The Forest City Film Festival (FCFF) is back in London and is marking its 10th anniversary.
The festival has grown from a small grassroots event showcasing 20 films to a major showcase featuring 100 films, including programs for youth and Indigenous filmmakers.
Dorothy Downs is the founder and executive director of the FCFF.
“This festival is about more than just watching films,” Downs said. “We’re talking about film appreciation and getting audiences to understand what this work is and why we need to be proud of our filmmakers.”
She also highlights the communal aspect of film festivals, noting that shared experiences in theatres cannot be replicated at home.
“There’s a special feeling when you’re watching it and you know that the filmmaker is actually seeing an audience watch it for the first time.” She says. “And even just the shared experience of watching these more unique films”
Downs says the festival is dedicated to supporting regional talent, with a rigorous selection process involving committees and industry judges.
Fliers for the FCFF 2025 (Source: XFM Reporter Lexi Saldana)
The FCFF comes alongside the Ontario Screen Creators Conference (OSCC), which runs for three days and offers 30 sessions designed for filmmakers at all career stages.
Dorothy Downs is also the founder and executive director of the OSCC.
She says the conference offers guidance and resources that are tailored to filmmakers at every level.
“Whether you’re a producer, director, if you are fairly advanced or very early career, it is designed to kind of take you to the next level of your career, whatever it is you need.”
The conference features talks from top industry professionals, including David Shore, the creator and showrunner of House and The Good Doctor, and Andrew Barnsley, the executive producer of Schitt’s Creek.
Attendees get the chance to learn directly from their experience.
The conference runs from Oct. 23 to 25.
The festival takes place at multiple locations in downtown London, and runs from Oct. 24 to Nov. 2.
