Photo contest

Peoples’ Choice Award » The Essence of York Region!
What makes York Region » York Region?

Is it its people in all their varied diversity? Is it its heritage buildings and sites, varied landscapes, urban centres, golf courses, regional institutions and/or local cultural and art centres?

Have you taken a photograph that signifies the beauty, challenges, or the rich heritage that is York Region: a seminal photograph that captures the essence of a social issue (e.g. poverty), beauty (e.g. a landscape, people, objects of art etc.); and challenges (e.g. the balance between development and environmental preservation)?

If you are an up-and-coming or an experienced photographer who have taken the photograph of all photographs that captures the essence of York Region, enter your work in our Peoples’ Choice Award—The Essence of York Region—by completing and submitting an application form along with a digital photo/scan of your photograph (a limit of two submissions per person) to: . An 8x10 hardcopy of your photograph is also required and a hardcopy of your submission form via mail to:

Multimedia Film Development Council of York Region c/o
1091 Gorham Street; Ste. 202 
Newmarket, Ontario, L4Y 8X7

Starting April 16th, 2012, those who visit the festival's website will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite submission/photograph. In June/2012, patrons at the our Awards & Closing Gala will also have the opportunity to vote on their impression regarding which photograph captures the essence of York Region. Their votes--coupled with all on-line votes--will determine the top three winners of the contest.  All three winners will be announced at the Awards & Closing Gala and an award presented to each.

The Multimedia Film Development Council of York Region reserves the right to decline the use of a submission that conflicts with its values. Namely, submissions that promote/contain: gratuitous violence, explicit sexual content, or hate/discriminatory messages/depictions will not be considered.

 Submission Deadline

All submissions must be received by Tuesday, April, 10th, 2012 before 5:00 pm. Please include a subtitle that captures the theme and location of your photo.

Although submissions will not be returned (e.g. 8x10 photo), each photograph submitted—both the electronic and hardcopy—remains the sole property of the person who submitted it to do with it as they may.