Ottawa festival to combine film and vegan food

The Ottawa International Vegan Film Festival will be entering its second year this October, looking to showcase both vegan-themed films and local animal-free food.

The festival has stated that its goal is to showcase films celebrating vegan ideals and lifestyles. In total, 26 films have been selected for screening, from 14 different countries. Titles include “Apollo: Rise of the Poly-Vegan Soldier”, “H.O.P.E. What You Eat Matters”, “The Cube of Truth” and “Pig Man.” Over 60% of the films selected are from female directors.

In addition to the films, the festival’s premier event will include a dinner featuring vegan food from local Ottawa outlets Copper Branch, The Table, Strawberry Blonde, and Zengarry. This event will include a screening of the “Best Of” festival films, chosen by the awards committee. The festival will also have an accompanying photo essay contest, with a winner announced at the premiere. 10% of all profits will go to animal sanctuaries. Local film festivals, often held at small independent theatres and promoted with poster printing and flyer printing, can focus on specialized subjects and provide an outlet for developing and independent filmmakers.

The OIVFF’s 2019 premier event will take place on October 6 at The Chamber in Ben Franklin Place. It is the world’s only vegan-themed film festival, and hopes to take the show on the road for touring presentations in the future.