| Founded | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Founded by | John Thimothy |
| Language | International |
| Website | riffa |
The Regina International Film Festival and Awards (RIFFA) is an annual Canadian film festival, staged in Regina, Saskatchewan. [1] RIFFA is considered the largest film festival in Saskatchewan. [2]
Founded by Indo-Canadian filmmaker John Thimothy, [3] the event was launched in 2015, focused on short films in its first year. [4] It was not held in 2016, with its second iteration taking place in 2017, [5] but has been staged annually since then and has expanded to include feature films. [6]
The festival also presents an annual program of awards to the films deemed to be the best in that year's festival. [7]
In 2022, the festival was recognized as a Canadian Screen Award Qualifying Festival by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, [8] which allows films screened at the fesitval to be nominated for the Canadian Screen Awards.
The festival typically takes place in August, with six days of online screenings followed by five days of in-person events, culminating in an awards ceremony. Screenings are held at venues such as the RCMP Heritage Centre, MacKenzie Art Gallery, and Darke Hall. [3] RIFFA programs films across different categories, including:
In 2025, RIFFA received over 400 submissions from 74 countries, ultimately selecting 103 films. [3] Since 2015, the festival has presented over 1,000 films in 187 languages, from 93 countries. This list includes 303 directorial debuts and works by 268 female directors, in addition to Indigenous, LGBTQ+ and immigrant filmmakers. [3]
RIFFA presents awards in multiple categories, recognizing storytelling, direction, cinematography, and social impact. In 2018, the festival introduced a gender-neutral trophy and logo. [9]
RIFFA has showcased a wide range of acclaimed films, including:
RIFFA is operated by the Regina International Film Festival and Wards Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting cinematic arts and social change. [13] [14] The festival supports mental health advocacy, youth education, and marginalized voices through initiatives such as: [15]
RIFFA also plays a key role in nurturing Saskatchewan’s film culture year-round. [17]