The ReFrame Film Festival is returning in January with in-person screenings and events in downtown Peterborough for the first time since the pandemic began, but will also continue with an on-demand virtual festival that will reach audiences across Canada. A limited number of early bird festival passes are on sale now until December 1.
The hybrid format is a first for the annual documentary film festival, which will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024.
The in-person component of the festival will be hosted at Showplace Performance Centre and Market Hall Performing Arts Centre from Thursday, January 25th to Sunday, January 28th and will feature a curated film program, live performances, filmmaker question-and-answer sessions, panel discussions, media arts exhibits, and more.
Following the in-person component, ReFrame will move online with an on-demand virtual component from Monday, January 29th to Sunday, February 4th. As in previous years, films screening during the virtual component will be available to viewers across the country.
According to a media release from organizers, the decision to present a hybrid film festival for ReFrame’s 20th anniversary year was based on audience feedback surveys and community consultation.
“The festival team saw ReFramers’ clear desire to return to the hustle and bustle, engagement, dialogue, and excitement generated by the in-person experience,” the media release states. “At the same time, the convenience, accessibility, safety, and reach of the ReFrame Virtual Theatre was shown to be equally valued by audiences and community partners. ReFrame has heard its community, and is offering both experiences as it celebrates 20 years of showcasing the best in documentary film.”
As always, ReFrame presents the year’s most important, thought-provoking, and inspiring documentary films focused on intersectionality, diversity, human rights, and environmental responsibility.
The 20th anniversary festival program is curated by ReFrame’s creative director Eryn Lidster, hired this past April to replace Amy Siegel, who had served as creative director since 2019.
“It is thrilling to explore connections across the film program, and the relationship to things happening right now in Nogojiwanong-Peterborough,” Lidster says. “I am filled with anticipation for audiences to experience, and be inspired by, the incredible power of community. It is such an exciting time and I am delighted that we can come together and celebrate our interconnection, both in person and online.”
While the complete festival program will not be released until early January, ReFrame will announce in December some of the films screening at the festival.
A limited number of early bird festival passes, with savings of 25 per cent over regular prices, are on sale now at reframefilmfestival.ca until Friday, December 1st (or while supplies last) — a perfect gift for the documentary film lover on your list.
To accommodate the in-person and virtual components of the festival, there are three festival pass options available: a $75 all-access in-person pass, a $35 all-access virtual pass (offering a reduced online selection of the same films screened during the in-person component), and a $90 all-access hybrid pass for both the in-person and virtual components of the festival.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of the 2024 ReFrame Film Festival.
