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Friday 07-Mar-2025

Event Description

The Kamloops Film Society is thrilled to announce the return of the Kamloops Film Festival for its 29th year. The festival takes place at the Paramount Theatre from March 6th to 15th, 2025. During this 10-day cinematic celebration, attendees will enjoy over 20 feature films across multiple genres, special events, insightful panels with filmmakers and industry experts, and a spectacular Closing Night Party.
“At the Kamloops Film Society, we believe in the power of film to bring people together and spark important conversations”, says Colette Abbott, Kamloops Film Society Executive Director. “The 29th annual Kamloops Film Festival is a celebration of this vision, with an exciting array of films, special guests, and an expanded industry program that we hope will help strengthen the future of film in our region.”
The festival kicks off with a red carpet reception, featuring a local wine tasting and the screening of Michael Clowater’s Canadian-made feature DRIVE BACK HOME. Based on the true story of Clowater’s grandfather Ernie and great-uncle Hedley, the film stars queer icon and multi-award winner Alan Cumming, host of The Traitors. The screening will be followed by a Q & A with producer Brian Mason.
Matthew Rankin’s UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE, winner of the inaugural Directors’ Fortnight Audience Award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, is a gentle sort of comedy set in a reimagined Canada where Persian and French are the two official languages and loneliness is the common currency. The film screens on Sunday, March 9th and includes a post-film discussion with writer/actor, Pirouz Nemati.
Documentary highlights include Nova Ami and Velcrow Ripper’s INCANDESCENCE, an immersive cinematic experience, weaving on-the-ground footage of the 2021 White Rock Lake and 2023 McDougall Creek Fires with extraordinary stories of survival and adaptation that transform our understanding of wildfire. The film screens on Friday, March 8th and will be followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers and local subjects. SINGING BACK THE BUFFALO by Cree filmmaker Tasha Hubbard screens on Friday, March 14th. This feature documentary follows Indigenous nations as they reintroduce the keystone species to the land and will be followed by a Q & A with the film’s impact producer Jade Tootoosis.
New this year, we are proud to announce, Learn About Film (LAF), presented in partnership with the Thompson-Nicola Film Commission. This is a two-day industry program designed for emerging and early-career filmmakers looking to enhance their pitch packages and access funding. LAF takes place March 7th & 8th and features sessions led by industry experts including representatives from Creative BC, the National Film Board of Canada, and Knowledge Network; 1-on-1 meetings, and a networking soiree.
Returning by popular demand, the Kamloops Independent Short Shorts (KISS) Festival will take place on Sunday, March 9th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm followed by a filmmaker reception. This free public event showcases 5-minute films by independent and professional filmmakers from the Thompson-Nicola Region with cash awards sponsored by the Kamloops Film Society, Thompson-Nicola Film Commission, and Kamloops Arts Council.
DarkFest, presented in partnership with Drunk in a Graveyard, returns with two thrilling nights for horror-genre fans. Kaniehtiio Horn’s directorial debut SEEDS screens Saturday, March 8th, which is a campy revenge thriller that follows Ziggy, a Mohawk woman, who gets hired as an influencer for Nature's Oath company and gets embroiled in a fight to preserve her people's heritage amid corporate interests. On Saturday, March 15th, NOSFERATU: A SILENTS SYNCED FILM breathes new life into F.W. Murnau’s celebrated silent-era vampire flick with its orchestral classical score replaced by Radiohead’s dense and moody albums “Kid A” and “Amnesiac.”
The festival concludes with a dazzling Silent Film-themed Closing Night Party at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Kamloops! Step back in time and channel your inner silent era star or starlet, enjoy DJ music, fun door prizes, and a photo booth. The $35 tickets include a complimentary drink, refreshments, and a mouthwatering spread curated by Cordo.

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