Mission & Vision

Celebrating and inspiring community through the shared experience of film, the Grand River Film Festival (GRFF) hosts both an annual festival and year-round film programs dedicated to bringing bold, reflective and inspiring films to Waterloo Region (Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo).

The festival screens local, Canadian, and international films throughout the region, pairing screenings with panels consisting of directors, film professionals, local interest groups and notable guest speakers. GRFF recognizes the power of film to connect people and is thrilled to act as a vehicle for the community to build relationships and host meaningful conversations within the Waterloo Region.

GRFF is an incorporated not-for-profit, and builds brand trust and loyalty across Waterloo Region through partnerships with local venues, organizations, academic institutions, the arts and culture scene, film community, community events, and other film festivals.

GRFF believes in the importance of showcasing the diversity of our community through the films we choose to screen. We believe that positive representation on film leads to positive inclusion in our society. Our programming team is committed to excellence in representation by selecting films that are made by and feature under-represented and minority communities. This includes films by and featuring woman, Black, Indigenous, visible minority, 2SLGBTQ+, and non-English speaking artists. Each year, these films account for between half and three-quarters of our programming.

GRFF is committed to furthering the mission of social equity, by standing against systemic colonial and patriarchal barriers common in the filmmaking industry. GRFF supports independent filmmakers by bringing to Waterloo Region films that would otherwise not be seen in our community. It is only through sharing unique stories like these that our community can grow and progress.

GRFF especially fosters the growing and spectacular community of Indigenous filmmakers from across Turtle Island and around the world. Indigenous voices have created some of the best films of recent years, and their success means that more voices will join the catalogue of great filmmakers. To support these filmmakers, GRFF waives all submission fees from Indigenous filmmakers through our film submission service.