Canadian Film Institute

The CFI organizes several major film festivals, including IFFO - The International Film Festival of Ottawa and the European Union Film Festival. These international festivals are an incredible cultural asset for local audiences and filmmakers alike. CFI audiences are especially enthusiastic about events that are more than just screenings, that afford them opportunities to learn, share, and to interact with guest artists. Our main Canadian series (Café Ex, The Enlightened Screen and Canadian Masters), were specifically created to provide this enhanced programming; our international festivals also feature guest filmmakers from around the world encountering Canadian audiences and vice-versa.

The CFI’s largest annual festival is the widely respected Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF). Founded in 1976, it attracts audiences and filmmakers from across Canada and around the world. For Canadian filmmakers, the OIAF offers the chance to have their work seen on an international stage, network, and participate in professional development activities.