Heading into their 24th year, the Gimli International Film Festival (GIFF) shows no signs of slowing down.

“We are programming over 90 films,” executive director Teya Zuzek says. “It is a great blend of Manitoban films, Canadian films and international films.”

“It’s grown from starting off as a beach screening only to multiple venues, multiple events, industry sessions, as well as keeping that pièce de résistance, which is that beach screening, which is free to the public.”

The films will centre on an overarching theme. Zuzek says she “can’t divulge what it is yet, but, it’ll be very exciting, and it’s a perfect way for the town to activate and celebrate, really, the love of film, which is what Gimli is all about.”

But film screenings aren’t the only thing the festival has to offer.

“We’re not just the beach films,” Zuzek explains. “Obviously, that’s a fun part of it and something that’s really important, but we also do question-and-answer periods, panels, and we have industry sessions that are free to the public, because we believe in accessibility.”

GIFF takes accessibility quite seriously. In addition to events and screenings at many different price points (including free), the festival offers a free shuttle service to and from the festival for ticket holders.

“Also, we do a young filmmakers program and a bursary program for marginal- ized groups and organizations that want to come out that might not be able to afford tickets,” Zuzek says.

The festival also wants to help develop the next generation of filmmakers.

“We also do the 48-hour fest, which is a competition where filmmakers have 48 hours to create and showcase their films,” she says. “It’s a really big event, because those films will then go on to do the 48 Hour at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival).

Published in Volume 78, Number 25 of The Uniter (May 30, 2024)