DRIFF Rewind: Celebrating 10 Year’s of Storytelling

This year marks a milestone for the Durham Region International Film Festival (DRIFF). Founded in 2015 and established as a nonprofit in 2017, DRIFF has grown into a vibrant, three-day international festival that champions Durham Region’s filmmaking talent and welcomes creators, industry professionals, and films from around the world. As we celebrate ten years as a nonprofit, we continue to honour the mission that began a decade ago. 

Over the past decade. DRIFF has stayed true to its mission: to spotlight diverse stories, elevate emerging talent, and offer audiences a deeper look into the craft behind the camera. From thoughtfully curated local and international screenings to filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, hands-on demonstrations, and community-driven events, DRIFF has become a place where creativity is celebrated, curiosity is encouraged, and connections are made. Our commitment to showcasing the film industry and the people behind the magic has remained at the heart of the festival since its inception.

As we celebrate ten years of storytelling, we also want to celebrate the storytellers. The alumni who have brought their work to DRIFF over the years and continue to make meaningful contributions to the film industry. To honour this milestone, we’re launching a special digital series; DRIFF Rewind: Celebrating 10 Year’s of Storytelling. Each week, we’ll highlight past DRIFF filmmakers or creative, share where their career has taken them, and revisit the projects they brought to our festival. These spotlights are a tribute to the journeys, achievements, and diverse voices that have shaped our first decade and continue to inspire our next one. 

Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or discovered DRIFF more recently, we’re excited to celebrate this anniversary with you. Here’s to ten years of film, community, and creativity. And to the incredible people who make DRIFF what it is. Stay tuned… our first alumni spotlight drops next week.