Stories that celebrate difference
As we’ve explored in previous posts, storytelling shapes culture, deepens our sense of identity, and influences how we connect with one another. It opens doors to empathy and understanding, inviting us to see the world beyond our own experiences. Diversity matters both in front of and behind the camera, because the stories we tell are just as important as who tells them and how they are told.
Film festivals and awards play a vital role in this process. Festivals are platforms where systemically excluded voices can be amplified. From emerging storytellers to established creators, festivals offer opportunities to discover new perspectives, share knowledge, and build connections. Through industry events, mentorship programs, and networking spaces, these gatherings help shape the cultural conversation and create pathways for diverse talent.
Similarly, awards are crucial in shaping the culture of the film industry because they determine who gets recognized for their achievements. Recognition influences visibility, funding, and future opportunities. When juries and selection committees lack diversity, the stories that win often reflect only a narrow perspective.
Equity in Action
Equity requires intentional effort. Festivals that prioritize diversity actively dismantle barriers and redistribute access to opportunities. This means curating programs that highlight underrepresented voices, offering mentorship and funding, and ensuring accessibility for all participants. Through this, festivals become engines of change.
Festivals also connect local filmmakers and audiences with international creators and stories, creating opportunities for cultural exchange, collaboration, and learning. These connections strengthen the creative community and ensure that diverse voices are not only heard but shared and celebrated worldwide. This is valuable to everyone involved, on an industry level as well as a personal level.
British Columbia has a plethora of festivals that showcase the richness and complexity of lived experience. Their work creates connections, provides pathways for new talent, and spotlights impressive stories. Below are a few of the local festivals that put diversity at the heart of their mission:
- East by North West
- imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
- GEMS Fest
- Vancouver Black Independent Film Festival
- Vancouver Jewish Film Festival
- Vancouver Asian Film Festival
- Vancouver International Black Film Festival
- Vancouver Latin American Film Festival
- Ma Boli International Punjabi Film Festival
- International South Asian Film Festival
- Vancouver Queer Film Festival
- MENA Film Festival: Middle East and North Africa Film Festival
- Vancouver Taiwanese Film Festival
- Skoden Indigenous Film Festival
Discover even more local festivals on the Knowledge Hub.
In addition, many other festivals dedicate screening categories or host events aimed at diverse creators, such as VIFF’s Panorama series, or the frequent international documentaries screened at DOXA. Beyond the festival circuit, local cinemas and initiatives continue this work in their regular programming, such as VIFF’s African Cinema Now! series, or The Cinematheque’s Our Stories to Tell series.
This work cannot be fulfilled with dedicated programs or festivals alone. To truly amplify diverse voices, diversity must be a guiding principle for every festival, woven into programming and decision-making. When inclusion becomes the norm rather than the exception, that is when cultural change can happen.
Guiding Principles for Film Festivals
To ensure these spaces are equitable and inclusive, festivals must follow guiding principles that champion representation, accessibility, and fairness at every level. Here are a few examples:
- Inclusive programming: feature films that represent diverse voices, identities, and lived experiences.
- Accessible participation: make venues and events physically accessible and provide necessary accommodations.
- Diverse decision-making: include BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disabled voices on juries and programming committees.
- Community partnerships: collaborate with organizations that support underrepresented filmmakers.
- Safe spaces: enforce clear anti-discrimination policies.
- Fair compensation: pay artists and staff equitably and maintain transparency in fees and contracts.
Diversity in Awards
Awards mean recognition, celebration, and prestige. Recognition matters because it validates voices and opens doors. When awards reflect the full spectrum of talent, they help reshape the industry and the stories we celebrate, creating space for underrepresented stories to thrive.
Inclusive awards practices mean:
- Diversifying juries and decision-makers to reflect a range of identities and lived experiences.
- Transparent criteria that value cultural authenticity and innovation.
- Equitable access to submission processes.
What Can I Do?
Support local festivals by attending screenings and Q&As, spreading the word to your peers, or volunteering your time to take an active role and meet likeminded folks. After all, festivals are places of connection, and you don’t need to work in film to advocate for diversity and inclusion in storytelling. Explore the mandates and values of the festivals you attend, and pay attention to who wins awards, and who doesn’t.
As filmmakers and industry professionals, you have the ability to shift the culture of the industry. Mentor emerging filmmakers, hire crews with inclusivity and fairness in mind, and create safe spaces on set where everyone can work, learn, and thrive.
And everyone, the simplest yet most powerful action is to keep watching films that challenge and expand your worldview. Stories shape culture and your choices matter.