Minute Video 2025 – Keep This Door Closed

For the 25th year, Folie/Culture is celebrating the art of video with a call for submissions for its iconic Minute Video. This annual event, dedicated to the creation and screening of experimental films, aims to spark reflection on mental health issues in a creative and inclusive way. Everyone is invited to join in by creating a 60-second film on original topics inspired by Folie/Culture’s biennial theme.

Theme 2024-2026

Keep This Door Closed. When faced with this directive, conformists will move along without questioning its purpose or the authority behind it. The curious will succumb to the mystery, wondering what lies beyond. Rebels will break the hinges, regardless of the risks… Fuck security. The eccentrics will imagine new ways to enter, defying the rule entirely.

The curious, the rebels, and the eccentrics are all invited to explore the theme Keep This Door Closed from every angle. Behind this door lies a world of questions. The deliberate choice to keep it closed or to open it is more than a physical act: it is a political statement. It sheds light on current issues such as immigration and coexistence. It invites us to delve into the concepts of distrust, insecurity, individualism, and segregation. This barrier, erected between individual property and the collective, prompts reflection on trust, safe spaces, the challenges of seeking help, and the need for comfort and connection with others. Through the doorway, we glimpse those left behind, living on the margins, urging us to consider their agency. Folie/Culture reminds us that by keeping this door closed, we protect ourselves, but we also deprive ourselves of what the unknown could bring.

The videos selected by the organization’s programming committee will be showcased during a festive evening at Cinéma Beaumont, where artists and the general public will be invited to attend free of charge. A fee of $154 will be awarded to the artist for each selected work.

In addition to the fees awarded, three (3) participation prizes will be drawn among the applicants who respond to the call:

Two (2) hours of private lessons of your choice from the existing offerings at Collège Gosselin Photo in Québec or online.
One (1) Gosselin Photo gift card valued at 100$.

One (1) Gosselin Photo gift card valued at 50$.

Submission Guidelines

• Duration: 60 seconds, no more, no less.
• Video types: Fiction, documentary, art video, animation, or animated GIF.
• Accepted formats: Uncompressed .mov or .avi, or .gif.
• Only original or royalty-free music is permitted.

Send your proposals by March 10, 2025, at 11:59 PM to programmation@folieculture.org while adhering to the following rules:

• Late submissions will be disqualified without notice.
• Artists may submit an unlimited number of proposals, but each must be sent in a separate email.
• Each email should include:
  • Your full name and artist name (if applicable)
  • Your pronouns
  • The city where you live and work

Folie/Culture strongly encourages submissions from individuals and practices underrepresented in the arts community. Applicants who face challenges in meeting the specified submission requirements are encouraged to contact the team to arrange tailored accommodations.

For inquiries: programmation@folieculture.org or 418-649-0999