Opening night at the Centennial Building
The Durham Region International Film Festival turns 10 this month, and the celebration starts in Whitby.
DRIFF runs Oct. 22 to 24 at venues across the region, according to a Region of Durham news release. Opening night takes place at the Centennial Building in downtown Whitby, featuring Hold Onto Me, winner of the World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival.
Tickets are $15 for opening night and $20 for each of the second and third days, with the full programme and tickets available at DRIFF.ca.
What's on screen
Closing night on Oct. 24 brings Take Me Home to the Biltmore Theatre in Oshawa. The film is the 2025 recipient of the Tribeca Festival AT&T Untold Stories grant, according to the release.
Canadian work is featured prominently in the lineup. The festival includes the Ontario premiere of The Snake, a feature from Prince Edward Island filmmaker Jenna MacMillan, screening Oct. 23 after the Peak Pressure shorts programme at the Ajax Centre for the Arts. Canadian entries also appear across DRIFF's short programmes.
Oct. 24 at the Biltmore Theatre includes the Push Back shorts programme, the closing-night feature, the DRIFF Awards Ceremony and the anniversary celebration.
Beyond the movies
The festival is adding experiences off the screen for its 10th year. Organizers plan filmmaker question-and-answer sessions, red carpet photo opportunities and a Local Culinary Showcase featuring food from across Durham Region.
Workshops include a behind-the-scenes session on creating period makeup looks for film, along with acting tips for the screen.
New this year is Myth2Market: The Future of Movie Making Summit on Oct. 23. The event will look at what's ahead for the screen industry, including artificial intelligence, virtual production, visual effects and sustainable filmmaking, as well as opportunities to grow film production and investment in Durham Region.
A growing film sector
The festival is supported by Invest Durham through Film Durham, which the release describes as the main point of contact for the film and television industry in the region. Film Durham is part of Invest Durham, the Region's Economic Development and Tourism division.
Durham Region plays a role in Ontario's multi-billion-dollar film and TV industry, according to the release, due to its proximity to Toronto's production hub, its film industry workforce and its mix of studios and locations. The region's production sites include a dedicated film studio, Canada's largest filming backlot, post-production facilities and one of Canada's top 10 filming locations.
DRIFF is a not-for-profit festival based in Durham's communities, promoting film as a form of creative expression and a catalyst for community building.
For a limited time, ticket purchases come with a chance to win one of six Night-Out Giveaway packages, each including a one-night hotel stay, a restaurant gift card or voucher and two DRIFF tickets.
