10th Annual Oakville Film Festival
Buy Tickets/Passes Now!

The 2023 Oakville Film Festival is celebrating a decade as Oakville’s only independent film festival and will run from June 21-27^th 2023. The Film List is available here. Virtual screenings are available until 30^th June.  For our 10^th anniversary, we will also be offering FREE TICKETS to anyone 21 years of age and under (pending availability), to any of our festival screenings at Film.ca.  See film lineup here to purchase tickets to single films. As well, Q&A’s and events will be available livestreamed for the June festival. Press Release here.

The Films, Oh, the Films!

This year’s lineup includes over 100 films, including 13 Canadian features and documentaries, and nine other feature films and documentaries from around the world including: UK, USA, India, Germany, Ukraine, and Cambodia. In addition, you can watch 79 short films from all over the world, and enjoy conversations with filmmakers and special events with some screenings.

Festival Launch: National Indigenous People’s Day June 21 2023 (Downloadable Poster Here), at The Five Drive-In Oakville.

The 10^th annual Oakville Film Festival launches on Wednesday June 21^st, which is National Indigenous People’s Day in Canada, with the Canadian Premiere of THE BEEHIVE, from Writer/Director Alexander Lasheras, and a special Gala evening highlighting Indigenous film, song, and dance.   This event is hosted by the Five Drive-In, and partners include: Grandmother’s Voice, 101 Deweguns, and the Town of Oakville. Tickets available here.

Thursday and Friday Night Galas (Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts)

Thursday Night EY Eastern Canadian Premiere of the Year of the Dog

Our Thursday night EY Gala features the Eastern Canadian Premiere of The Year of The Dog, a Drama/Comedy from Montana Writer/Director/Actor Rob Grabow, who will be attending the film for a Q&A, along with others from the film. This event includes a special performance by Oakville’s own Intrada Brass, highlighting theme songs from movies we all know and love.  And we are thrilled to announce that Oakville’s own 10-year old dancer extraordinaire,  Cydnee Abbott, will perform for us.  This remarkable girl was short listed as a finalist in the Canada’s Got Talent show.  And for those with VIP and ALL ACCESS Passes, the Thursday GALA event is of course followed by our famous after party.   Get your VIP pass or all access pass here. Single tickets available here (single tickets do not include the After Party). Single tickets for The Year of the Dog available here.

Friday Night CANADIAN PREMIERE Gala Polarized

Following a full day Industry Summit Friday 23 June, is our FRIDAY night GALA:  in which we present a really special film sponsored by Oakville’s own Capstick McCollum. Just in time for Pride week, OFFA is proud to present the Canadian Theatrical Premiere of Shamim Sarif’s new film, Polarized,  with a special performance by singer/songwriter Brooke Pallson to open the screening. The Q&A includes Director/Writer Shamim Sarif, actors Holly Deveaux and Maxine Denis, and others from the film.  Tickets to this event will be available either live, or as a livestreamed option. Tickets available here.

Watch your Favourite Gala films from Previous years!

OFFA’s own Tori Nixon has compiled a list of galas from past years, and where to watch them as a special offering for our 10^th year. Watch festival favourites from our very first year by downloading this schedule.

For the ultimate festival experience, we recommend our Red Carpet VIP pass, and ALL-ACCESS PASSES, which give you access to parties and all GALA screenings.

The VIP pass includes all of the red-carpet Galas (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday), festival parties, as well as 6 tickets to any live or virtual festival screening of your choice.  The All-Access Pass includes everything the festival has to offer (including the Party), plus you get access to the full screening series beginning in Fall of 2023.

Other Passes and Single Tickets

All other Passes are available here, and single tickets to events are available here. With the return to a live festival, we remind you that there is limited seating in our theatres.  With mostly in-person screenings, we will also offer some hybrid (in-person & virtual) and some virtual only.  Screenings are followed by an IN-PERSON or VIRTUAL Q&A with filmmakers and other guests, that adds so much to your festival experience. Some screenings have special events attached to them, to add to your enjoyment of the festival. Check out our full schedule here.

Passes get you the best prices of the festival, and there are several options to ensure there is something for everyone, as below:

• VIP Red Carpet Pass as above
• All Access Pass: as above
• Variety Pass: (one Gala of your choice + 3 film.ca or virtual screenings)
• 10 Pass this pass allows you ten tickets to any screening at film.ca cinemas, or any virtual offering. )
• 5 Pass: five tickets to any screening at film.ca cinemas, or any virtual offering.
• Double GALA pass (until 31 May, you can purchase the Double GALA pass at a discount) This pass allows you two tickets to either our Thursday night or Friday Night GALA, your choice.

VENUES

Venues include the Five Drive In*, Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts and Film.ca cinemas. The weekend of 24^thand 25^th June at Film.ca Cinemas includes 19 films/documentaries/shorts screenings, from 11 am to 11 pm each day. Here, you can watch some of the best films of the year, curated specially for you by our programming team.

GALA events are available at the Five Drive In*, with our Indigenous Opening Night GALA on National Indigenous Peoples Day.  Thursday 22^nd June and Friday 23^rd June we have red-carpet GALA events at Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts,  which feature Canadian and International film Premieres along with music, performance, dance, and other festivities.

*NOTE: A device that can scan the FM band such as a portable radio would be needed to hear the sound clearly outside the car.

HYBRID AND VIRTUAL ONLY EVENTS

You will be able to stream some of the films, Q&As, and festival action, either IN-PERSON or VIRTUALLY, from the comfort of your home.  You can choose either a virtual or in-person screening if they are available, for the same price.  Virtual screenings will be available from the first date of the festival until the end of June, 2023.  Q&AS will also be livestreamed for all festival events for 2023.

PASSES AVAILABLE

JURY AWARDS EVENT LIVE FOR 2023

The festival brings global film makers to our amazing community, either in person, or through virtual live or pre-taped Q&As that allow you to interact with the filmmakers.

Each year, OFFA hosts a juried award competition to recognize exceptional film makers, as well as an Audience Choice Award. For 2023, OFFA is doing a live awards event during the festival!  All prizes with the exception of the Audience Choice Awards will be awarded at this event.

Expedia Cruises/Celestyal Cruises Audience Choice Award

You will get a chance to vote for each film you see, and for 2023, we have a special prize, available through the generosity of our Audience Choice Award sponsors Expedia Cruises and Celestyal Cruises.  Each time you vote, your name will be entered into a draw to win a complimentary CRUISE FOR TWO, beginning in Athens, Greece, for 7 full days. The value of this cruise is $9000 US dollars.   You must vote to be eligible for this award.

Single Tickets and GALAS- Single tickets for both Film.ca screenings and OCPA screenings Available Here.

REVIEWS