The Kingston Canadian Film Festival is the largest festival in the world dedicated exclusively to Canadian film. I am so excited to be curating the Local Shorts program for 2024.
Dating back to the early days of KCFF, the beloved Local Shorts Program has promoted hundreds of short films (we estimate 225) created by Kingston filmmakers. The program is designed to accommodate experienced filmmakers as well as emerging talents who are taking their very first steps in the world of filmmaking. Our aim is to acknowledge the work of our amazing local artists and introduce them to a wonderful festival audience who are eager to explore and encourage our hometown film scene!
Directors of the selected films will be paid screening fees for taking part in the festival
They will receive free festival passes to attend all our events and screenings
Their entire teams will also receive FREE tickets to attend our Canadian Shorts Programs (which is the category for our award-winning professional short films, often the "next step" for many student filmmakers)
All selected films will compete for several CASH awards decided by a revered jury of cinephiles and filmmakers
The Local Shorts Program accepts films made by filmmakers who have connections to Kingston and its surrounding areas. If the film is entirely or partially filmed in Kingston, this definitely makes it eligible. If one or more key members of the filmmaking team currently lives or used to live in Kingston, this also makes the film eligible for the local shorts program. Please reach out to us if you ever need to clarify whether a film is eligible for this category.
No submission fees are required, and we have set an extended deadline only for this program – December 15, 2023.
KCFF is the globe's largest all-Canadian film festival and we attract an audience of 10,000+ cultural enthusiasts from regions near and far. So, it's a great opportunity for local filmmakers to take part as artists and creators, not just spectators. Founded in 2001, KCFF is a charitable cultural organization that provides access to Canadian film in a dynamic festival setting. Transforming traditional and unconventional venues across Kingston’s historic downtown, KCFF is an annual whirlwind of movies and special events that spark curiosity, ignite discussion and provide a fresh experience of Canadian film.
Each Festival, long-time festival goers and first-time enthusiasts can explore screenings, Q+As, parties, workshops, networking events, live music, stand-up comedy, and exhibitions. With previous appearances from folks like Gerry Dee, Cathy Jones, Bif Naked, Gordon Pinsent, plus cast from shows like Baroness Von Sketch, Letterkenny, Mr. D, Trailer Park Boys, Kids in the Hall, and This Hour Has 22 Minutes, there are a few familiar faces along the way, too!
The 2024 Kingston Canadian Film Festival will take place February 28 to March 3, in downtown Kingston, Ontario. The lineup will be announced early in 2024. Save the dates!