When you’re a film buff, nothing screams paradise more than a top-notch film festival showcasing a hundred or more of the latest and greatest films in just a few days.
And since this is a festival, it means there’s a lot more to do than just grabbing popcorn and jumping from film to film with your best buds! With films come movie stars, directors, etc. and with film festivals come the opportunity to interview these amazing people behind one of your favourite films.
Some of these celebrities or directors and producers give workshops and hold discussion panels about their works. Not to mention the parties where you get to mingle with celebrities while you sip on expensive wine and munch on gourmet food. There’s nothing more you could ask for.
But, of course, with the number of film festivals held in different places throughout the year, it can be hard to choose just one. So we prepared a list of Canadian film festivals to serve as a local guide for you movie lovers out there!
1. Fantasia International Film Festival
This festival is all the rage in Montreal every July for its outstanding line-up of foreign films. And in between screenings, Fantasia showcases Montreal’s most beautiful attractions and lets you bask in the wonders of the locale.
2. Ottawa International Animation Festival
All you cartoon and anime fans out there would have a blast at this festival! Running for five days every September, this film festival offers access to workshops, parties, award ceremonies, and a chance to mingle with your favourite animation directors!
3. Calgary Underground Film Festival
If you’re a movie lover looking for something out of the ordinary and what would be considered weird, then this festival is for you. Taking place every April, it showcases a dizzying array of independent horror, science fiction, comedy and fantasy films.
4. Hot Docs Film Festival
Taking place in a century-old landmark theatre every April to May is the biggest documentary festival in North America. It showcases a selection of films that boasts an impressive form of non-fiction storytelling.
5. Atlantic International Film Festival
Running every September, this festival focuses on Canadian east coast directors showcasing incredible regional films along some of the best screens in the world.