RUSH 2025 re/wind
In 2025, we screened 30 short films from around the world, including 8 films made by Niagara-based filmmakers, and presented 18 awards celebrating storytelling, performance, and filmmaking craft. The festival welcomed over 200 attendees to screenings, workshops, panels, and special events, creating an atmosphere that felt celebratory, inclusive, and electric.
RUSH also featured a 48-Hour Short Film Challenge, where six teams competed to write, shoot, and edit a film in just two days, pushing creativity to its limits and showcasing the passion of emerging filmmakers.And this was just the beginning.
Now heading into the next chapter, the RUSH Youth Film Festival is expanding into a multi-event festival season, welcoming filmmakers from around the world to submit films, attend screenings, and be part of a growing creative community.
thank you to our
partners & friends
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RUSH was proudly supported by FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre’s FilmHouse, Blackframe Studios, and the Niagara Artists’ Centre, who provided professional screening spaces and creative environments where films could be experienced the way they’re meant to be—together, on the big screen.
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Educational partners Welland Centennial Studios and Notre Dame College School helped connect students to meaningful filmmaking opportunities, while community partners Murray Media, Eat Your Eggs Productions, Wandering Spirits, Christopher’s Café, and Fourgrounds Media contributed mentorship, technical support, and belief in the next generation of storytellers.
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Thanks to Cool Koala Rentals, The Bank Art House / Femmes du Feu Creations, Improv Niagara, and Lester D’s Reel Diner, RUSH was able to offer awards and prizes that truly honored the work of participating filmmakers.
our 2025 partners
“Truly a fantastic festival to get to know filmmakers of similar calibre and talent.”
— Éric Arsenault, It Takes Two
don’t miss 2026
many ways to participate in rush 2026
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SHORT FILM screenings & awards cOMPETITION
RUSH is a multi-day takeover of the Niagara Region — packed with short film screenings, panels, live feedback sessions, special events, and moments that only happen when filmmakers and audiences share the same room.
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after dark FILM SCREENINGS & awards COMPETITION
RUSH After Dark is a, celebration of horror, grindhouse, and genre films that live on the edge of mainstream cinema. Submit your short films now for a chance to see it on the big screen in July.
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the ultimate short film challenge 2026
The Ultimate Short Film Challenge is an adrenaline-fueled competition where teams of filmmakers race against the clock to create a short film from scratch in just four days.
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Get involved in the festival. volunteer, donate, or sponsor
RUSH offers a unique opportunity to support emerging filmmakers while directly engaging with a highly engaged audience of creatives, educators, families, and film enthusiasts from around the world.
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special EVENTS & networking opportunities
Beyond screenings, RUSH offers a growing lineup of live events designed to bring filmmakers, audiences, and industry professionals together in meaningful, memorable ways.
may 21-24 2026
the ultimate short film challenge 2026
the ultimate short film challenge 2026
A cornerstone of the RUSH Youth Film Festival, the Short Film Screenings & Awards Competition showcases short films from emerging filmmakers around the world. Films are screened in the FilmHouse at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in Downtown St. Catharine, and compete for a range of awards and prizes, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Performances, and more, giving young filmmakers meaningful recognition, exposure, and a true festival experience.
New this year, RUSH is also accepting screenplays in competition for the Best Original Screenplay Award. Selected scripts will be eligible for live table reads during the festival, giving writers the rare opportunity to hear their work performed in front of an audience and receive real-time feedback, expanding RUSH beyond the screen and into the heart of storytelling.
july 23-26 2026
A cornerstone of the RUSH Youth Film Festival, the Short Film Screenings & Awards Competition showcases short films from emerging filmmakers around the world. Films are screened in the FilmHouse at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in Downtown St. Catharine, and compete for a range of awards and prizes, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Performances, and more, giving young filmmakers meaningful recognition, exposure, and a true festival experience.
New this year, RUSH is also accepting screenplays in competition for the Best Original Screenplay Award. Selected scripts will be eligible for live table reads during the festival, giving writers the rare opportunity to hear their work performed in front of an audience and receive real-time feedback, expanding RUSH beyond the screen and into the heart of storytelling.
SHORT FILM screenings & awards cOMPETITION
SHORT FILM screenings & awards cOMPETITION
deadline to submit is march 27
special EVENTS & networking opportunities
special EVENTS & networking opportunities
Beyond screenings, RUSH offers a growing lineup of live events designed to bring filmmakers, audiences, and industry professionals together in meaningful, memorable ways.
Films are screened in the FilmHouse at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in Downtown St. Catharines, and compete for a range of awards and prizes, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Performances, and more, giving young filmmakers meaningful recognition, exposure, and a true festival experience.
new this year
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Selected scripts are brought to life by performers, giving writers immediate audience feedback and a rare opportunity to hear their work aloud.
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A dedicated space where filmmakers can step in front of the camera and talk about their work in a press junket–style environment.
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Conversations with filmmakers and industry professionals focused on craft, careers, and navigating the creative process.
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A red-carpet launch that kicks off the festival with screenings, special guests, and a celebratory atmosphere.
after dark FILM SCREENINGS
& awards COMPETITION
july 23-26 2026
after dark FILM SCREENINGS
& awards COMPETITION
Also new this year, the RUSH After Dark is a, celebration of horror, grindhouse, and genre films that live on the edge of mainstream cinema. The festival invites audiences and filmmakers into a late-night world of fearless storytelling, and cinematic chaos, showcasing films from psychological thrillers, the surreal experimental and potential cult-classic B-movies.
deadline to submit is april 30
partnership opportunities
partnership opportunities
Your support helps provide festival programming, while aligning your company with a creative cultural movement. As a sponsor, you don’t just support the festival; you connect with future creators, decision-makers, and audiences in an authentic, impactful way that builds lasting brand awareness and community loyalty.
RUSH offers a unique opportunity to support emerging filmmakers while directly engaging with a highly engaged audience of creatives, educators, families, and film enthusiasts from around the world.
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Your logo featured on promotional materials, social media, and event signage.
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Support local talent and help develop the next generation of filmmakers.
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Connect with influential members of the film industry and regional businesses.
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Mentions in event speeches, printed programs, and festival communications.
VOLUNTEER
VOLUNTEER
“Loved the location and the award ceremony. Great place to network with young film makers.”
- Brooklynn Prince, Happy Thanksgiving, The Florida Project
festival venues
NIAGARA REGION
Attending a film festival in the Niagara Region means more than watching great films — it’s about connection, access, and experience. With intimate venues, engaged audiences, and direct access to filmmakers and industry professionals, Niagara offers a welcoming, community-driven alternative to larger festivals. Surrounded by iconic landscapes, vibrant arts spaces, and a growing film scene, RUSH creates meaningful opportunities to network, showcase work, and be part of a festival that genuinely champions emerging voices in independent cinema.
FILM SCREENINGS
THE
FILM
HOUSE
AT THE FIRSTONTARIO
PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre is a 95,000 square foot cultural complex comprised of four state-of-the-art performance venues that host a signature presentation of international and local performing artists. The Film House can accommodate 199 people. A full cinematic experience, with surround sound in a licensed venue!
AWARDS + GALA VENUE
BLACK FRAME STUDIOS
Tucked right here in Niagara, this space feels like it was built for creativity—bold, inspiring, and full of energy. It’s more than just a venue—it’s a place where stories come to life. Whether hosting a screening, a workshop, or a late-night hang, having a world-class production facility like this in our own backyard is something special, and we’re beyond grateful to be sharing it with our community during the festival.
WHAT WE DO!
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RUSH YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL
RUSH is a multi-day takeover of the Niagara Region — packed with short film screenings, panels, live feedback sessions, special events, and moments that only happen when filmmakers and audiences share the same room.
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RUSH AFTER DARK FILM FESTIVAL
RUSH After Dark is a, celebration of horror, grindhouse, and genre films that live on the edge of mainstream cinema.
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RUSH SHORT FILM CHALLENGES
Our Short Film Challenges are adrenaline-fueled competitions where teams of filmmakers race against the clock to create a short film from scratch under incredible time constraints.
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SHORT FILM BOOTCAMP
With mentors by their side, participants will learn the art of storytelling, film production, and post-production, resulting in a cinematic masterpiece that's showcased at a glittering red carpet gala attended by family, friends, and the public.
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pitch night
Pitch your projects to industry professionals for a chance to win a Development Assistance Package Each Pitch Night winner will advance to the year-end competition, where one filmmaker will have their film produced by Jarico Films for Youth.
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Scene Study
Designed to give students a comprehensive introduction to the world of acting. This class covers the basics such as script analysis, character development, working with a director etc.
