Spotlight on Open Film Festival
Great storytelling isn’t just pure entertainment — it also weaves tighter connections between us, allowing us to walk in each other's shoes and see the world through a different lens. And the more diverse perspectives that are included, the more we cultivate a world that is caring, understanding and open.
Now in its sixth year in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Open Film Festival (a St. John's-based not-for-profit) embraces that "reel" approach, bringing filmmakers and film lovers together for three days of screenings, panels and more in a celebration of artistic diversity, local creative talent and the role of film in strengthening the cultural community.
Taking place from Friday, August 21 to Sunday, August 23 at the LSPU Hall, the theme of this year's festival is “Stories Connecting Continents" and will feature 11 short films from six countries across North America and Africa (including several by St. John’s-based filmmakers), as well as the feature film "A Tribe Called Love," which will include a director talk by Toronto filmmaker Mohamed Ahmed. Because accessibility is a core part of the festival's approach, all films will include closed captions.
Opening night on August 21 also includes an industry mixer and the panel “Beyond the Island: Connecting Local Talents to Global Opportunities” at 36A George Street, featuring Elling Lien, Executive Director, Nickel Independent Film Festival; Ife Alaba, Founder and Director, Occupy All Spaces; Cyril Butler, Industry Development Manager, PictureNL; and Brian Amadi, Filmmaker and Founder, The Art of Being Black. (The opening and panel is free to attend but RSVP is required.)
During the festival closing, PictureNL will also make a special announcement and launch its Empowerment Program, giving attendees the chance to learn more about new supports and opportunities for filmmakers in the province.
Click here to see a full film lineup and schedule of events for Open Film Festival.
Last year, Open Film Festival hosted director Karen Chapman for a talk about her award-winning film “Village Keeper.”
It is this local support, says the event organizers, that helps make this festival possible, which this year includes the Nickel Independent Film Festival, St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival, Occupy All Spaces, the Centre for Black Arts, and PictureNL. Together, these organizations help strengthen a connected local film community while opening pathways for Black and POC filmmakers, emerging artists and audiences to encounter stories from across the diaspora.
In addition to giving St. John’s-based filmmakers a platform alongside artists from beyond the province, the festival brings diverse stories and industry conversations to local audiences. By connecting artists, cultural organizations and audiences, Open Film Festival aims to contribute to a more inclusive film culture in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“Open Film Festival exists to amplify the voices of Black and POC filmmakers from across the diaspora," says Kikachi Memeh, Head of Programming for Open Film Festival. "More than just screenings, we cultivate a space for radical imagination, archival preservation and the continuous evolution of our visual language.”
For more information on Open Film Festival and to buy tickets, visit openfilmfest.org. The festival also welcomes art organizations and will provide a limited number of complimentary tickets. Reach out to info@openfilmfest.org with the subject "Comp Tickets."