Ottawa winter film festivals

Sandy Hill residents are lucky to have easy access to film festivals throughout the year. Here are a few that are coming up this winter.

Banff Mountain Film Festival

January 29-31, 2023, at the ByTowne Cinema. The actual festival in Banff has just ended, and some of the best selections will reach us early next year. These screenings tend to sell out, but tickets can be purchased now from Trailhead, www.trailheadpaddleshack.ca

International Film Festival

March 8-19, 2023. The program hasn’t yet been released, but the 2022 festival featured 27 films so there is certain to be something for every film lover. Keep your eye on iffo.ca for the details. The IFFO is hosted by the Canadian Film Institute, which is based out of the Arts Court building at 2 Daly Ave.

Ottawa Black Film Festival

March 24-26, 2023. The OBFF fosters inclusion by showing films that share the realities of Black people from Canada and around the world. The first two years of the festival were hosted online, but there’s a chance we might see the program in real life this year — and perhaps even at the ByTowne Cinema. More details: ottawablackfilm.com

— Paula Kelsall