25th Edition Program: NOW LIVE
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The 25th annual Gimli International Film Festival announces its film lineup and program
Winnipeg, July 1, 2025 — The Gimli International Film Festival (GIFF) is planning a grand 25th anniversary celebration from July 23 to 27, boasting bigger prizes than ever, a diverse film lineup and engaging programming with filmmakers, industry professionals, beach activations and more.
This year’s RBC Emerging Filmmaker Pitch Competition will award a whopping $15,000 prize to the Winner, up from the previous $10,000 amount. The winner will also receive in-kind supports from industry partners. Enthusiastic filmmakers will have the opportunity to pitch their film to a panel for their chance to win. GIFF will also draw a grand prize package valued at over $6,000 for the Explore Manitoba 25th Anniversary Raffle. Anyone can enter to win a luxurious travel package provided by some of the best businesses in Manitoba tourism, all in efforts to support GIFF's Outreach Initiatives.
The GIFF programming team is proud to present a collection of award-winning films, documentaries, animations and shorts. These are a few features:
Agatha’s Almanac, a Western Canada premiere, tells the joyous story of 90-year-old Agatha Bock as she preserves her ancestral farm in Southern Manitoba.
The Teacher finds a Palestinian school teacher struggling to reconcile his risky commitment to political resistance with his emotional support for one of his students and a new volunteer worker steps in.
U Are the Universe is a Ukrainian French science fiction marvel. Find out what happens to a Ukrainian space trucker after Earth explodes and he is all but the last person in the universe.
Endless Cookie is an animated feature which explores the complex bond between two half-brothers, one Indigenous, one white, from Toronto to Shamattawa.
How To Live spotlights Nairobi’s radiant LGBTQIA+ youth creating their own ballroom culture and celebrates a community crafting spaces of liberation, defiance and pure African joy.
Tight Lines showcases how the conservation efforts of four pioneering young women intertwine with their fight for equality as they become the first female fishing guides on Iceland's biggest salmon river.
When We Became Folk Fest is the story of Winnipeg Folk Festival’s rise to popularity and influence, told using digitized and remastered archival footage.
These and dozens more curated films make up the Icelandic Film Series, the Circumpolar Film Series, the Made in MB Film Series, the Social Justice Series, the Indigenous Film Series, the Environmental Film Series, the LGBTQ2SIA+ Film Series, the Future is Ours Film Series, and the IBPOC Film Series.
"For a quarter century, the Gimli International Film Festival has been bringing a truly incredible cinematic experience to the shores of Lake Winnipeg," said Teya Zuzek, Executive Director for GIFF. "Our team is proud to continually champion regional, national, and international cinema from emerging and established filmmakers."
GIFF is proud to collaborate with multiple national-level organizations, bringing even more depth and excitement to the festival. These partnerships demonstrate the festival's commitment to fostering collaboration within the Canadian film industry, while also providing a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work to a broader audience.
The free fan favourite RBC Sunset Screenings on the beach will return every night of the festival to show cinema classics. Bring your snacks and a chair or a shovel and beach blanket, kick back and enjoy Best in Show, Stop Making Sense, Space Jam, Almost Famous, and The Thing.
The daily GIFF shuttle service will pick up passengers at two locations in Winnipeg, drop them off to enjoy the festival and return them safely after the night is through. Consider this option to keep the cost down, reduce your carbon footprint, or if you’d like to have a few drinks.
Why stop there? Super Pass and Industry Pass holders will have exclusive access to the Opening Reception, GIFF Global Industry Summit, the Awards Reception, and more.