About the Canadian Film Institute

The Canadian Film Institute (CFI) brings bold, innovative cinema to audiences in Ottawa, across Canada, and around the world. Through its festivals and year-round programming, the CFI showcases compelling stories and diverse voices that push the boundaries of film. From groundbreaking international works to Canadian gems, the CFI introduces audiences to films they might not otherwise experience.
Film has the power to bring people together, and CFI’s festivals—like the Ottawa International Animation Festival and the International Film Festival of Ottawa—create vibrant spaces where creativity and industry expertise collide. Whether you're a filmmaker, a cinephile, or just curious about the art of cinema, CFI events offer an inclusive and accessible environment to watch, discuss, and celebrate film.
The CFI goes beyond the screen, sparking dialogue and learning through artist talks, publications, and professional development programs. By bringing filmmakers and audiences together, CFI fosters deeper connections with the art of film—because great cinema doesn’t just entertain, it inspires.

Mandate / Mandat

The Canadian Film Institute’s (CFI) mission is to encourage and promote the production, diffusion, study, appreciation and use of moving images for cultural and educational purposes in Canada and abroad. The CFI is a unique institution that organizes ongoing public film programming and artist talks, provides educational enhancements on its websites and publishes books and monographs on various aspects of Canadian and international cinema.

La mission de l’Institut canadien du film (ICF) est d’encourager et de promouvoir la production, la diffusion, l’étude, l’appréciation et l’utilisation d’images en mouvement à des fins culturelles et éducatives au Canada et à l’étranger. L’ICF est une institution unique qui organise de la programmation cinématographique publique continue et des rencontres avec l’artiste, fournit des améliorations éducatives sur ses sites Web, et publie des livres et des monographies sur divers aspects du cinéma canadien et international.

History / Histoire

The Canadian Film Institute (CFI) was incorporated in 1935 as a federally-chartered, non-governmental, non-profit cultural organization. It is the oldest film institution in Canada and the second oldest film institute in the world.

L’Institut canadien du film (CFI) fut constitué en 1935 en tant qu’organisme culturel non gouvernemental et à but non lucratif en vertu d’une loi fédérale. Il s’agit du plus ancien établissement de cinéma au Canada, et du deuxième institut du film au monde.

Public Programming Activities / Activités de programmation pour le public

The CFI organizes several major film festivals, including IFFO - The International Film Festival of Ottawa and the European Union Film Festival. These international festivals are an incredible cultural asset for local audiences and filmmakers alike. CFI audiences are especially enthusiastic about events that are more than just screenings, that afford them opportunities to learn, share, and to interact with guest artists. Our main Canadian series (Café Ex, The Enlightened Screen and Canadian Masters), were specifically created to provide this enhanced programming; our international festivals also feature guest filmmakers from around the world encountering Canadian audiences and vice-versa.

The CFI’s largest annual festival is the widely respected Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF). Founded in 1976, it attracts audiences and filmmakers from across Canada and around the world. For Canadian filmmakers, the OIAF offers the chance to have their work seen on an international stage, network, and participate in professional development activities. The OIAF reaches out to its audience with surveys and uses community advisors to help get ideas to enrich Festival programming.

L’ICF organise plusieurs festivals de films internationaux annuels, dont IFFO - le Festival du film International, le Festival du film de l’Union européenne. Ces festivals internationaux sont un atout culturel extraordinaire pour le public local, comme les cinéastes. Les membres du public de l’ICF se réjouissent particulièrement des événements qui offrent davantage que des projections, qui leurs donnent l’occasion d’apprendre, de partager et d’interagir avec des artistes invités. Nos principales séries canadiennes, (Café Ex, The Enlightened Screen et les Canadian Masters Series), ont été créées spécialement en vue de fournir cette programmation améliorée; nos festivals internationaux mettent également en vedette des cinéastes invités provenant des quatre coins du monde qui rencontrent le public canadien, et vice-versa.

Le plus grand festival annuel de l’ICF est le Festival international d’animation d’Ottawa (OIAF), qui est largement respecté. Fondé en 1976, il attire des publics et des cinéastes d’un bout à l’autre du Canada et de partout au monde. Pour les cinéastes canadiens, l’OIAF constitue une occasion de faire voir leurs œuvres sur la scène internationale, de faire du réseautage et de participer à des activités de perfectionnement professionnel. Le OIAF entre en contact avec son public au moyen de sondages, et emploie des conseillers communautaires dans le but de trouver des idées afin d’enrichir la programmation du Festival.

Canadian Film Institute Code of Conduct Policies / Institut Canadien du Film Code de Conduite

Download PDF here

Failure to read or understand this document does not exclude anyone from the consequences of violating these policies.

Le fait de ne pas lire ou comprendre ce document n’exclut personne des conséquences de la violation de ces politiques.

Canadian Film Institute Board of Directors / Institut Canadien du Film Conseil d'administration

Hayley Cooper, Treasurer (Ottawa, joined June 2020)
Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos (Ottawa, joined June 2023)
Aboubakar Sanogo (Ottawa, joined June 2023)
Hoda Elatawi (Ottawa, joined June 2024)
Heather Moore (Ottawa, joined June 2024)
Maral Mohammadian (Montreal, Joined June 2024)
Kelly Beaton (Ottawa, Joined 2024)

CFI Cinephile PLUS Members

Elise A. Rafuse
Jean-Charles Belanger
Lauren Brown
Hayley Cooper
Patrick Dion
Ilya Golub
Reesa Greenberg
Theodore John Tjaden
Jim McKeen
Heather Moore
William Pase

Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos
Zuzana Pick
Neil Redding
Susan Scotti
Divya Shahani
Will Straw
Andrew Tremayne
Joy Yang

The CFI thanks our Cinephile PLUS members for their support.

Land Acknowledgement

The Canadian Film Institute operates on traditional unceded Algonquin Anishinabeg territory. Since time immemorial, the Algonquin Anishinabeg peoples have stewarded the lands, waters, and rich cultural life of this region. As part of honouring this territory, we encourage CFI community members to seek out the work of Indigenous filmmakers, learn about the territories that we each occupy, and take action in support of Indigenous self-determination and sovereignty.

LEARN ABOUT THE TERRITORIES YOU OCCUPY

Native-Land.ca

CALLS TO ACTION

INDIGENOUS FILM RESOURCES

Contact the CFI

Have a question? We’d love to hear from you!

General Inquiries:

Phone:

Mail:

info@cfi-icf.ca

613-232-8769

2 Daly Ave.
Suite A222
Ottawa, ON
K1N 6E2

CFI Staff

Tom McSorley

**Executive Director**
*he/him*
Tom McSorley is the Executive Director of the Canadian Film Institute in Ottawa. In addition to organizing various film festivals, including the European Union Film Festival, Silent Film Festival and Latin American Film Festival, Tom is the primary French language spokesperson for the OIAF and oversees its financials. He lectures on Canadian cinema at Carleton University and reviews films on CBC Radio.
mcsorley@cfi-icf.ca

Kelly Neall

**Managing Director**
*she/her*
Kelly is the Managing Director of the Canadian Film Institute (CFI). She oversees the design and implementation of CFI film festivals such as the Ottawa International Animation Festival, the largest event of its kind in North America and the CFI’s newest event IFFO: The International Film Festival of Ottawa. She has extensive experience in non-profit management, marketing and fundraising and holds an honours degree in Film Studies from Carleton University and a Communications degree from the University of Ottawa.
neall@cfi-icf.ca

Devin Hartley

**Director of Film Operations**
*they/them*
Devin is responsible for the technical logistics of the CFI and OIAF’s screenings, talks, and exhibitions, as well as the maintenance of the organization’s computers and tech equipment. Devin studied Film and History at Carleton University, specializing in horror and interactive media. They also programmed and ran a series of 16mm screenings of the AVRC’s film archive in conjunction with the Carleton University Art Gallery. In their spare time, Devin collects and tinkers with vintage audio equipment, and can often be found watching horror films or playing video games.
hartley@cfi-icf.ca

Amanda Misko

**Industry and Community Programming Manager**
*she/her*
Amanda is responsible for the logistics of OIAF and IFFO’s industry and community programming, as well as supporting the new and growing Youth Outreach Program. Amanda studied Visual Art and History at the University of Ottawa, specializing in drawing, photography, and medieval history. She has a diverse work background including festivals, museum programming, photography studios, and a stint in Veterinary sciences. In her spare time, Amanda likes mixed media painting and fabric sculpture, baking or watching historical fiction, sci fi, or classic cinema.
amanda@iffo.ca

Amy Kassem

**Development Manager**
*she/her*
Amy works with CFI supporters to ensure that partnerships are meaningful and successful. She has an extensive background working in the hospitality industry.
amy@iffo.ca

Christina Frolova-Gregory

**Communications Manager**
*she/her*
frolova-gregory@cfi-icf.ca

Zachary Porter

**Film Operations Manager**
*he/him*
Zachary’s extensive background in av helps him to manage the film and technolgy logistics at all the CFI’s film events.
porter@cfi-icf.ca

Tish Black

**IFFO programmer**
*she/they*
Tish is a film programmer for IFFO and created IFFO’s “The Female Gaze” series. Tish’s career in film includes YouTuber, film production student, writer, podcaster, and film critic. You may find her on the internet talking and writing about films and fairy tales or find her haunting the local cemetery.
black@cfi-icf.ca

Venues

Ottawa Art Gallery

Alma Duncan Salon (Level 3)
10 Daly Ave or 50 Mackenzie King Bridge, Ottawa

The Canadian Film Institute worked with the Ottawa Art Gallery on the design and components of the Alma Duncan Salon at the beginning of the OAG’s recent redevelopment. The Alma Duncan Salon is a 4,000 sq ft multipurpose room with state-of-the-art digital and analog projection capability, seating for 245 guests and an outdoor terrace.

Arts Court

Arts Court Theatre & Studio (Level 3), 2 Daly Ave.
Club SAW (Level L), 67 Nicholas St.

The Arts Court Theatre holds 130 guests for screenings or interviews in an intimate setting and is connected to the Arts Court Studio, which hosts receptions and parties.

A flexible space accommodating an audience of 285, Club SAW is a defining feature of SAW and contributes significantly to the character of the centre as a whole.