GEMFest - Gender Equity in Media Festival

Overview

Entering its 22nd year in 2027, the Gender Equity in Media Festival (GEMFest), formerly Vancouver International Women in Film Festival (VIWFF), showcases an impressive line-up of short and feature-length films (narrative, documentary, experimental and animation) by established and emerging women and gender diverse filmmakers from around the world. GEMFest is organized by Gender Equity in Media Society (GEMS), a member-driven not-for-profit society based on the unceded, traditional, and ancestral territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations, also known as Vancouver, BC. GEMFest provides a platform for challenging gender inequity and the lack of diversity in the screen-based media industry through a combination of film screenings, discussions, and professional development and networking opportunities. The 22nd festival will open in Spring 2027, and screen films with women and gender-diverse filmmakers as Directors in addition to crew members in at least three of the following key creative roles: Writer, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor, Composer, Lead Performer and Production Designer. The 2027 festival will be focused on in-person screenings and events. Films completed after March 2025 are eligible. In addition to showcasing films from around the world, the festival offers a dynamic range of ancillary programming, including: • Moderated Q&A sessions • Panel discussions • Networking events • Workshops • Pitch sessions • An Awards Ceremony & Gala • An international Screenplay Competition We look forward to reviewing your submission to our festival! If you have questions that are not addressed here please contact us at: submissions@gemsvancouver.org.

Last updated Sep 6, 2026

Legitimacy Analysis

Trust Signals

Festival Details

FilmFreeway communityGold festival

• Filmmaker

  Great programming and events. GEMfest great care in their work :)

• Filmmaker

  Wonderful film festival for women and women identifying filmmakers. Rich programming, invaluable workshops and amazing networking opportunities. Well run, well attended. Love this festival.

• Filmmaker

  GEM Festival is one of those rare spaces that makes you feel seen - not just as a filmmaker, but as a whole person. The opening night was thoughtfully created, beginning with a beautiful ceremony and followed by a warm, welcoming cocktail party that encouraged real connection. The festival felt personal, intentional, and deeply supportive from start to finish. I left with a reminder that storytelling is at its most powerful when it’s rooted in community.

• Filmmaker

  Thank you, GEMFest, for selecting New Ground for your festival. Although I wasn’t able to attend in person, I really appreciated the excellent communication throughout. I look forward to submitting work again in the future.

• Filmmaker

  A wonderful experience co-presenting our film with GEM. Viva GEMFest!

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