DRIFF 2020 coming up
DRIFF has announced this year’s festival will stream online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival begins on Oct. 1 at driff.ca.
DRIFF 2020 is almost here and the themes for this year’s Durham Region International Film Festival have been announced.
The three-day festival, which opens on Thursday, Oct. 1, will be virtual and streamed online this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The theme for day one on Oct. 1 is True North! and all that is truly Canadian — “stories that get to the heart of who we are as a country and explore Canadian identity,” states DRIFF.
Two programs will be available to stream online at www.driff.ca from 12 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Day two on Friday, Oct. 2 is all about international screenings and global discussion.
The second day will feature work from Italy, Jamaica, Austria, and Egypt. Two programs will be available to stream online from 12 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
The day will serve up a virtual platter of films to stream from around the world, as well as the opportunity to participate in a global conversation with select filmmakers.
In partnership with Durham College and hosted in the Global Classroom, a moderator will remotely connect filmmakers for a livestream discussion about their work.
Closing day on Saturday, Oct. 3 will include virtual screenings and a drive-in event to close out the festival. Two programs will be available to stream online from 12 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Homegrown, is a program featuring Ontario and Durham Region talent and stories that speak to the theme of community re-imagined.
The second is a student film showcase made up of six shorts, 65 minutes in length.
DRIFF Director of Programming, Kirk Cooper, says 2020 has proven to be the strongest year for quality and experience demonstrated by the student submissions received.
Participants can join in person on closing night for a drive-in experience. Attendees will take in a selection of narrative shorts and a documentary short, followed by the presentation of DRIFF 2020 Awards for Best Student, Best Feature, Best Short, and Best Regional Film.
The location for the drive-in has yet to be determined.
For more information, visit www.driff.ca.