Okanagan International Film Festival set to return after 10

Okanagan International Film Festival set to return after 10-year hiatus

After an almost 10-year hiatus, an international film festival is returning to the Okanagan this fall with a renewed vision that reflects the remarkable growth of British Columbia's interior as a centre for film production, creative talent and cultural experiences.

Under new leadership and with a clear focus on growing the film industry in the region, the Okanagan International Film Festival (OKIFF) will take place Oct. 15-18, 2026, celebrating Canadian, international and Indigenous films.

In addition to screenings and film premieres, the reimagined OKIFF aims to become an annual regional gathering that showcases the Okanagan as a place to create, invest, visit and build a career in the film industry.

The response has already demonstrated the festival's international reach. To date, OKIFF has received almost 150 film submissions from 20 countries across six continents, reflecting a diverse range of voices and perspectives from around the world. Submissions close Aug. 15 and the selection committee will curate the final festival line-up.

Screenings will be held at Landmark Cinemas locations in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Penticton and the Galaxy theatre in Vernon, making OKIFF a truly regional festival that connects communities across the Okanagan while welcoming filmmakers and audiences from around the globe.

"The Okanagan is one of Canada's most exciting emerging regions for film and television production," says Damon Gregory, a veteran Canadian actor based in Kelowna and Director of OKIFF. "As more productions choose the region, and more talented filmmakers, artists and technicians build their careers here, it is the right time to bring back an international film festival that reflects both where our industry is today and where it's headed."

Building on the legacy of the original Okanagan International Film Festival, which started in 2004, the renewed OKIFF has been reimagined for today's creative landscape. Alongside a diverse program of films, the festival will create space for meaningful conversations about the future of storytelling, emerging technologies, workforce development and the evolving opportunities within the global screen industry.

The festival is also hosting its first-ever “co-production market,” an opportunity for filmmakers around the world to collaborate on new projects with the intention of sharing and developing resources, tax incentives, talent, financing and distribution avenues.

The region has been the site of several well-known productions in recent years, including the feature films Fido and Until Branches Bend, and the TV series Tracker and Stick. Reality TV producers have also discovered the region, bringing shows such as Million Dollar Secret, Canada Shore and Amazing Race Canada to the Okanagan.

Film and new media is Kelowna’s largest creative subsector, generating $188.6 million in GDP and $227.5 million in economic output, nearly half of the city’s total creative economy, according to the City of Kelowna’s 2025 Creative Sector Economic Impact Report.

A single production can touch at least 200 individual businesses in the region - from hotels and restaurants to transportation, construction, equipment rentals and catering.

"The return of an international film festival is an exciting milestone for our community. It's great to welcome back a festival that brings residents, visitors and the creative sector together,” says Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas. “OKIFF celebrates creativity and culture while creating opportunities for local businesses, workers, and artists. It also helps showcase the Okanagan as a destination for creative talent, investment, and innovation.”

Festival organizers believe OKIFF can play an important role in strengthening the region's creative economy by connecting local talent with national and international industry leaders, attracting visitors during the fall season, and elevating the Okanagan's profile as a destination for film production and cultural tourism.

"For many years, the Okanagan was known simply as a beautiful place to film. Today, it's becoming known as a place where careers are built, production companies grow, creative talent thrives, and stories seen around the world are made," says Okanagan film commissioner Jon Summerland.

Over the coming weeks, the festival will announce the film premieres and screenings, industry speakers, partnerships, special events and programming. If you are interested in volunteering for the festival and learning more, click here.