must sign a Transfer of Rights Agreement with Crazy8s Film Society before going into pre-production and production.
The Top 6 teams will receive upwards of $50,000+ in camera, lighting and grip packages, $2,000 cash, and mentorship and workshops throughout the duration of the production and delivery of their final films. Director Mentors, Producer Mentors, and Post Production Mentors will be available to the teams.
The Top 6 Teams are required to attend a series of workshops leading up to production. (See SCHEDULE above for workshop dates).
All Top 6 teams will be in production for 3 days, and in post-production for 5 days, in early March. All final completed films will be delivered to Crazy8s Film Society by 6:00 pm on the final day of post-production.
- If your final film contains any AI-generated elements or generative AI was used to help create any content, you must disclose this in your end credits and specify how AI was used.
The final completed films will be shown at a Gala Screening and Afterparty slated for late March or April.
Note: The Gala Screening and Afterparty may be postponed, cancelled, rescheduled, conducted online, or subject to restrictions on attendance due to COVID-19 concerns or to comply with the Requirements.
General Terms + Conditions
Crazy8s Film Society reserves the right, in its sole and unfettered discretion, to cancel, postpone, or reschedule any or all of the Crazy8s film program or any events or activities associated therewith, due to COVID-19 concerns or in order to comply with the Requirements.
Applicants and their crews hereby release, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Crazy8s Film Society, its members, directors, employees, and personnel from any and all claims, liabilities, costs, expenses, and damages for any and all damage, loss or liability (including, without limitation, claims arising from negligence, or relating to personal injury, property damage, illness, and wrongful death) suffered as a result of, in connection with, or arising from their participation in the Crazy8s film program or any events or activities associated therewith including as a result of exposure to COVID-19 from any other individual participating in or associated with the Crazy8s film program.
Applicants and their crews further release, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Crazy8s Film Society, its members, directors, employees, and personnel from any and all claims, liabilities, losses, costs, expenses, and damages due to the cancellation, postponement, or rescheduling of any or all of the Crazy8s film program at any time for any reason, including due to COVID-19 concerns or if required to comply with the Requirements.
By applying to the Crazy8s film program each applicant and their team consents to provide Crazy8s Film Society their names, city of residence, photographs, voice and/or image for publicity purposes in all media, without payment, compensation, or notification.
Crazy8s Film Society reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Crazy8s film program due to force majeure, or circumstances or situations beyond their reasonable control such as strikes, lock-outs, labour disputes, war, riot, insurrection, earthquake, terrorism, civil commotion, fire, flood, accident, storm or any other act of nature.
Guidelines + FAQs
How Does Crazy8s Work
Submit a short film concept in a 3-minute video pitch, along with the first 3 pages of your script. A jury of industry professionals and independent film community peers evaluates these submissions.
40 quarterfinalists pitch live, in person, to a separate jury of industry professionals and independent film community peers.
12 semifinalists workshop their full script drafts with professional story editors, and submit a final draft for evaluation by the live pitch jury.
6 finalist winners receive $2,000 each, and an in-kind production package and post-production services worth up to $50,000 provided by sponsors from the local film industry and community.
These 6 teams must complete their short films within the same 8-day timeframe.
The finished films and teams are celebrated at a Gala Screening followed by an Afterparty, the largest single-evening film screening event in Vancouver, attended by members of the independent filmmaking community, industry professionals, and the general public.
Note: If required, production and all public events will be in compliance with government health and safety protocols pertaining to COVID-19.
How do I register/submit for Crazy8s?
Registration, fee payment, and pitch package submission are online via our FilmFreeway page.
Submission fees are non-refundable
Submissions are only accepted via FilmFreeway. Crazy8s does not accept submissions through any other platform.
The primary registrant and all key creative team members (producer, director, writer, lead actor) must be either Canadian citizens or Canadian permanent residents. Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency status will be required if a project moves on to the quarterfinal stage.
Applicants may submit more than one project as the primary registrant, but not in the same role.
Participants may be part of more than one project at the registration/initial submission stage, but not in the same role for more than one project.
Online registration starts in early September and closes in mid-to-late October at 11:59pm on the closing date.
After registration, you have up to the closing date/time to submit your pitch package, which includes an up to 3-minute video pitch and a 3-page script sample.
There is typically an online Registration and Pitch Information Session (online) in late September featuring Crazy8s alumni and jurors, providing further information about the program and insight to what makes for an effective Crazy8s submission and pitch, followed by a Q&A with attendees.
What types of projects does Crazy8s accept?
Crazy8s accepts all genres of live action, scripted narrative short film pitches, e.g. drama, comedy, science fiction, horror, fantasy, musical, mockumentary, etc.
Crazy8s does not accept animation, AI, or documentary pitches.
Do I need a producer in place to register/submit to Crazy8s?
Registrants are not required to have a producer in place before the registration/submission deadline.
However! Having at least a lead producer on board by the time you tape and submit your video pitch, can help assure the judges you will be able to successfully complete the film that you are pitching within the 8-day timeframe, especially if the project seems ambitious.
If you are selected as a quarterfinalist and you don’t have a producer in place by the time of your live pitch, you can expect the jury to ask how you plan to find one, and to have your response factored into their evaluation.
It is highly recommended that you attach at least one producer to your team as early in the process as possible.
Can I both direct and be a lead producer on my project, or do the key creative roles have to be held by different people?
Crazy8s does not allow a director to also be a lead producer, though a director can receive a producing credit. To help provide the best chance for success, the Crazy8s timeframe is too tight for one person to both direct and be an active lead producer.
Other key creative role combinations, such as Producer/Writer or Director/Writer, are acceptable.
Crazy8s does not enforce limitations on the number of directors, or producers, or writers etc. on any project. The goal is for participating teams to make the best films possible within the timeframe.
Who selects the final film projects for Crazy8s each year?
There are two separate jury panels through three rounds of judging – one jury for the initial video pitch stage, and another jury for the live pitches and final script evaluation.
The video pitches/script sample submissions are evaluated by a combination of Crazy8s alumni filmmakers and other industry professionals.
The 40 quarterfinalists will be invited to pitch live, in-person, to another jury of industry professionals that may also include Crazy8s alumni filmmakers.
The live pitch jury is completely separate from the video pitch jury. The live pitch jury will not have viewed any of the video pitches or seen any of the script sample pages from the first round of judging, before the live pitch session.
What should the video pitch include?
Pitch your film concept to the camera, just as you would pitch live to a jury panel. You can pitch “talking heads” style, looking directly into the camera; or pitch using a combination of “talking heads” and video/audio clips and graphics.
Video pitches must not be longer than 3 minutes TRT. Video pitches longer than 3 minutes will be disqualified.
If the video pitch contains any AI-generated elements or was created in part with the use of generative AI, you must disclose this in your video pitch and specify how AI was used.
The content of the video pitch is more important than high production value. All that’s needed is to clearly see you and hear you, and to clearly see/hear any video/audio clips or graphics if you use any. Feel free to use a mobile phone camera, webcam, still camera video, etc. to tape your pitch. Video output can be in any format accepted by FilmFreeway, e.g. .mov, .mp4
Be sure to include these elements:
A slate: State your name(s) and role(s), and the title of your project. It’s usually best to start with an introduction of who you are before you tell us about your concept. You do not have to pitch alone! You can include other team members or key creatives you already have on board, but please bear in mind you still will only have 3 minutes to pitch.
A logline, the concept, and the story: A one-sentence summary of what the film is about, the idea behind it, and what happens in the story. Don’t leave anything out – the jury needs to know that you clearly understand what your story is about; how it starts, unfolds, and ends; and how you’re going to tell it.
Your team’s strengths and your vision for the project: Why the film should be made, and why you/your team should be the one(s) to make it. Show your passion for the project. You need to believe in your film, and so does the jury!
Your resources: The resources you may already have access to, or that you plan to get, to make the film – such as a lead on specific location(s) or access to specialized props, or technical personnel and gear. This is especially important if your concept is very specific e.g. is FX-heavy, a period piece, or has many locations, or seems potentially too ambitious to successfully complete in just 8 days.
Nice to have:
Example visuals or audio: Use music in the video to provide a sense of the mood of your film, and feel free to include any video clips or graphics that can provide a sense of the visual treatment.
What should the script sample submission include?
Crazy8s is a scripted narrative short filmmaking challenge. The video pitch jury will want to see that you understand your story and your project’s requirements, AND that you have started a script draft that has the potential to hook the reader/audience within the first three pages.
Be sure that your script sample includes:
The first three pages of your current script draft, plus a title page e.g: Title Page + Pages 1-3 of your script.
The script sample pages should be in industry standard script/screenplay format.
Your title page should have: The script title (this should match your project title); Your name; The date of your draft; Your contact details (email, phone).
If the script sample contains any AI-generated elements, including using AI to edit your draft or using generative AI to help create characters or scenarios, you must disclose this on your title page and specify how AI was used.
- Submit your script sample as a single PDF document.
How much time do I have for the live pitch?
You will have up to 5 minutes to pitch, and up to another 5 minutes to respond to jury questions.
At the cutoff time, you must stop pitching. There will be a timekeeper in the pitch room to keep things on track and provide a 1-minute warning.
What should the live pitch include?
If you are a quarterfinalist, in advance of your live pitch you will be asked to submit a one-sheet document in PDF format with a Director’s Statement and Synopsis of your story/project. You will also be asked to bring up to 6 hard copies of the one-sheet with you to the live pitch session.
The live pitch jury will not have viewed any of the video pitches or seen any of the script sample pages from the first round of judging. Your live pitch should include the same basic elements as your video pitch.
You do not have to pitch alone! You can include other team members or key creatives such as a producer/co-producer, co-director, or co-writer that you already have on board, but please bear in mind you still will only have 5 minutes to pitch. We strongly encourage in-person attendance as the most effective way to present your project to the jury, but have videoconferencing capability if necessary.
You can bring supplemental material, such as drawings/posters or audio/video, but this is primarily a verbal pitch and supplementary material is not necessary. The live pitches are evaluated primarily on the strength of the idea/story and the feasibility of the project for the Crazy8s timeframe. Any materials you bring should support either story or feasibility, or both. No screening equipment is provided in the room for your use, so you will need to provide your own laptop or other device – bearing in mind you only have 5 minutes, including any audio/video setup time. We also highly recommend you bring a backup alternative, in case you encounter A/V technical difficulties.
What questions will the live pitch jury ask?
After your up to 5-minute live pitch, the jury will have up to 5 minutes to ask you questions. They may ask you to clarify aspects of your pitch or story idea; or ask questions related to pre-production, production, and post-production. Be prepared to respond to questions about locations, stunts, props, FX – anything that might potentially be a challenge to your film being successfully completed in 8 days. The jury may also ask:
Why do you want to participate in Crazy8s? What makes your project a good fit for the Crazy8s program?
What is your inspiration for this story? Why should you be the one to tell this story? What gives you access to this story?
Crazy8s takes cultural and community representation seriously. If your story is set in a culture or community that is not your dominant culture or community: Why should you be the one to tell this story/what is your personal connection with the story? Do you have a plan to include filmmakers/creatives from the culture/community, besides including them as representatives and/or consultants? Do you have permission from the culture/community to tell this story? Do you plan to hire production support from the culture/community?
Crazy8s support gender parity and inclusivity. What are your plans for creating a culture of equality and inclusiveness?
What do you foresee could be a production/post production challenge for your project, and what are your plans for addressing it?
What happens if my project moves on to the Top 12 semifinalist stage?
If a key creative is involved in more than one Top 12 project, they must choose to proceed with only one of the projects.
- The 12 semifinalists will attend a script coordination workshop and be paired with professional story editors, to hone their full script drafts at a story editing workshop and table read.
The final script drafts are then submitted to the live pitch jury for review. Based on the strength of these final drafts, six finalist teams/projects will be selected.
What do the Top 6 finalists receive?
The Top 6 finalist projects/teams each receive in-kind production/post-production support worth close to $50,000, mentorship and workshops, plus $2,000 cash, to help complete their films in just 8 crazy days.
The support includes an HD Camera, a lighting and grip package, casting director services, full production insurance, producer mentors and DGC-BC director mentors, some vehicle/props/costume rental discounts, some free municipal locations, online platform and cloud-based storage for required production paperwork and assets, on-line editing including title generation, colour correction, professional sound mix, credit support, and additional program mentorship throughout the process.
What is the schedule for the Crazy8s program?
Please refer to the Rules and Regulations section for key dates for the current year.
Where can I see the Crazy8s Registration + Pitch Info Session recordings, and past Crazy8s films, trailers, or behind the scenes videos?
- Crazy8s 2023 film trailers are on our website
- Crazy8s 2024 Registration + Pitch Info Session
To see more past Crazy8s films, trailers, and behind the scenes, visit our YouTube @Crazy8sfilm.
Who do I ask if I have further questions?
Please send your submissions-related questions to submissions@crazy8s.film.