Lights! Camera! Login! Today, the Gimli International Film Festival (GFF) announced it is moving Manitoba’s largest film festival ONLINE, in response to COVID-19.
The 20th annual GFF will be more widely available than ever, with its regular programming of over 130 films available to audiences across Canada and the entire world via two digital platforms: GIFF Online and GFF Live Stream.
GIFF Online is a Netflix-styled film viewing platform available to passholders and ticket buyers, featuring over 130 films from around the world. Starting June 1st, anyone across Canada can purchase an early-bird Festival Pass for only $60 per household.
GFF has also once again partnered with RBC to offer free programming throughout the 2020 Festival via GFF Live Stream! This 5-day schedule of feature films, short film programs, filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions and more will be available to anyone across the globe for FREE, streamed live directly on GFF’s website. This free programming will take the place of the regular RBC Sunset Screenings on Gimli Beach, which will be cancelled for 2020.
“GFF has a message for COVID-19, and that message is… ‘You can’t stop us.’” said Aaron Zeghers, GFF Festival Director. “For the first time, all of our regular film programming will be available to audiences across Canada, and we are making it more affordable than ever before.”
GFF Live Stream will include favourites such as the Manitoba Shorts Films in Competition with a live filmmaker Q&A. Also presented via live stream will be the 9th annual RBC $10,000 Emerging Filmmaker Pitch Competition – presented by RBC, On Screen Manitoba, the National Screen Institute & William F White – which is currently open for applications. GFF will also be launching registration on May 15th for the 3rd annual Future is Female* Mentorship Program taking place virtually with an expected 50+ participants and 10+ mentors.
“GFF’s free Live Stream program will provide audiences across the globe with a live film-viewing experience that is so craved for during this time of social distancing,” said Kristjan Harris, Chair of GFF’s Programming Committee. “Audiences will be able to ask filmmakers questions in online Q&As, attend panel discussions and masterclasses with keynote guests – all online and hosted live.”
In an effort to lead up to Manitoba 150‘s celebrations in 2021, GFF is also launching a new monthly movie series Manitoba Movie Night, which will be broadcast live on the Festival’s website for free! This series of classic Manitoba-made movies will screen on GFF’s website on the 20th of each month, in celebration of GFF’s 20th anniversary, and Manitoba’s 150th anniversary in 2020.
“As an important part of Manitoba’s 150th celebrations, GFF will be delaying our special MB 150 plans to be presented in-person at our 2021 Festival and in conjunction with other MB 150 events. However, we are excited to be able to still celebrate some of Manitoba’s greatest cinematic accomplishments this year, through this free monthly series,” said Janis Johnson, Chair of GFF’s Board.
The series will kick off on Wednesday, May 20th with an epic Manitoba-made double bill: The Last Winter, directed by Aaron Kim Johnson, followed by The First Winter, directed by Ryan McKenna. The films will be broadcast live of GFF’s Manitoba Movie Night web page.
For anyone interested in finding out more about changes to Manitoba’s premier film festival, they can join GFF Festival Director Aaron Zeghers and GFF Board Member and filmmaker Norma Bailey tomorrow, May 7 at 12:00 p.m. for a Facebook Live broadcast. Take part in the festival’s online transition and ask questions in real-time via GFF’s Facebook Page as they discuss changes to GFF’s 20th annual Festival, July 22 to 26, 2020.
FAST FACTS:
- GFF 2020 moves ONLINE
GFF shifts to offer the 20th annual Festival on two online platforms: GIFF Online & GFF Live Stream. - Join GFF on Facebook Live | Thurs, May 7 @ 12 Noon
GFF Festival Director Aaron Zeghers and GFF board member Norma Bailey to discuss the festival’s announcement to go ONLINE on Wednesday, May 7 at 12:00 p.m. CDT. Visit GFF’s Facebook Page to stream live and ask questions!
- GIFF Online vs. GFF Live Stream
GIFF Online: an on-demand, Netflix-styled film-viewing platform for passholders and individual ticket buyers
GFF Live Stream: a FREE, live-streamed schedule of events on GFF’s website - GFF 2020 Festival Content
GFF will continue to deliver over 130 films including feature films, short film programs, filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions and masterclasses. - GFF Passes go on sale June 1st, 2020 – only $60 per household!
Passes for GIFF Online will be available to audiences across Canada and at a lower price than ever before at only $60 per household for Earlybird Ticket Buyers! - Manitoba Movie Nights – a new online monthly movie series!
GFF is excited to launch a new monthly movie series, Manitoba Movie Night, which will be broadcast for free on the GFF website! This series of classic Manitoba-made movies will screen on the 20th of each month, in celebration of GFF’s 20th anniversary, and Manitoba’s 150th anniversary in 2020! - 2020 Film Schedule & Line-Up: GFF’s 2020 Film and Event Line-up is tentatively scheduled to be announced via Facebook Live on June 24th, 2020.
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GFF is Manitoba’s premier film festival and the largest rural film festival in Canada. The festival annually showcases over 130 films from the most promising Manitoban and Canadian filmmakers and an exceptional selection of films and documentaries from around the world. This year, GFF celebrates its 20th annual Festival ONLINE – July 22 to 26.
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