Welcome to Kingston, Ontario—the Limestone City and Canada's first capital. The Kingston Documentary Film Festival (KDFF) showcases compelling real-world stories that inform, challenge, and connect audiences through the power of documentary cinema. Filmmakers have the opportunity to premiere their work while experiencing Kingston and the surrounding region, including the Thousand Islands, Wolfe Island, Gananoque, and other destinations that make Eastern Ontario a distinctive cultural and tourism destination..

The Kingston Documentary Film Festival is dedicated to creating a world-class international documentary film festival that reflects, celebrates, and amplifies Canada's diverse identities, perspectives, and stories while welcoming voices from around the globe.

Supporting Regional Filmmakers
Supporting and showcasing local work is central to strengthening the creative communities of Kingston and Eastern Ontario. The festival proudly highlights films by Kingston-based creators, alumni of Queen's University and St. Lawrence College, and filmmakers from communities throughout the region, including Prince Edward County, Picton, Belleville, Brockville, Gananoque, Napanee, Bath, Wolfe Island, Trenton, and Brighton.

By elevating regional voices, the festival creates opportunities for emerging and established filmmakers to share stories rooted in local experiences, landscapes, cultures, and histories. Through meaningful connections between artists and audiences, the festival helps ensure that independent Canadian storytelling continues to thrive locally, nationally, and internationally.

About the Festival
The Kingston Documentary Film Festival is committed to establishing Kingston and the surrounding region as a vibrant destination for documentary filmmaking, cultural tourism, and creative collaboration.

Held at the historic Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning beginning in September 2027, the festival brings together local, Canadian, and international filmmakers, artists, industry professionals, and audiences to celebrate the power of documentary storytelling.

The festival presents a curated selection of documentary films exploring diverse perspectives, social issues, human experiences, and untold stories from around the world. Through screenings, filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions, workshops, networking opportunities, and community events, audiences are invited to engage deeply with both the art and impact of documentary cinema.

Committed to supporting emerging and established filmmakers alike, the festival fosters partnerships with community organizations, cultural institutions, educational institutions, and arts organizations throughout the region. By creating opportunities for dialogue, collaboration, and artistic exchange, the festival strengthens Kingston's cultural landscape while positioning the city as a recognized centre for documentary film and creative innovation.

At its core, the Kingston Documentary Film Festival believes that documentary film has the power to connect people, inspire understanding, preserve history, and spark meaningful change. The festival champions inclusive storytelling, accessibility, artistic excellence, and representation both on screen and behind the camera, reflecting diverse voices and experiences from Canada and around the world.

Vision
To establish Kingston as a recognized international destination for documentary film—where creativity thrives, stories matter, and filmmakers and audiences come together through the power of cinema.

Mission
To present exceptional documentary films, support filmmakers, foster meaningful community engagement, and create opportunities for cultural exchange through storytelling that informs, inspires, and connects.

Core Values
Storytelling with Purpose
Inclusivity and Representation
Artistic Excellence
Community Collaboration
Accessibility and Engagement
Cultural Exchange and Dialogue
Support for Independent Filmmakers

Land Acknowledgement
The Kingston Documentary Film Festival respectfully acknowledges that Kingston is located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Huron-Wendat Peoples. We recognize their enduring connection to this land and their ongoing contributions to the cultural life of this region.

We are committed to honouring Indigenous histories, cultures, and perspectives through respectful storytelling, meaningful collaboration, and the ongoing support and amplification of Indigenous voices in film, media, and the arts.

Awards & Prizes

Festival Awards

The Kingston Documentary Festival will present the following awards:

Best of the Year – Feature Documentary - $1000 CAD
Best of the Year – Short Documentary - $500 CAD
Audience Choice Award – Feature or Short

Awards will be determined by festival juries and audience voting, where applicable.

More prize details will be announced in early 2027.

Rules & Terms

Kingston Documentary Festival
Festival Rules & Regulations – 2027
Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning
The following rules and regulations govern submissions and participation in the Kingston Documentary Festival (“KDFF”). By submitting a film, all participants acknowledge and agree to comply with these guidelines. KDFF supports but is not part of Kingston Canadian Film Festival

1. Festival Overview
The Kingston Documentary Festival is dedicated to showcasing documentary storytelling from local, national, and international filmmakers. The festival celebrates artistic excellence, diverse perspectives, and community engagement through screenings, discussions, workshops, and cultural events.
Festival Dates: September 2027
Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada

2. Eligibility Requirements
2.1 Accepted Genres
The festival accepts:

Feature-length documentaries

Short documentaries

Experimental documentaries

Student documentaries

Indigenous and community storytelling projects

Docuseries pilots or episodic documentary content

2.2 Completion Date
Films must have been completed after January 1, 2025.
2.3 Language
Films not in English must include English subtitles.
2.4 Premiere Status
Premiere status is encouraged but not mandatory. Preference may be given to:

World premieres

Canadian premieres

Ontario premieres

2.5 Screening Format
Selected films must be available in one of the following formats:

Digital cinema package (DCP)

ProRes file

MP4 or approved digital screening format

3. Submission Rules
3.1 Submission Platforms
Films may be submitted through:

Official festival website

Approved submission platforms

3.2 Entry Fees
Submission fees are non-refundable.
3.3 Multiple Entries
Filmmakers may submit multiple films; each entry requires a separate submission form and fee.
3.4 Rough Cuts
Work-in-progress cuts may be considered at the discretion of the programming team.
3.5 Required Materials
All submissions must include:

Film synopsis

Director biography

High-resolution still images

Trailer or preview link (if available)

Screening link with password

Contact information

4. Selection Process
4.1 Programming Decisions
All films are reviewed by the festival programming committee. Decisions are final.
4.2 Notification
Selected filmmakers will be notified by email.
4.3 Scheduling
The festival reserves the right to determine screening dates, times, and venues.

5. Rights & Permissions
5.1 Ownership
Entrants confirm they hold all necessary rights, licenses, and permissions for:

Music

Archival footage

Images

Talent releases

Copyrighted materials

5.2 Liability
The festival is not responsible for copyright infringement or unauthorized content included in submitted films.
5.3 Promotional Use
By participating, filmmakers grant the festival permission to use:

Film stills

Posters

Trailers

Excerpts up to 2 minutes

for promotional and educational purposes.

6. Exhibition & Screening
6.1 Screening Copies
Final exhibition copies must arrive by the festival deadline provided upon selection.
6.2 Technical Quality
Films must meet minimum technical screening standards. The festival reserves the right to refuse exhibition copies that are technically unsuitable.
6.3 Accessibility
Filmmakers are encouraged to provide:

Closed captions

Descriptive audio

Accessibility-friendly materials

7. Awards
The Kingston Documentary Festival will present the following awards:

Best of the Year – Feature Documentary
Best of the Year – Short Documentary
Audience Choice Award

The festival reserves the right not to present an award if entries do not meet jury standards.

8. Code of Conduct
The Kingston Documentary Festival is committed to providing a respectful, inclusive, and harassment-free environment for all participants, audiences, volunteers, and staff.
Discrimination, harassment, hate speech, intimidation, or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and may result in removal from festival events.

9. Travel & Accommodation
Unless otherwise specified, filmmakers are responsible for their own:

Travel expenses

Accommodation

Visa requirements

Insurance coverage

Limited hospitality support may be available for invited guests.

10. Cancellation & Changes
The festival reserves the right to:

Modify festival programming

Reschedule events

Change venues or formats

Move portions of the festival online if necessary

11. Agreement
By submitting a film to the Kingston Documentary Festival, participants acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreed to all festival rules and regulations.

Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that Kingston is situated on the traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples, and we are committed to honoring their histories, cultures, and contributions through respectful storytelling and engagement.