2026 Castle Mountain Community Film Festival
Opening Weekend, December 2026
The Castle Mountain Community Film Festival (CMCFF) is a community focused celebration of the people and places that make Castle Mountain special. The festival highlights local kids, athletes, creatives, and offseason stories while kicking off the ski season with an inclusive, family friendly event.
We Want YOU!!
That's right! We are looking for you and all of your creativity to help make the CMC Film Festival the best that it can be! Submit your film. The top 3 of each category will be viewed live by our audience on the first Saturday of the 2026-27 ski season in the day lodge at Castle Mountain Resort. You will have the opportunity to introduce your film and give us a bit of context behind your vision. See your film on the big screen! To make it even more fun, the audience will be asked to choose the over all grand prize winner!
There will be plenty of prizes for both film makers and the audience on the day of the showing. We hope everyone can attend what is going to be a fantastic beginning to the 2026-27 season at Castle Mountain Resort!
Festival Categories
U12 Kids of Castle
Kids born in 2014 or later
Minors should be the main focus, parental assistance is accepted.
Fun, spirit of Castle,
U18 Kids of Castle
Born between 2007 and 2014
Minors should be the main focus and involved in production.
Fun, Spirit of Castle, Tell a story
SemiPro / Sponsored Athletes
Local athletes with sponsorships or competition background.
Higher production allowed, but local connection required.
Locals Being Locals
Humour, Lifestyle, Culture, Friendships, Families.
Can include skiing or non-skiing stories,
Open Category
If you feel you don’t fit in any other category, showcase your work here
Sledding, Skijoring, Blooper reels etc.
Needs ties to the Castle Community
Judging
Judging Panel
3–5 judges (mix of local athletes, creative professionals, Castle representative)
Conflict of interest policy: judges do not score films they appear in or helped create
Scoring System
Each film scored out of 100 points
Storytelling & Creativity
30 points
Connection to Castle / Local Spirit
20 points
Technical Quality (editing, audio, visuals)
20 points
Effort & Originality
20 points
Relevance to Applicable Festival Section
10 points
Total 100 Points
Judging Criteria Explanations
Storytelling and Creativity
This category evaluates how effectively the film tells a story and how creatively that story is presented.
Clear Structure, strong theme, engaging content
Connection to Castle/Local Spirit
This category recognizes films that meaningfully reflect Castle Mountain, the surrounding community, culture, landscape, or local values
Showcase Castle Mountain, personal perspective, Respect for the area
Technical Quality
This category evaluates the overall technical execution of the film, relative to available resources.
Judges will consider access to equipment and resources: In the U12 and U18 categories Judges should not penalize for basic equipment or limiting editing skills.
Video and audio quality, pace of film, Editing Quality, Graphic use ( if applicable)
Effort and Originality
This category recognizes the effort put into the film and how well the creators bring their story to life.
Original ideas, passion, intentional choices, unique perspectives
Relevance to Applicable Festival Section
All films must clearly align with the festival section/category in which they are submitted.
Are age guidelines followed, are category descriptions taken into account.
Awards
Over $4000 in cash and prizes to be won!
Submission Guidelines (Participant Document)
Eligibility
Show must encompass Castle Mountain Resort in one way or another
All participants under 18 must have parent/guardian consent
Must be unreleased videos
Film Requirements
Maximum length: 2- 10 minutes including credits.
Accepted formats: 1080px minimum
Original content only (no copyrighted music unless licensed)
Content: MUST be Family Friendly
Language: Family friendly (no profanity)
Licensing : received all necessary rights, licenses and permissions.
Must have the rights to all music used within your film.
Safety & Conduct
All activities must follow Castle Mountain Resort rules and signage
Drone usage in Federal and Provincial Parks as well as Castle Mountain Resort is generally not permitted. Drone usage in these areas require special permission and proper permits to be used. If you use a drone in these areas, you will need to provide proof of that paperwork in order for us to allow your film submission to be accepted.
Filmmakers are responsible for their own actions and those of participant.
Any and all fees, fines, or penalties incurred during the creation or distribution of videos, or as a result thereof, shall be the sole responsibility of the participant.
Releases & Waivers
All submissions must include:
Participant release forms for anyone recognizable on camera
Parent/guardian consent for minors
Acknowledgement of assumption of risk
Agreement to allow festival screening and online hosting
Submission Process
Online submission form
Upload link (Google Drive or Website)
Submission deadline: September 8, 2026
Festival organizers reserve the right to:
Disqualify films due to inappropriate/illegal content.
Select which films screen live
Edit trailers or clips for promotion
update rules as required
Rules And Further Details
Video Submissions
Aerial footage captured in Skier By Blood was done with fully licensed pilots, in accordance with Transport Canada regulations. At the time of filming, CMR was not a listed no-fly zone.
Submit your video by first emailing cmcfilmfest@gmail.com. Include your name, the name of your video file, the category you are entering and all required documentation (release forms, consent forms etc). We will send you a link to upload your video to our Google Drive folder.
Inspirations
Come back to the site often as we post films that inspire!
Forms
Coming Soon!!!
〰️
Coming Soon!!! 〰️
Sponsors
Supporting Our Sponsors Allows Them to Support Us!
Email cmcfilmfest@gmail.com for information on becoming a Sponsor
