Film Festival News & Updates
by Ralph Lucas – Publisher
(July 25, 2023 – Toronto ON) Lots of news bits to work with. Maybe I should find my radio announcer voice and do a weekly podcast. Maybe call it That’s a Wrap. Ah well, too much to do, not enough time. Here goes:
Cinéfest Sudbury, in partnership with CTV, is accepting submissions for the CTV Best in Shorts Competition until Friday, August 18. The Competition provides current and former Northern Ontario filmmakers the opportunity to advance their careers, have their work screened to a festival audience, receive exposure within the film industry, and have a chance to compete for a variety of cash prizes ranging from $500 to $1250. Click here for more information.
The Toronto After Dark Film Festival has also put out a call for submissions. Their 17th annual festival will unspool October 18-22 serving up a splatter of new short and feature length films. They’re looking for submissions of all forms of genre cinema including Horror, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Crime, Action, Thrillers, Comedy, Cult, Underground, Animation, Documentary, Music Videos. Voted one of the Top 25 Genre Film Festivals in the World by MovieMaker Magazine, their final submission deadline is exactly one month away on August 25, 2023. You are encouraged to submit as early as possible to save with reduced entry fees. Click here to begin your submission process.
A reminder: The Female Eye (FeFF) launches its 21st season tomorrow at 5PM. They will hold a traditional Indigenous opening ceremony followed by the Toronto Premiere of The Nature of Healing, from Mohawk director, Faith Leone Howe. She will be joined by the Eagle Woman Singerz, and survivors of the Mohawk Residential School. Then at 8PM, the North American Premiere of Stella directed by Jessica Fox (UK) who will also be at the festival. There’s more FeFF information online.
The 30th annual Gimli International Film Festival also opens tomorrow, July 26 and runs until the 30th.
The Vancouver Queer Film Festival (VQFF) has announced its complete lineup for their 35th anniversary. Running from August 10-20, audiences can catch 92 films from 27 countries, with 24 features, 68 shorts, 10 World Premieres, 10 North American/International Premieres and 31 Canadian Premieres among the selections.
The CaribbeanTales International Film Festival (CTFF) celebrates its 18th year from September 6th to 22nd in Toronto and online. They’ll be announcing their lineup on August 8. From their media release, this year they’ll be “showcasing urgent narratives and shedding light on the critical issue of climate change.” There is always more online.
Still a little ways off, Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) runs September 20 to 24. Mark your calendars…if people still use printed calendars.
Apologies if we missed your film festival. Send details to news(at)northernstars.ca
Also see: August 2023 Film Festivals.
Also see: September 2023 Film Festivals.
Ralph Lucas is a former broadcast executive and award-winning director in high-end corporate video production. The founder and publisher of Northernstars.ca, online since 1998, he began writing about film and reviewing movies while in radio in Montreal in the mid-1970s.
