So... What is the Digi60 Filmmakers’ Festival?
Digi60 is a not-for-profit grassroots filmmakers’ festival with almost 20 years of history in the Ottawa area, creating opportunities for new and emerging filmmakers to screen their work in a supportive, constructive peer environment while also allowing for professional development and feedback for their filmmaking.
Digi60 has two distinct focuses:
Screening films as part of a festival theme. Filmmakers are provided a “catch” to base their film on, and are given a certain amount of days to complete the challenge. Usually for Digi60, that is 60 days (thus the 60 in our name). Those who complete the challenge and submit a film with a catch theme have their short film screened, including with juried evaluations. To participate in the challenge portion of the festival, filmmakers must register and follow the criteria laid out. Top films and filmmakers receive awards and prizes for their work, including mentorship, industry opportunities and workshops.
Professional Development for new and emerging filmmakers. Digi60 facilitates a series of film and TV industry focused workshops, panels, networking and information sessions throughout the year, focusing on essential elements of filmmaking. This allows filmmakers to network and interact with professionals in the film and TV industry including: producers, directors, distributors, actors, agents, sponsors and writers. We aim to support the Ottawa film and television industry by providing mentorship and skills building opportunities for those who wish to pursue this industry as a profession. All our professional development opportunities are pay-what-you-can or by donation.
We announce open registration for all festival events on our website and on Facebook. Digi60 acknowledges the traditional underrepresentation of BIPOC creators in the film and television industry and aims to support filmmakers from BIPOC and equity seeking groups, through lower cost and/or free initiatives. Need support or face a financial barrier to attend one of our events? Email us at info@digi60.org.
Creating opportunities for filmmakers...
The Digi60 Filmmakers' Festival was founded in 2004 on the principle that new and emerging filmmakers would be encouraged to create short films, and be able to screen them in a setting that provided a real world film festival experience, complete with jury evaluation, awards, and gala. In 2011 Digi60 incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation, with the goal of furthering this work. Since then, we have seen many Digi60 Alumni have their films screened at major festivals, selected for CBC’s Short Film Faceoff, or go on to become professional members of the film and television industry while challenging their artistic interests and building a community of like-minded filmmakers. The festival also aims to promote Ottawa as a sustainable film industry destination with desirable cast and crew available for hire. Professional Development is at the core of everything we do - we want filmmakers to choose to live, work and create in Ottawa’s film and television community.
Digi60 is not just about making films. We also make filmmakers.
We are a grass-roots, volunteer driven, registered not-for-profit corporation run by filmmakers, for filmmakers.
Our Vision
To help build a community of Ottawa filmmakers who create, foster, and support independent, sustainable, local filmmaking.
Our Mandate
To provide opportunities for new and emerging filmmakers to
Create and Learn,
Expand their Network, and
Multiply their Skills
in an accessible, affordable, supportive, and constructive environment where they can access professional development opportunities, their artistic abilities will be celebrated, and their curiosity is embraced.
Land Acknowledgement
The Digi60 Filmmakers’ Festival would like to acknowledge that the land on which we work and create is the traditional, unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg Nation. Please take a moment to learn about the Algonquin Anishnaabeg Nation; their history, concerns and work as a community. We believe that the path to reconciliation includes learning and understanding these concerns directly from them, as well as a concerted effort to make active work toward righting the historical injustices that have faced Indigenous peoples. Though we understand that a statement like this can never be enough, we hope that you will take a moment to consider and learn about where you are working and creating your art. We are grateful and thankful for the opportunity to create in this community.
Please read our statement on Black Lives Matter HERE.