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Award-winning, community-based and unforgettable are all words you could use to describe Toronto’s longest-running free film festival.
The Regent Park Film Festival (RPFF) spans four days, showcasing work from rising and renowned filmmakers all aimed to resonate with and relate to the diverse lived experiences of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) communities.
The 22nd edition of the Regent Park Film Festival will run from Nov. 28 until Dec. 1, 2024, but planning it all starts in the spring.
“Our founder, Siddan Chandra, initially started RPFF as a way to bring together the various cultural communities that exist in Regent Park,” Sarah-Tai Black (they/them), Manager of Programming at Regent Park Film Festival, shares with us.
“By providing these communities with free access to great films and arts programs, they are able to enjoy films that reflect their own experience and also learn about their interconnected communities through multifaceted storytelling.”
Pulling off four days of free programming is a big task and you’d never guess just a handful of people pull off RPFF each year.
“We’re a small but mighty team,” Black continues. “Our film scouting process involves significant research and relationship building as we look to champion both up-and-coming and renowned filmmakers across Canada and internationally.”
“Despite the festival spanning multiple days, we pour our hearts and minds into everything we do as early as spring 2024.”
The festival this year features a series of films and panels all taking place at Daniels Spectrum Cultural Centre in the heart of Regent Park.
Free tickets are available for each film, industry panel and event taking place over the four days and according to Black, there’s accessible programming so everyone can enjoy.
The accessibility features include free access to programming, free childcare throughout the festival, ensuring that all films are closed captioned with ASL translation available on-site and hosting in a fully accessible building that can be easily accessed via public transportation.
Seating is first-come-first-serve and you can expect to be wowed by films that provide opportunities for “in-depth, nuanced discussions, as well as uplifting and joyful films which have a significant impact on a community’s growth and prosperity.”
“Ultimately, it’s about creating an unforgettable experience for filmmakers, industry folks and our audiences, while also planning for long-term sustainability and growth,” Black concluded.
Whether you attend with friends, family or alone as a solo adventure, be sure to grab your tickets and check out the full lineup of films and events happening at this year’s festival.
The Regent Park Film Festival kicks off on Nov. 28 until Dec. 1, 2024, and will be at Daniels Spectrum Cultural Centre, 585 Dundas St E.
