An event held on October 1 at DARC Microcinema in downtown Ottawa kicked off the 2023 Digi60 Filmmakers’ Festival. Over 50 people, including registered filmmakers, actors and other professionals from the film industry, gathered to learn the catch of this year’s 60-day challenge. Starting this week, filmmakers have 60 days to complete and submit a short film that includes the catch, theme or idea of BRIDGE.

Following the catch release, five screenwriters who are not participating in the challenge had the opportunity to pitch their script ideas based on the catch, which was revealed to them a week in advance. Their pitches explored the theme of BRIDGE in the most diverse ways and were praised by the attendees.

The event ended with a reception hosted by ACTRA Ottawa, where everyone had the chance to network and start discussing their film ideas. 

Hussain Dawwas, a film student at Carleton University, is taking part in the 60-day challenge for the first time, after doing an internship at the Digi60 Festival last year to produce making-of videos. Dawwas said that the internship boosted his confidence in conducting interviews and dealing with film crews and inspired him to go one step further and become a participant in the festival this year: 

“As much as it’s a challenge to get a crew and manage all the aspects of filmmaking, it’s something I want to put myself into. It’s a challenge I’m definitely willing to take on and, if it’s going to be uncomfortable at times, then that’s just how it is, you just go with it… I really take this opportunity at Digi60 to put myself out there and then, eventually, I wanna get to a position where I’m consistently writing more content, just doing what I’ve been doing, but amplifying it.”

— Hussain Dawwas, Registered Filmmaker for the 60-day Challenge

Filmmakers now have until November 30, 2023 by 7 PM to submit their films. The 2023 Digi60 Filmmakers’ Festival will be held from December 15 to 17 at the Ottawa Art Gallery, DARC and Arts Court. 

Below are some pictures of the event taken by Zac Emery Photography.