Event Details

KCFF was launched in 2001 by Alex Jansen, then a film student at Queen’s University.

It began as a three-day event at the Screening Room Movie Theatre, a two screen repertory cinema which Jansen was managing at the time. Fifteen of the twenty original screenings sold out.

In 2002, the festival added a second venue, increased the number of screenings substantially and added a fourth day to the event, becoming the largest showcase of feature films from across Canada.

Over the years the festival has continued to develop, launching the Local Filmmaking Initiative to provide educational and networking opportunities for local filmmakers, presenting a high school outreach program, guaranteeing the inclusion of French language films at each festival, and adding retrospective screenings and a Master class.

2014 was a strong year as the KCFF festival broke attendance and box office records. This is exciting news as the KCFF prepares for an important milestone year in 2015: the 15th anniversary celebration!

This funding is for the marketing of "KCFF: Retrospective”, enhanced programming taking place during the Festival’s 20th anniversary season, March 12 to 15, 2020 with the special programming taking place at The Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts. The festival will showcase 70+ screenings of over 35 feature-length films from across Canada.

The 2020 Festival will feature four popular films from their back-catalogue, with a high profile guest in attendance for Q&As for each screening. Tentative “KCFF: Retrospective” programming includes:

(1) March 13: “Away From Her” with special guest Sarah Polley;

(2) March 13: “Trailer Park Boys” with special guest Jonathan Torrens;

(3) March 14: “Double Happiness” with special guest Sandra Oh; and

(4) March 15: (Film TBD) with special guest David Cronenberg.

KCFF’s core programming initiatives, taking place in venues all over the city, include: (i) the Feature Film Program; (ii) the French Film Program; (iii) the KCFF Film Lab (workshops, master classes and career events led by film industry professionals); (iv) the Local Shorts Program; and (v) Multidisciplinary Programming (interactive video game exhibitions, live music and stand-up comedy).