The spirit of DRIFF is truly flourishing, and we couldn't be more thrilled! As the deadline for submissions closed on June 30th, we were absolutely delighted to receive 97 wonderful entries for the 9th annual film festival. A massive thank you to every passionate and visionary filmmaker who submitted their creative and hard work across the categories of Feature Film, Short Film, Documentary, and Student Films.

We were particularly excited to see the overwhelming popularity of the Short Film category, which accounted for a significant portion of our submissions. It’s also fantastic to note the strong representation from our own backyard, with many films of Canadian origin, including several from right here in the Durham Region! Your dedication and unique perspectives truly shine through.

Our dedicated team of screeners is now busy behind the scenes, viewing each submission with great care and meeting regularly to share their impressions. This thorough process ensures we select the very best for our audience. Filmmakers whose films have been chosen for screening at this year's festival will be notified on or before August 10, 2025.

Once again, congratulations to all who made entries! For our readers, mark your calendars! The 9th Durham Region International Film Festival runs from October 23rd to 25th, 2025. You're in for an absolute treat! The full program and line-up of films will be available in late September. Get ready for unique and diverse programming, great conversations, and an unforgettable cinematic experience!