The curtain is opening for the first time since 2020 on the world’s largest festival dedicated exclusively to Canadian Film – and with in-person screenings or at-home digital streaming, attending has never been easier. The Kingston Canadian Film Festival (KCFF) takes place March 3 – 13 and offers a whirlwind of movies and special events celebrating Canadian film. This year, the hybrid event is one of the most accessible, customizable KCFF experiences yet.
Tickets are on sale now. You can purchase a digital pass, in-person tickets, or digital streamings from the comfort of your own home. We spoke with Marc Garniss, Festival Director, about how fresh the 2022 film line-up is. It includes a variety of powerful stories from across Canada that will make you laugh, cry and reflect.
“Because our angle is that we’re an all-Canadian film festival, our theme is inherently built into what we do. That definitely makes us unique among other festivals. Last year we saw people attending from around the world…Every year we’re showcasing the best Canadian films of the year – some have won awards at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) and some people haven’t seen before.”
Although KCFF has been working to diversify its audience for a long time, this year’s in-person/online hybrid format makes it even easier for new attendees to dive into the world of Canadian film.
“We want to dispel the notion that you need to be a film nerd or a cinephile to attend and understand what we’re doing. That’s not it at all. We certainly have some films that might be more experimental and challenging in the line-up, but we also just have some simple comedies, so you can turn your brain off and just enjoy what’s on the screen. We try to provide films of all genres; you can pick and choose what you want to do at the festival. We want to show audiences why they can love Canadian movies – a lot of the films they wouldn’t normally get to see on Netflix.”
In-person screening events will take place at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts and The Screening Room. This year, KCFF is selling tickets to events directly through the venues – just remember to purchase your passes and tickets online as in-person box office sales won’t be provided. KCFF will only be selling to 50% capacity in each of the theatres. Guests must show proof of vaccination, wear a mask, and comply with all COVID-19 regulations and mandates. No food or beverages will be served at venues. You can find more in-person screening information on the KCFF website.
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The on-demand streaming option gives you a customizable KCFF experience. Once a film premieres on the platform, you’ll have until 11:59 p.m. on March 13 to stream it. If you’re interested in watching six or more films, you can consider purchasing a digital pass to save on regular box office prices. Digital passes can purchase six, nine, or 12 films. These passes are limited to digital screenings and aren’t available for in-person screenings. Even with a digital pass, selections are subject to availability, and some may sell out. If you have any tech questions, check out the handy digital FAQ and guide. You can find more digital screening information online.
While many of the films are available online both nationally and internationally, some are only available in certain regions. Each film page will list any restrictions, or you can view a full list of the geo-restricted films.
Many of the films include a post-show Q&A session, and digital viewers aren’t left out of this experience. KCFF has integrated Q&A sessions into the online platform. So, you can enjoy an an in-depth conversation about the filmmaking process from your comfy couch.
“I love having a hybrid version,” says Marc. “It’s accessible – people don’t have a reason not to attend. If they’re halfway across the world or caught in a Kingston snowstorm, they can attend. If we stay on a good course and we’re back to full capacity next year, I’m not sure if the distributors will want to put their films onto these digital platforms. So, there’s a chance this could be the last hybrid version that we do.”
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If you’re wondering what to watch, Marc is particularly passionate about this year’s short films. Sometimes shorts are overshadowed by feature films, but often the only time you get to see a curated list of excellent short films is at a film festival. Marc recommends The Shaman’s Apprentice by Zacharias Kunuk from the Canadian Shorts Program. Kunuk is an Indigenous filmmaker known for one of the best Canadian films of all time, The Fast Runner. His new short was shortlisted for the Oscars.
KCFF has curated two different programs for its Canadian Shorts which includes filmmakers from all over the country, as well as a category of Local Shorts featuring filmmakers that either live in Kingston or have a significant connection to the city. Within Local Shorts, there’s a Youth Shorts program that largely showcases the work of Kingston high school students.
“Within each program there’s generally between six and ten films,” says Marc. “It just gives you a snapshot of everything kind of rolled into one in each of those programs. The nice thing about the local shorts is Kingstonians love seeing local landmarks or people on screen. If you watch ten of those films, odds are you’ll see somebody that you know and recognize a few of the downtown streets or local landmarks, which is fun.”
As for feature films, Drunken Birds by Ivan Grbovic is at the top of Marc’s recommendation list. The French-Canadian film was Canada’s submission to the Oscars this year. Marc is also excited about Learn to Swim by Thyrone Tommy and Wildhood by Bretten Hannam. The film opening this year’s festival, All My Puny Sorrows, is also generating a lot of conversation. Although no local filmmakers submitted feature films this year, Sleeping Warrior features two Queen’s alumni: actress Janet Wells and producer, Peter Raymont.
KCFF is also offering special events presented online this year, including the popular “Breaking In: Starting a Career in Film and Media”, presented with the Kingston Film Office and a Comic Art Workshop with instructor Chris Cochrane. Keep an eye on new workshops and events here.
Marc and the KCFF team are planning more programming even after the festival wraps up on March 13.
“As things hopefully open up this year, we intend on staying busiThe 2022 Kingston Canadian Film Festival runs from March 3 to 13. With so many customizable options this year, you can build a one-of-a-kind KCFF experience that fits a dreamy night out, a solo night in, or a cozy screening party with friends. er throughout our off-season and working with the Kingston Film Office on additional workshops and panels throughout the year.”
The 2022 Kingston Canadian Film Festival runs from March 3 to 13. With so many customizable options this year, you can build a one-of-a-kind KCFF experience that fits a dreamy night out, a solo night in, or a cozy screening party with friends.
