FUN SHORT FILMS
Stories that are entertaining, surprising, funny, strange, emotional or memorable.
SUBMISSIONS ARE CLOSED
SHOW US
YOUR STORY
SPACEDREAD PRESENTS · MANGO MIXER · SEPTEMBER 19, 2026 · 115 McCormack St, TORONTO
We are setting aside a special part of the night for fun short films, music videos and stories worth watching with a crowd.
Every eligible project will be screened. Selected projects will be chosen for their storytelling, entertainment value and fit for the program.
LIMITED SCREENING SPOTS AVAILABLE
Films up to 7 minutes receive priority consideration. Longer films may still be submitted, but programming space for them is much tighter.
A PROGRAMMING DECISION
ZERO GENERATIVE AI
FILM SEGMENT
This particular screening segment is reserved for work created without generative AI.
Submitted projects cannot contain generative AI images, video, animation, voices, dialogue, music, sound effects, scripts or other generated creative material.
Traditional digital production tools, cameras, editing software, colour correction, visual effects and non generative assistive tools are permitted. The finished creative material itself must be made by people.
Every submitter must confirm that their project follows this policy. Projects containing generative AI material are not eligible for this film segment.
PERMITTED TOOLS
- Cameras
- Editing software
- Colour correction
- Visual effects
- Non generative assistive tools
NOT PERMITTED WHEN GENERATED
- Images
- Video
- Animation
- Voices
- Dialogue
- Music
- Sound effects
- Scripts
We welcome creatives from every background and practice. This specific film segment has been programmed as a zero generative AI screening.
The policy applies to every category, including animation and music videos.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
STORY DRIVEN MUSIC VIDEOS
Music videos are welcome when the visuals create a clear story or narrative experience.
VERTICAL FILMS
Vertical projects are permitted. A vertical format will not disqualify a film.
STRONG STORYTELLING
Production budget, expensive equipment and professional credits are not required. The story and the audience experience matter most.
RUNTIME
7:007 MINUTES OR LESS
- Preferred runtime: 7 minutes or less.
- Projects longer than 7 minutes are permitted, but significantly fewer programming spots are available for longer films.
- The stated runtime must include opening and closing credits.
DELIVERY SPECIFICATIONS
- PREFERRED FILE TYPE
- MP4
- ALSO ACCEPTED
- MOV
- PREFERRED VIDEO CODEC
- H.264
- PREFERRED RESOLUTION
- 1920 × 1080 or higher
- VERTICAL VIDEO
- 1080 × 1920 or higher
- FRAME RATE
- The film's original frame rate
- AUDIO
- AAC, 48 kHz preferred
- MAXIMUM UPLOAD SIZE
- 50 MB
Bigger than that? Submit a downloadable link instead. Send a finished screening copy. Project files, editing timelines and unusual delivery formats cannot be used as the screening copy.
DOWNLOADABLE LINKS
Google Drive · Dropbox · WeTransfer · Frame.io · Vimeo with downloads enabled · Another secure file delivery service
Your link must:
- Remain active through the selection period
- Open without requesting access
- Allow the selection team to download or view the full project
- Include a password when one is required
- Work without the team creating a paid account
Test your link in a private browser before submitting. Inaccessible projects may not be reviewed.
A social media post only works as a screening link when the full quality project can be viewed and downloaded from it.
CAPTIONS AND LANGUAGE
English captions are strongly encouraged for accessibility. Projects with dialogue in another language must include English captions.
Captions are accepted burned into the video or as an SRT file.
HOW SELECTION WORKS
- Every eligible submission will be screened by the selection team.
- Selection is based primarily on storytelling, entertainment value and program fit.
- Technical quality may affect whether a project can be presented properly.
- Films up to 7 minutes receive priority consideration.
- Longer films have fewer available programming spots.
- Music videos require a strong storytelling component.
- Vertical format is accepted.
- The zero generative AI policy is mandatory.
- Submission does not guarantee selection.
- The team may contact a filmmaker for a replacement file, captions or technical corrections.
LIMITED SCREENING SPOTS AVAILABLE
Submit early to give the team enough time to review and prepare your project.
SHORT FILM SEGMENT · KEY DETAILS
- EVENT
- MANGO MIXER · TIFF PARTY
- DATE
- SEPTEMBER 19, 2026
- VENUE
- NOT ANNOUNCED YET
- ADDRESS
- 115 McCormack St, TORONTO
- EVENT AGE
- 19+
- SUBMISSION DEADLINE
- THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 AT 11:59 PM, TORONTO TIME
- NOTIFICATION DATE
- By email, if selected
- SCREENING TIME
- 8:00 PM
SUBMISSIONS ARE CLOSED
Thank you to every filmmaker who shared a project with us. Selected filmmakers will be contacted directly.
Mango Mixer was the first night of Spacedread: The Playable Media Festival. Submit your work for the next portal or see what happened.
PRIVACY NOTICE
WHAT WE COLLECT
Your contact details, the project details you enter, your film file or screening link, any caption file, your answers to the policy and rights confirmations with the date and time you gave them, and a one way hash of your IP address used for spam protection.
WHY
To review your project for this screening segment, to contact you about it, and to prepare the screening if it is selected. We do not add you to a mailing list.
WHO CAN SEE YOUR FILM
Only the Spacedread selection team, through a private dashboard that requires an access code. Uploaded films are kept in private storage, are never placed in the public website, and are opened through links that expire after a few minutes.
HOW LONG WE KEEP IT
The retention period has not been announced yet. Until it is, you can ask us to delete your submission at any time.
WITHDRAWAL OR DELETION
Email spacedreadfilms@gmail.com with your submission reference number and we will withdraw or delete your project and its files.