Filmmakers: to submit a film for this year's festival click here watch the deadlines with discounts!

Last year's festival program

click above to download 2007 program (pdf 5mb)


For The Bay Street Film Festival 2007 PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS! click here

Video Impression on You Tube of this year's Film Festival Click here

The Bay Street Film Festival is a community event featuring local, national and international film and video. Since our inaugural festival in 2005 we have screened hundreds of films and hosted dozens out of town filmmakers, speakers and musicians. The objective is to connect filmmakers in our community with those from away so we are committed to bringing filmmakers to Thunder Bay to screen their work. We provide exposure to films and filmmakers, and a meeting place to share ideas, promote co-productions and spark collaborations.

The Bay Street Film Festival serves as a showcase for films and videos made in our region but we welcome international submissions in all genres that fit our theme of "Films For The People." We are especially interested in documentaries, short films and animation that have social justice, environmental, community activism, or human rights themes, but we will consider other genres and subjects.

Each year the festival features amazing workshops, panels and exhibitions to provide an opportunity to develop and celebrate our community of filmmakers.

Thunder Bay is located on Lake Superior between Toronto and Winnipeg, directly north of Minneapolis, and it is serviced by an international airport.

The Bay Street Film Festival takes place during the second weekend of September in Thunder Bay, Ontario, one of Canada's most spectacular film locations.

Join Us on Bay Street

The Bay Street Film Festival provides a community experience you won't find anywhere else. The event is held in the Finnish Labour Temple at 314 Bay Street. This is Canada's other Bay Street, once the epicentre of Finnish cultural and political activism in North America. In the recent years the Labour Temple has been rejuvenated as a community auditorium and it is fantastic venue for screening films. With a large screen, sound system and seats for 300 people, the Finnish Labour Temple is a superb location for showing films. Attended by thousands each year and many sold out screenings, we provide an excellent venue for local filmmakers and international filmmakers to get audience exposure.In addition to serving as a community auditorium, the Finnish Labour Temple is also the location of Thunder Bay's famous Hoito Restaurant, where Finnish food is on the menu.

Best of all over 50 percent of the admission proceeds will be donated to charities in Thunder Bay. Films for the People! Join us!

Getting Here is Easy

Thunder Bay is situated in the geographical centre of North America. You can walk or cycle to get here, but leave early because it is a long way. You can come by boat because the city is on Lake Superior, with access to the St. Lawrence Seaway and the rest of the world. You can come by motor vehicle because we are on the Trans Canada highway between Toronto and Winnipeg and at the northern end of Highway 61, a few hours beyond Minneapolis. Or, you can catch a plane because we are served by an international airport.