Film festival seeks donations amid government funding cuts

The Halifax Independent Film Festival is asking for donations following recent cuts in their government funding. 

The festival, which began 20 years ago as a part of the Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative (AFCOOP) has run into challenges over the past two years as it works toward becoming its own separate organization. 

Program manager Evan Bower is optimistic about HIFF going forward as an independent organization, but says general lack of funding for the arts has made it difficult for HIFF to find its footing.

“Now we are hitting this reality where we’re seeing across the board any arts organization that we talk to, it’s tough out there to get funding,” says Bower.

“We’re in this precarious spot where we no longer have the security of being run by AFCOOP, but the funding we were hoping to open ourselves up to isn’t there in the way we hoped it would be.”

Alongside AFCOOP, the festival receives funding from the federal and municipal governments and associated programs. 

Telefilm Canada, which HIFF lists as a sponsor on their website, helps provide funding for small or up-and-coming film festivals. Within two intake periods between Oct. 1, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2026, Telefilm Canada has contributed $445,000 to 50 film festivals across the country. HIFF was absent from this list.

Telefilm Canada spokeswoman Joyce Richards said in an email that deciding which festivals receive funding is based on specific criteria.

“The decision-making process takes into account the percentage of Canadian and Indigenous content, as well as Telefilm’s goal of ensuring balanced representation across Canada and diversity in the mandates of the festivals supported by our programs nationwide,” said Richards. 

“As with all applicants, HIFF is welcome to apply to the program in the future. Telefilm will continue to evaluate all submissions in accordance with the program’s guidelines and selection criteria.”

Bower says the funding HIFF receives from government sponsors is crucial for the festival’s continued operation and creating new opportunities for those who wish to get involved.

“I made it into the festival world through the support of government programs,” said Bower. “Government funding for the arts is what makes a festival like this possible.”

Festivals like HIFF are very important for people like artist and curator Tori Fleming. She’s spent the past 15 years working in various arts organizations, such as HIFF, and primarily focuses on film. Fleming says film festivals and local art showcases have a lot to offer communities.

“I think that there’s a quality of life and empathy building and understanding of culture that you can only get from these sorts of events,” said Fleming. 

“If you look around at the programming and the arts organizations we have locally right now, you can go to a lot of these events for free. In a time where the cost of living is just so brutal, a lot of these sort of free events have become how people have entertainment in their lives.”

Fleming worries that with budget cuts to the arts, many of these festivals will cease to exist.

“The new budget that’s been put out by the HRM proposes a 10 per cent cut in arts funding,” said Fleming. “In the grand scheme of their budget, it’s pennies, but it will have a very, very tangible effect on the amount of arts that you see next year.”

In the past, HIFF has been awarded funding through HRM’s regional special events grants. The festival requested $20,000 in 2024/25, and received $3,000. For 2025/26, the festival requested $20,000 again and received $8,000. Funding for 2026/27 has not been announced. 

The Halifax Independent Film Festival will run from May 27-30. In the meantime, the festival is accepting donations on its website.