Unveiling Full Program of #AIFF45 Films & Events!

Press Release

Aug 13

*Still image from Bretten Hannam’s SK+TE’KMUJUE’KATIK (AT THE PLACE OF GHOSTS). Image courtesy of VVS Film.*

August 13, 2025 – (Halifax, NS) The 45th Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF) announces the full 2025 program, showcasing 108 feature and short films at Halifax’s Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane from Wednesday September 10 to Wednesday September 17. AIFF 2025 celebrates the accomplishments of a flourishing Atlantic Canadian film industry, and the program reflects the diverse stories coming out of Atlantic Canada, alongside award-winning cinema from around the world. Titles include the feature-length debut from critically celebrated Canadian filmmaker Sophy Romvari, BLUE HERON; highly anticipated small-town thriller by Andy Hines, LITTLE LORRAINE; and Oscar-winner Bill Condon’s musical-thriller KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN starring Jennifer Lopez and Diego Luna closing out the festival.

“We are thrilled to continue to bring ground-breaking Atlantic and World Cinema to Halifax for our 45th edition of the Atlantic International Film Festival,” says Lisa Haller, Director of Programming and interim Executive Director of AIFF. “This year promises innovative, emotional, nostalgic, and diverse stories that our audiences are hungry for.”

Presenting Four Gala Presentations

To kick off the festival as the Opening Night Gala, AIFF is delighted to present the genre-bending drama SK+TE’KMUJUE’KATIK (AT THE PLACE OF GHOSTS), directed by Bretten Hannam and featuring Glen Gould and Brendan Oakes. The film follows two estranged M’ikmaq brothers who are haunted by a malevolent spirit following their childhood traumas. The Opening Night Gala will take place on Wednesday, September 10, 7 p.m. The Opening Night Gala Celebration will follow the screening at STARDUST Bar & Kitchen, beginning at 9 p.m.

From Nova Scotian writer and director Andy Hines, this year’s Atlantic Gala is LITTLE LORRAINE. His debut feature-length film, Hines’ LITTLE LORRAINE is a compelling small-town drama based on real-life events starring Stephen Amell, Sean Astin, Stephen McHattie, and J Balvin in his acting debut. The film is based on local East Coast musician Adam Baldwin's song "Lighthouse in Little Lorraine". Adam is also a co-writer on the film. The Atlantic Gala will take place on Saturday, September 13, 7 p.m.

The Reel East Coast Shorts Gala, taking place on Sunday, September 14, 7 p.m., will elevate festival alumni and exciting talents to watch from the Atlantic region. The programme will boast the World Premieres of WOLVERINE AND LITTLE THUNDER: AN EEL FISHING STORY by celebrated Mi’kmaw artist Alan Syliboy (NS) and documentary THE MUSE directed by Newfoundland filmmaker Wanda Nolan, as well as the Atlantic Canadian Premiere of the affecting drama A SOFT TOUCH by FIPRESCI-winner Heather Young (NS).

Spanning from Brazil to Iceland, the World Cinema program highlights features from around the world, including brand new works from Canadian talents, cinema auteurs, and critically buzz-worthy international films making waves on the festival circuit. Films include the anticipated sophomore feature from Chandler Levack, MILE END KICKS, Joachim Trier’s Cannes Grand Prix winner SENTIMENTAL VALUE, Kelly Reichardt’s THE MASTERMIND starring Josh O’ Connor, Gaby Hoffman, and Alana Haim, and the World Premiere of MY SON CAME BACK TO DISAPPEAR by Quebecois filmmaker Yan Giroux.

This year’s documentaries offer illuminating perspectives, personal reflections, and haunting true-stories. The 2025 line-up will include the World Premiere of Gemini-winner Michèle Hozer’s newest film THE PITCH, a David vs Goliath story about the creation of Canada’s first women’s professional soccer league; Oscar-winner and Nova Scotian filmmaker Ben Proudfoot’s dives into a lost archive of film about African leader Kwame Nkrumah in THE EYES OF GHANA; JOHN CANDY: I LIKE ME, the heartfelt tribute to Canadian comedy icon directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds; and music-focused doc LILITH FAIR: BUILDING A MYSTERY from Ally Pankiw which takes a deep dive into the cultural impact of the all-female music festival.

Narrative New Waves spotlights debut features from around the world and has everything from coming-of-age drama to romantic comedy. Political tensions rise in Nigerian drama MY FATHER’S SHADOW directed by emerging director Akinola Ogunmade-Davies Jr.; and the World Premiere directorial debut from actor Amy Trefry, produced by Nova Scotian Katerina Bakolias, with roadtrip romance VERMILLION joins the festival in this stream.

For the delight of genre fans, AIFF’s Late Night Visions program brings weird, wild, and boundary-pushing films to the big screen, including HONEY BUNCH from Dusty Mancinelli and Madeleine Sims-Fewer, which follows a woman who wakes from a coma in search of her own memories and is instead confronted by sinister truths about her marriage. The film stars TIFF Rising Star alumna, Grace Glowicki.

Our In Focus program changes gears for the 45th edition of AIFF, bringing classic and celebrated Atlantic-made film to the big screen. With free screenings for the public, this year’s program, Atlantic In Focus: AIFF at 45 will showcase award-winning documentary SHADOW MEN (NB) from director Renée Blanchar, the 10th anniversary of Stephen Dunn’s cult-classic CLOSET MONSTER (NL), the 25th anniversary of Andrea Dorfman’s newly restored PARSLEY DAYS (NS), and the 40th anniversary of Kevin Sullivan’s iconic Emmy-winning miniseries ANNE OF GREEN GABLES (PEI).

The Short Programmes include a selection of films from Canada and around the world, celebrating a variety of genres and styles including documentaries, animation, international award winners, and more. There are 6 programs, 48 short films, with 48% of the program representing Atlantic Canada. The selection includes the World Premieres of POWER by award-winning director Jordan Canning and the experimental (FOR ONCE I DREAMED OF YOU) by rising Nova Scotian talent Kate Solar, a tender drama about motherhood from Chinese-Canadian filmmaker Giran Findlay Liu with YEAR OF THE DRAGON, and the award-winning short from Iraqi filmmaker Ali Yahya, BENEATH WHICH RIVER FLOWS.

Sundance hit KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, starring Jennifer Lopez and directed by Oscar-winner Bill Condon and based on the stage musical by Terrence McNally, John Kander, and Fred Ebb will close the festival as the Closing Night Gala on Wednesday September 17, at 7 p.m.

In addition to an incredible selection of films, AIFF is proud to offer a series of special events for 2025. In celebration of the 45th milestone, all public industry events this year, which includes 3 days of panels and workshops held in Cinema 3 at Cineplex Park Lane, will be available and open to the public for free. AIFF Partners returns and offers VIP Partners co-production market passholders networking opportunities and events at a new venue, the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron’s Saraguay House and access to notable events such as “The Oscar Race & The Censor’s Cut: Navigating Controversy to Gold” on Thursday September 11, at 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. featuring a conversation with Canadian producer of Oscar and Canadian Screen Award winning film The Apprentice, Daniel Bekerman and Natalie Remplakowski.

Events of note include “Echoes from the Land: Sámi & Indigenous Stories On Screen, Presented by Sámi International Film Institute” featuring a conversation on storytelling, sovereignty, and screen representation between Melanie Hadley (Indigenous Screen Office), Silja Somby (International Sámi Film Institute), Lisa-Marie Kristensen (Forest People), and Kati Eriksen (Home River Media) on Friday September 12, at 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; “Artist to Artist: Stephen Dunn and Amy Trefry” on Saturday September 13, at 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. where Stephen Dunn (Closet Monster) and Amy Trefry (Vermilion) discuss their creative processes and Queer stories on screen with AIFF Programmer and Writer Kevin Chabot; and the Celebrating Impact and New Voices Sunday Showcase panel “The Stormy Haul: Panel with Little Lorraine” on Sunday September 14, at 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with Cape Breton icons Justine Williamson and Greg Vardy who host the crew behind Little Lorraine including Director: Andy Hines, Auden Thorton (Actor), Adam Baldwin (Actor, Writer, Musician) for discussion on the making of the film.

The festival kicks off with the NFB / Telefilm Open House on Wednesday September 10, at 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., followed by the CMPA Welcome Reception at the Lord Nelson Hotel from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. ahead of the Opening Night Gala screening of SK+TE’KMUJUE’KATIK (AT THE PLACE OF GHOSTS).

The 3rd annual AIFF Filmmaker Lab, in partnership with RBC Foundation, returns to support the careers and artistry of 10 new Atlantic Canadian emerging filmmakers representing Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick and PEI, featuring exciting new work spanning all genres.

The Atlantic Gala Party will take place Saturday, September 14, at 9pm in The Garden Halifax on Queen Street, a unique and sumptuously decorated space, and is sure to be a well-attended evening celebrating our Atlantic Canadian filmmakers.

The AIFF & Linda Joy Awards Ceremony will take place in North End Halifax, at the Blue Building Gallery on Sunday, September 14, at 4:30pm. Presented in partnership with the Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative, the awards are a celebration of filmmaking talent in Atlantic Canada. All are welcome.

Partnered receptions with WIFT-AT, DOC Atlantic and AFCOOP are interspersed throughout the festival week, showcasing our loyal industry partners and their communities.

For those outside Halifax, select Atlantic Canadian features and shorts will be available to stream in Atlantic Canada via AIFF Online from September 17-21, giving online patrons an extra five days after the in-person festival is over to catch up on any films they may have missed. Tickets can be purchased for individual feature films, while the shorts can be accessed with the AIFF Online Shorts Pass.

This year, AIFF is excited to offer new membership opportunities for the public in three different tiers: AIFF Insider, AIFF Insider (Under 25), and the AIFF Patron membership. Details for each package can be found and packages can be purchased at: atlanticfilmfestival.ca/membership.

Available again this year are The Weekender that, beginning 5 PM Friday until our last screening on Sunday night, gives access to all of AIFF’s weekend programming, including panels and live events (with the exception of Gala screenings and AIFF Online) and the Festival Pass, which gives passholders access to everything offered in person (excluding the Opening Night Gala Screening), and everything on AIFF Online.

Tickets for screenings and special events along with festival passes are now on sale!

Online Box Office

The festival’s physical box office will be open in the upper lobby of Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane from September 8-9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and September 10-17 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

AIFF Partner Spotlight on Nordic Film and Sámi film

The 28th edition of AIFF Partners shines a spotlight on the Nordic region with special guests in attendance from the Nordic Film Commissions and a special focus on Sámi stories and producers, brought to us by the International Sámi Film Institute. We're thrilled to host 160 delegates in the beautiful seaside city of Halifax, where our screen industries are flourishing, and AIFF is celebrating a remarkable 45th anniversary! This year’s delegation includes 92 Producers presenting 101 projects (Feature Film & Television) as well as 12 Distributors, 8 Broadcasters/Streamers, 14 Film Commissions and Government Agencies, and 7 Financiers/Sales Agents. For more information, visit: aiffpartners.ca

About AIFF

The Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF) is an eight-day celebration of cinema from all over the world featuring over 100 film screenings and events, including Q&As, receptions, panels, and industry events. AIFF celebrates new and established filmmaking voices from Atlantic Canada and around the world, helping audiences discover new artists, uncover new perspectives and better understand the world through the medium of cinema. Founded as a small grassroots organization in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1981, AIFF moved to Halifax the following year. Over four decades, AIFF has grown into one of Canada’s premier film festivals and continues to be a strong advocate for Atlantic Canadian filmmakers. AIFF is a registered charity and offers year-round programming including AIFF Kids and other partnered screenings and events. The 45th annual Atlantic International Film Festival will take place from September 10 to 17, 2025, inviting film enthusiasts, industry professionals, and curious onlookers to connect and engage through a shared love of cinema.