Halifax Independent Filmmakers Festival

06/24/2023

The fourth and final day of HIFF 2023 is here! It's been a genuine pleasure gathering in the Light House Arts Centre, discovering films and celebrating this wonderful community with you. Many thanks to everyone who joined us for HIFF this year, and a special shoutout to our engaging and inspiring visiting filmmakers, who took part in every conceivable element of this year's fest and made HIFF 2023 something special.

But we aren't done yet! We've got a jam-packed final day that includes an Artist Talk with Halifax film legend James MacSwain, our annual Canadian shorts program, and a triple feature of some of the most celebrated new films to come out of the fest circuit. Beat the heat with us downtown and check out these unforgettable new works!

Full schedule at https://tinyurl.com/34y7e886

06/23/2023

Our HIFF Artist Talks continue today at 4 p.m. with Winnie Cheung, Samara Bliss and Bunny Elefante from RESIDENCY, who will talk about the decline of shared arts spaces in city centres and what it means for the way we're working.

Tomorrow, we're thrilled to host an Artist Talk with local legend James MacSwain at 12:15 p.m. We'll dig into his incredible body of work and discuss Halifax's changing film landscape.

Artist Talks take place in the Light House Arts Centre and admission is FREE! See you there.

06/21/2023

Tonight's the night!

We're very excited to kick off HIFF 2023 at 6:30 this evening with SO MUCH TENDERNESS, a heartrending and hopeful drama from Lina Rodriguez.

Find passes, film info and today's full schedule in the HIFF Dailies:

https://tinyurl.com/mtmrxp6n

06/20/2023

HIFF is here!

Halifax's annual celebration of independent cinema kicks off tomorrow! Join us June 21–24 in the Light House Arts Centre (1800 Argyle Street) in downtown Halifax.

Don't miss a minute of it with this handy HOW TO HIFF guide:

https://tinyurl.com/2s4bfe4p

06/14/2023

⚡️📽️🛍️ HIFF PASS BUNDLE SALE!

HIFF 2023 starts in one week! And we're celebrating with a ONE DAY pass bundle sale. Buy your Festival Pass today (June 14) and get a free HIFF tote bag!

A $40 HIFF Festival Pass gets you into everything this year's fest has to offer, including seven feature screenings, four shorts programs, intimate and interactive Artist Talks with visiting filmmakers, and a celebration of a local film legend.

Get your pass here: https://t.co/iO5ihfl1qd

*tote bags will be handed out along with your pass at the HIFF box office in the Light House Arts Centre when you arrive for your first screening.

06/09/2023

📰HIFF NEWSLETTER — June 9, 2023

In which we discuss: our Day 2 screenings, visiting filmmaker Q+As with Winnie Cheung (RESIDENCY) and Sol Berruezo Pichon-Riviere (OUR HAPPIEST DAYS), and meet Snaggle Tooth, the ostracized marmot of the Colorado Mountains.

https://tinyurl.com/ybtevdph

06/06/2023

Don't miss a moment of HIFF 2023! See everything this year's fest has to offer for just $40 with a HIFF Festival Pass.

Four packed days of groundbreaking features and shorts from near and far, filmmaker Q+As, intimate Artist Talks and parties.

Join in on Halifax's annual celebration of independent cinema. Click the link in our bio to get your pass now!

Get yours here: https://tinyurl.com/4nf4bpy7

06/06/2023

📰HIFF Newsletter — June 6, 2023

In which we discuss: Opening Night screenings of SO MUCH TENDERNESS and PLAINS, filmmaker Q+As with Lina Rodriguez and Romanne Walker, and the precarious joys of projecting laser-printer film.

https://tinyurl.com/5n6f4dxb

05/30/2023

On June 24 at 7 PM, HIFF presents HOW TO SAVE A DEAD FRIEND, Marusya Syroechkovskaya's fierce document of addiction, isolation and hopeless youth in Putin’s Russia.

With influences ranging from Harmony Korine, witch house, and Windows Movie Maker—and a soundtrack featuring Joy Division and Nirvana—the film introduces Syroechkovskaya as an exciting new voice in doc filmmaking.

Get your passes/tickets at https://t.co/E6fQ45AOwd

05/17/2023

The 17th annual HIFF hits the Light House Arts Centre from June 21–24! We’ll have four days of boundary-pushing films from across the world, intimate Artist Talks with visiting filmmakers, and a celebration of a local legend.

Stay tuned for our full program launch on May 24!

04/04/2023

HIFF is hiring!

We're seeking a Festival Assistant to join our team and help with the planning of the 17th annual HIFF, including helping with sponsorship, programming, print traffic, and event logistics.

INFO + APP. FORM HERE: https://bit.ly/3U6oTuF

04/04/2023

This is it! The deadline to submit your Atlantic or Canadian short for HIFF 2023 consideration is TODAY.

Be part of Halifax's annual celebration of bold, boundary-pushing cinema. Submit on FilmFreeway here: http://bit.ly/3CJn9A0

01/12/2023

⚡️CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS⚡️

It's that time of year again — submissions are now open for HIFF 2023! We're seeking bold, boundary-pushing short films for our Atlantic Auteurs and Canadian shorts programs.

The 17th annual Halifax Independent Filmmakers Festival will take place June 22–25, 2023, at the Light House Arts Centre!

Submit on FilmFreeway HERE: https://bit.ly/3CJn9A0

09/13/2022

⚡ AIFF TICKET GIVEAWAY ⚡

We're coming out of hibernation because we have FIVE pairs of tickets to give away for the FIN Atlantic International Film Festival screening of UNTIL BRANCHES BEND, the exciting debut from Sophie Jarvis starring Grace Glowicki (TITO, STRAWBERRY MANSION).

Reply to this post by noon tomorrow (Sept 14) to be entered in the draw!

SCREENING: SUNDAY SEPT 18, 6:20 PM
Synopsis: Pregnant cannery worker Robin (Grace Glowicki), discovers an infested peach, spiraling her into a singular, solitary mission to prove that an invasive bug species has infiltrated the crops. Causing a factory shutdown and mass layoff, she is also disparaged by a dismissive boss, Dennis (Lochlyn Munro), and a skeptical, embittered community. Paired with Robin’s personal struggle with abortion, Until Branches Bend weaves a psychological story of fixation, doubt, and facing reality—despite the darkness or damage.

06/12/2022

HIFF 2022's Closing Day is here! ☀️📽️🎞️

We'll ride out the humidity in the Light House Arts Centre for two final screenings: this year's Canadian Shorts program (1 PM) and THE CROSSING (3 PM).

Check the Dailies here: https://bit.ly/3xGoF3Q

06/11/2022

HIFF DAILIES — DAY THREE

Today we've got a stacked lineup of films you won't want to miss, including our annual Atlantic Auteurs showcase, plus a FREE Artist Talk with Ryan Steel and the return of the HIFF party!

Check the Dailies here: https://bit.ly/3xCFht7

06/10/2022

We're just under an hour away from our first HIFF 2022 Artist Talk, starting at 4 p.m. at the AFCOOP office (1531 Grafton Street) with Martin Edralin (ISLANDS).

We’ll discuss the path to his debut feature and his breakout moment at SXSW in 2021.

Come on by — admission is FREE!

06/10/2022

Opening Night was truly a blast! Thank you to everyone who packed the house on a stormy night and made it something special.

Things really get rolling with more great films and our first FREE Artist Talk on Day Two. Check the Dailies for all the info:

📰 https://bit.ly/3tsDhkQ

06/09/2022

HIFF IS HERE!

HIFF 2022 kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. at the Light House Arts Centre with ISLANDS, including a live post-screening Q+A with Martin Edralin. Followed by Rhayne Vermette's dreamy debut, STE. ANNE, at 9 p.m.

📰 Check today's dailies for all the info: https://bit.ly/3O2ZMVh

06/08/2022

📰 HIFF Newsletter — June 8, 2022

In which we discuss: HIFF starting tomorrow! Canadian shorts, THE CROSSING, Artist Talks with visiting filmmakers, dream incubation, and a show-stopping performance by a seven-year-old niece.

Read it all here: https://bit.ly/3aDbS98

06/06/2022

Capping off HIFF's Opening Night this Thursday is STE. ANNE, a dreamy portrait of preoccupations, lost connections, and community life in Treaty 1 Territory.

After the film, stick around for our virtual Q+A with filmmaker Rhayne Vermette!

More info, passes & tickets here: https://bit.ly/3aBMfW9

06/03/2022

At HIFF this year, we're thrilled to welcome Martin Edralin (ISLANDS) and Ryan Steel (THE BIRDWATCHER) to town for a pair of in-depth Artist Talks.

We'll celebrate another year of films and friends at the HIFF Party on June 11—it's free and all are welcome!

Full details here: https://bit.ly/38Pu3YM

06/01/2022

📰 HIFF Newsletter — June 1, 2022

In which we discuss: SHORT VACATION, THIS IS MY DESIRE, Atlantic Auteurs, MiniDV cassettes, and carrying canvas around Moncton.

Read it all here: https://bit.ly/3ahMkhu

05/31/2022

For our final Two Shots discussion TODAY at 6 PM, we'll chat with the wonderful Jacquelyn Mills (GEOGRAPHIES OF SOLITUDE) on how, as a filmmaker, to get the most out of the festival experience. It's free!

Register here for the Zoom link: https://bit.ly/3lWiHFk

05/31/2022

GOOD GRIEF is the first film made through HIFF's new Open Field grant. You can be the very first audience to see Sylvia Mok's new short on June 9, HIFF's opening night, before our 7 PM screening of ISLANDS!

Read all about the inspiration behind the film at the link below:

WORKPRINT — MAY 2022

This month, we speak with Sylvia Mok about her new short GOOD GRIEF, set to debut on HIFF Opening Night. Plus, Abner on odd yet worthwhile gear combos available in our gear room, and HIFF fest assistant CDF offers a few film recs.

https://bit.ly/3wVRMyA