This story was previously posted on StratfordToday.ca
A brand-new Stratford Film Festival will launch monthly movie screenings next month as organizers prepare for their first full four-day festival in fall of 2025.
The first of the free screenings takes place Saturday, Nov. 16 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. with monthly screenings planned throughout the coming year (except for January and February). Each screening on Nov. 16 will take the form of a collection of shorts called the Best of Fest Shorts. The screenings will take place at the Stratford City Hall Auditorium.
The festival itself is scheduled for November, 2025.
“We’ve showcased our own films and screenplays at festivals across North America,” says SFF Co-founder and Executive Director Smith-Harris. “Festivals can be exhilarating, inspiring spaces that bring people together. Bill and I are excited to make Stratford a year-round destination for filmgoers and filmmakers. It’s a dream we’ve worked toward since choosing this city as our forever home three years ago.”
More from the Stratford Film Festival:
The NEW Stratford Film Festival & Monthly Screening Series Hosts Two FREE “Best of Fest Shorts” Community Screenings to Introduce Their Organization to the Community
Saturday, November 16:
- Stratford City Hall Auditorium, 1 Wellington St., Stratford, Ontario
- Screenings at 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm | 90 minutes / PG-13 (adult language and situations)
- FREE with Reservation on the SFF Website
The creative force behind the new Stratford Film Festival is Stratford residents Megan Smith-Harris and Bill Harris, an award-winning television and film production team with decades of experience. They are committed to bringing a world-class film festival to Stratford, celebrating excellence in film while fostering meaningful community connections year-round.
The monthly screening events launch this November and will continue throughout the year (except for January and February 2025), culminating in a four-day inaugural film festival in November 2025. This format will establish a year-round SFF Monthly Film Series, with the annual festival taking place each November in Stratford.
“We’ve showcased our own films and screenplays at festivals across North America,” says SFF Co-founder and Executive Director Smith-Harris. “Festivals can be exhilarating, inspiring spaces that bring people together. Bill and I are excited to make Stratford a year-round destination for filmgoers and filmmakers. It’s a dream we’ve worked toward since choosing this city as our forever home three years ago.”
Previously, the couple revitalized a struggling film festival in Ridgefield, Connecticut, transforming it into a flagship event that regularly earned a spot among Film Freeway’s “Top 100 Best Reviewed Film Festivals” worldwide.
“We plan to leverage our industry relationships to bring top-notch films, filmmakers, actors, writers, and film creatives to Stratford,” adds Smith-Harris.
The Stratford Film Festival is a 50/50 gender-parity festival, fully committed to inclusivity. The SFF team plans to collaborate actively with local non-profits and cultural organizations to craft dynamic film events.
“In a world saturated with content, people struggle to find something meaningful to watch. The Stratford Film Festival will offer engaging entertainment with depth,” says SFF Co-Founder and General Manager Bill Harris. “We aim to spark new ideas through our screenings, panels, filmmaker Q&As, and social gatherings.”
The SFF will enrich Stratford’s arts scene and boost the local economy, drawing filmgoers who will also enjoy local restaurants, galleries, shops, accommodations, and other businesses.
The 90-minute “Best of the Fest Shorts” program features films from Canada, France, England, Ireland, Iran, and the USA. Reserve your tickets to the November 16 “Best of the Fest Shorts” Community Screening on the Stratford Film Festival website.
Best of Fest Shorts Program
90 min / PG-13
Listed in Order of Appearance
- WILD ICE BACKCOUNTRY SKATING (Pending)
USA – Documentary Short (3 min)
Producers: Cale Green and Paxson Woelber
Backcountry skating in Alaska on rivers, lakes, and glacial lagoons, showcasing Nordic bladers, hockey players, and figure skaters across various stunning locations. - LEVEL 4
UK – Narrative Short/Comedy (4 min)
Director: Charles Copsey
Two first-time criminals face unexpected setbacks when their getaway car is clamped in a multi-story car park. - THE NEIGHBORS’ WINDOW (®Oscar Winner)
USA – Narrative Short (20 min)
Director: Marshall Curry
A middle-aged woman’s life is transformed by her free-spirited young neighbors. Inspired by a true story recounted on the podcast Love and Radio. - CHRISTMAS GREEN
Canada – Narrative Short (12 min)
Director: Claire Altimas
A woman’s complaint to her neighbor about marijuana smoking leads to an unlikely friendship.
Featuring Stratford resident Sheila McCarthy. - ARTIFICE
USA – Narrative Short/Comedy (3 min)
Producer/Director: Kevin Byrnes
An absurd look at a relationship between an iPhone and an Amazon Echo, exploring technology’s grip on our lives. - RUBY
Ireland – Narrative Short (20 min)
Director: Michael Creagh
A couple’s anniversary celebration, with the wife hoping her husband’s gift will be “nice and normal.” - GARDEN PARTY (®Oscar Nominated, Pending)
France – Animation (7 min)
Directors: Illogic Collective
Amphibians explore a deserted mansion, discovering that something strange has occurred. - REBOOT
USA – Animation (4 min)
Director: Ellen Osborne
Earth is exploited beyond habitability, but finds peace when humans depart. Animated like an expressionist painting. - ARE YOU VOLLEYBALL?
Iran – Drama (15 min)
Director: Mohammad Bakhshi
Asylum-seekers and soldiers form an unexpected connection through volleyball. (subtitled)
