About – Salt Spring Film Festival

The Festival

The Salt Spring Film Festival Society is a non-profit charitable society incorporated in 2008, whose mission is to educate, inspire and activate our community through a Festival of independent documentary film from Canada and around the world. We present films that explore social justice, the environment, art and culture, politics and food security. Filmmakers are invited to the Festival to present their films and lead lively discussions.

Festival Weekend

During the Festival Weekend the Salt Spring Film Festival Society hosts a Social Justice Bazaar. Many local organizations gather to educate the audience about their activities in the social fabric of Salt Spring Island.

Special Events

As well, the Society presents other film nights, events and workshops throughout the year to encourage local filmmakers and to cultivate the appreciation of documentary film on Salt Spring Island.

Community Involvement

Community Support remains the heart of the Festival: around 100 volunteers, numerous individual donors and business community sponsors make the festival possible.

Since 1996

History of the Festival

1996

Film Festival on Salt Spring

The Festival Roots reach back to 1996, when Islanders Bob Wild, Marg and Art Simons were inspired to create a Film Festival on Salt Spring. The Anglican Church offered their basement and for two years, Salt Spring piggy-backed on the resources of the Courtenay Festival and a documentary Film Festival was born.

1999

A Revival

With an infusion of ideas and energy from Jane Squier and Maggie Schubart, the Festival was revived in 1999 as the “Our Island, Our World Film Festival.”

2006

New Energy and Growth

Another injection of new energy lead by Diane Thomas and Jim Meadows spurred the Festival further on in 2006 and as a reflection of its growth, the Festival is now a registered non-proift educational society, the Salt Spring Film Festival Society, with an active board of directors and a growing membership and a new name: the “Salt Spring Film Festival.”

Board

Therin Gower, President
David Abbey, Vice President
Sue Sheane, Secretary
Neil Martin, Treasurer
Leith Martin, Director
Sylvia Spring, Director
Jenny Petrak, Director
Diane Minichiello, Director

Staff

James Cowan, Festival Manager
Steve Martindale, Programming & Marketing