The Yellowknife International Film Festival is looking for film submissions for its 20th anniversary festival in November. Early bird film submissions opened May 1 and the final deadline to submit films is September 11.
Bran Ramsey, executive director of Western Arctic Moving Pictures which organizes YKIFF, says the festival received almost 600 film submissions last year, and they are hoping for a similar amount for this year’s festival. About 50 films are screened at the festival.
“It’s a small program, but we do our best to balance international films and documentaries with narrative, short films, with features,” said Ramsey.
Films in progress can be entered, but they must be completed when the program is released in October. Visit YKIFF’s website to submit a film.
This year, YKIFF will run from November 4-8, 2026. Alongside film screenings, the events include live script reads, local DJs before film screenings, late-night horror and genre screenings known as YKIFF After Dark, and the Pitch This! competition – a chance to pitch a film and win $10,000.
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YKIFF is also introducing a retrospective program to showcase the filmmakers and films that have come out of the festival’s 20 years of running.
“We’re hoping to shine a spotlight on films that have been created locally,” said Ramsey.
With the Capitol Theatre closing its doors in March, the festival is pivoting its main film screening venue to the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, but will continue to host events at partnering venues around Yellowknife.
