Halifax is about to turn into a movie town for a week. The Atlantic International Film Festival returns for its 46th edition, running from September 16 to September 23, and it's still the largest film festival east of Montreal. Over eight days, the city screens a mix of local Atlantic Canadian work and international cinema, with fiction, documentary, drama, animation and experimental film all on the bill. The festival actually started as a grassroots operation in St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1981 before moving to Halifax the following year, so it's been part of the city's autumn for decades.
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The main hub is Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane at 5657 Spring Garden Road, with screenings spread across several other local venues. One name to watch this year is Quebecois director Sophie Deraspe, known for 'Antigone' and a run of Canadian work that includes 'Missing Victor Pellerin', 'Vital Signs', 'The Wolves', 'The Amina Profile', 'The Seven Last Words' and 'Shepherds'. There's more than just screenings, too: industry panels, workshops, Q&As, networking events, opening and closing galas, and National Canadian Film Day are all woven in. The AIFF Filmmaker Lab runs workshops, mentorships and networking, while AIFF Kids focuses on youth storytelling. For the industry side, the AIFF Partners co-production market has been running in Halifax since 1998 and usually takes place over the first three days.
On the awards front, the festival hands out the Gordon Parsons Award for Best Atlantic Feature, the Michael Weir Award for Best Atlantic Screenwriter, and the Joan Orenstein and David Renton Awards for Outstanding Performance in Acting. If you're planning to submit work next time, the deadlines run through FilmFreeway, with an earlybird date in March and a final cutoff in mid-June.
Tickets are where you'll want to be decisive. A Festival Pass gives you unlimited access to in-cinema screenings, panels, talks and AIFF Online, covering everything except the Opening Night Gala, though the second screening of the opening film is included. The Weekender is built for catching the best of the festival over a single weekend, while Ticket Packs come in sets of 4, 6 or 12 for sharing. There's a Family 4 Pack with two general admission and two junior cinephile tickets, and an AIFF Insider Membership that adds perks like two free general admission tickets, 15% off festival passes, 20% off merchandise, free AIFF Online access and early ticket booking. Ticket holders get 15% off concessions at Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane, and passholders get 15% off at Antojo Tacos + Tequila throughout the festival.
The in-person box office opens at Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane on September 14, which is also where you can pick up a free printed Program Guide. With the festival running from the 16th to the 23rd, that's your window to grab a pass and a guide before the first screenings roll. Whether you're there for the Atlantic Canadian premieres or the international titles, it's a full week of cinema in the middle of the city.
Published Date
13 September 2026
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