Community Vitality 2025 - Forest City Film Festival

 

Community Vitality 2025

Forest City Film Festival

Forest City Film Festival Dives Deep to Promote Diversity

Grant: $75,000 over 3 years

Grant Summary: The Forest City Film Festival is expanding its Indigenous Program, Community Day, and Deep Dive Screenings. Doing so will deepen and transform our regional audience by supporting Indigenous cultures, connecting our various communities, and creating conversations around important local issues.

The Forest City Film Festival team in their Clarence Street office.

Now in its ninth year, the Forest City Film Festival (FCFF) is a charitable organization that celebrates cinema with a regional focus, showcasing films and filmmakers connected to Southwestern Ontario. With over 40 events each fall, FCFF has become a cultural cornerstone in London, building audiences, supporting creators, and sparking meaningful conversations.

The 2025-2027 Forest City Film Festivals will be supported by a $75,000 Community Vitality grant to enhance three programs that foster inclusion and cultural celebration: the Indigenous Program, Community Day Showcases, and Deep Dives.

“It's imperative that our region increases activities addressing inequality,” said Executive Director Dorothy Downs. “Sense of belonging in our area, a core characteristic of wellbeing, has declined since 2016, and is behind the sense of belonging felt by the population at the provincial and national levels. In celebrating the people and places who come from among us, the Festival’s programs directly address these issues.”

The Indigenous Program is a cornerstone of FCFF’s commitment to reconciliation and representation. Featuring films led, written, directed, and produced by Indigenous filmmakers, this program aims to disrupt systemic barriers in the film industry and foster pride and belonging. In 2025, the program will take a significant step forward by welcoming new Indigenous leadership to guide its curation.

The Community Day Showcases celebrate the vibrant cultural diversity of the region. Each year, FCFF partners with a local community to present films, art, dance, food, and educational activities. In 2024, South Asian Film Day brought together community members and festivalgoers in a joyful celebration of culture. In 2025, a new community will be featured, continuing the tradition of connection and cultural pride.

The Deep Dives program brings thought-provoking feature-length films to the screen. Paired with expert speakers on pressing social issues such as LGBTQ2+ experiences, human trafficking, and homelessness, these sessions create space for underrepresented voices and foster empathy and understanding across the broader community.

“Addressing inequality and promoting well-being within our community is a key priority for London Community Foundation, and supporting the Festival as it grows these programs underlines our commitment to look for new and innovative ways to tackle these challenges,” said Lori Runciman, London Community Foundation’s Grants Director.

Full list of 2025 Community Vitality grant recipients:

 
Matthew Brewer