Blue Mountain Film + Media Festival Announces 2025 Lineup

The Blue Mountain Film + Media Festival (BMFM) has unveiled its full feature film lineup for the 2025 edition, running from May 29 to June 1 in the picturesque Town of the Blue Mountains on Georgian Bay in Ontario. This year’s program includes 32 feature films representing 12 countries, and brings together a diverse mix of powerful dramas, inventive comedies, award-winning documentaries, and international standouts.

The festival opens with the Canadian premiere of Racewalkers, directed by Kevin Claydon and Phil Moniz. A Slamdance Grand Jury Prize winner, it tells the story of an aspiring Olympian chasing his dreams one gruelling step at a time. On Saturday, audiences can look forward to the highly anticipated Gala Presentation of The Friend, directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, starring Naomi Watts and Bill Murray. A celebratory after-party will follow the screening.

Additionally, this year’s festival serves as a platform for emerging Canadian talent via its Shorts program, which features a vibrant range of films from 3 to 30 minutes in length. The lineup, which looks to amplify the voices of next generation filmmakers, will be announced ahead of the Festival kick-off in the coming weeks.

Outside of the theatres, BMFM continues to deliver a uniquely immersive festival experience. In addition to the featured films, attendees will enjoy a variety of complimentary events throughout the Blue Mountain Village, including free outdoor screenings of features like Best in Show and The Last Waltz, live music, industry panels, and social gatherings. For those looking to take in the long weekend of events, an exclusive hotel package is available for a full, exciting getaway.

“Our goal was to create a lineup that reflects the best of contemporary cinema — bold, varied, and emotionally rich,” said Jason Gorber, BMFM’s new Director of Film Programming (and Editor-in-Chief of That Shelf). “With over 30 exceptional films, there’s something here for every kind of film lover, and each screening is designed to be an event in itself.”

Tickets are now available at www.bluemtnfilmfest.ca/tickets. For more information on accommodation packages, visit bluemtnfilmfest.ca/hotels.

The Blue Mountain Film + Media Festival takes place May 29 to June 1, 2025.

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The Buffer Festival Returns for a second year

BMFM takes place May 29 – June 1, 2025. Tickets are on sale at www.bluemtnfilmfest.ca/tickets/

Image from Opening Night Film, RACEWALKERS. Credit: Courtesy of BMFM

The Blue Mountains, ON – April 15, 2025 – Blue Mountain Film + Media Festival unveils this year’s dynamic lineup showcasing 32 feature films from 12 countries across the globe. Opening the festival with its Canadian Premiere is Racewalkers, a Grand Jury Prize Winner for Unstoppable Feature at the Slamdance Film Festival, directed by Kevin Claydon & Phil Moniz. Scott McGehee & David Siegel’s audience pleaser The Friend starring Naomi Watts and Bill Murray, screens on Saturday, May 31 as the evening Gala followed by an after-party.

This year’s selection offers something for everyone, spanning powerful political and art documentaries, compelling dramas and romances, as well as sports, crime and comedy films. Returning this year is the Buffer Festival, showcasing the work of innovative digital creators. These storytellers bring fresh and authentic voices to social platforms, which combines the worlds of social media and storytelling. Canadian Shorts will be highlighted at this year’s festival – a vibrant celebration of storytelling that showcases the remarkable talent of Canadian filmmakers. Spanning from 3 to 30 minutes, the dynamic collection of short films capture emerging voices shaping the future of cinema. The Canadian Shorts lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.

In addition to the rich programming, the Blue Mountain Film + Media Festival offers a variety of complimentary events throughout the village all weekend. Festival goers can enjoy live music, industry events, outdoor activities and parties. In order to provide a relaxing yet immersive experience, the Blue Mountain Film + Media Festival is offering an exclusive hotel package for attendees. For more information on this deal, please visit https://bluemtnfilmfest.ca/hotels/.

“My programming associates and I have scoured the world to bring the best of Canadian and world cinema to this beautiful region, and we couldn’t be more excited about what’s set to be screened at this year’s festival, ” said Jason Gorber, Director of Film Programming. “We are proud to present over 30 feature films from around the globe, including multiple award winners and Canadian premieres. From dog dramas to delightful documentaries, horse movies to sci-fi classics, crime thrillers and comedies and tasty films about cheese, there’s something for any movie lover to experience! Each screening will be a special event, with live and virtual Q&As as well as other fun surprises throughout, all to help celebrate the wonderful shared experience of watching films together.”

Image from Closing Night Film, The Friend. Credit: Courtesy of Mongrel Media

BLUE MOUNTAIN FILM + MEDIA 2025 LINEUP:

Anotas, directed by Damian McCann (Northern Ireland)
Canadian Premiere

Three women in Northern Ireland stage a bank robbery that goes awry in this thriller that unfolds in reverse.

Bad Shabbos, directed by Daniel Robbins (USA)
Audience Award Winner at Tribeca Film Festival
Canadian Premiere

A family gathering assumes increasingly tragic consequences on what should be a day of rest. Oy!

Beethoven’s Nine: Ode to Humanity, directed by Larry Weinstein (Canada)

The enduring power of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony inspires this universal ode to joy.

Best in Show, directed by Christopher Guest (USA)
*Free Outdoor Screening*

You’re merrier with terrier. Christopher Guest’s 2000 mockumentary about the high-stakes world of dog shows.

Black Dog, directed by Guan Hu (China)
Un Certan Regard Award Winner at Cannes Film Festival

Two strays forge an unlikely bond in China’s changing landscape.

Bonjour Tristesse, directed by Durga Chew-Bose (Canada)
Directors to Watch Award Winner at the Palm Springs International Film Festival

A classical novel gets a contemporary reimagining in this story of a young woman who intervenes in her father’s affair.

Come See Me in the Good Light, directed by Ryan White (USA)
Festival Favourite Award Winner at Sundance Film Festival

A terminal cancer diagnosis inspires spoken word artist Andrea Gibson to embrace the poetry of life.

The Cowboy and the Queen, directed by Andrea Nevins (USA)

A horse trainer finds a friend and ally in Queen Elizabeth II.

Eephus, directed by Carson Lund (France/USA)

Two local teams face off in what could be the final game on their beloved baseball diamond in this festival favourite.

Flow, directed by Gints Zilbalodis (Latvia)
Best Animated Feature Award Winner at the Academy Awards
*Private Screening and School program*

A cat, a capybara, and some dogs survive a flood in this animated Oscar winner.

Four Mothers, directed by Darren Thornton (Ireland)
Audience Award Winner at London Film Festival

A male nurse/aspiring author must deal with a quartet of grannies while his friends enjoy a Pride weekend.

The Friend, directed by Scott McGehee & David Siegel (USA)
*Screening and Soiree*

Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, and Bing the Great Dane prove that a dog really is a human’s best friend.

Front Row, directed by Miriam Guttmann (USA/Netherlands/Ukraine/UK)
Canadian Premiere

A war veteran who lost his legs in battle takes centre stage as the United Ukrainian Ballet Company’s guest of honour.

Gaucho Gaucho, directed by Michael Dwec & Gregory Kershaw (USA)
Special Jury Award for Sound at Sundance Film Festival

This handsome portrait of Argentine cowboys offers a stirring ode to a rugged way of life.

Holy Cow!, directed by Louise Courvoisier (France)
Un Certan Regard Award Winner at Cannes Film Festival

In rural France, a young man learns the arts of making cheese and making love.

Home Free, directed by Avi Federgreen (Canada)
Audience Award Int’l Narrative Feature Film – Gasparilla International Film Festival, Montreal Independent Film Festival: Best Canadian Indie

Three sisters reunite while visiting their terminally ill father, who has a few surprises in store.

Janis Ian: Breaking Silence , directed by Varda Bar-Kar (USA)

Breaking Silence lets a folk music icon tell her story in her own words after giving voice to so many others.

The Last Waltz, directed by Martin Scorsese (USA)
*Free Outdoor Screening*

Martin Scorsese turns it up to 11 with this classic concert doc celebrating the music of The Band and friends.

Little Jaffna, directed by Lawrence Valin (France)

A Tamil cop in Paris infiltrates a criminal network in his own community in this tense thriller.

Meet the Barbarians,directed by Julie Delpy (France)

Well-to-do French villagers sponsor a family of Ukrainians but get Syrians instead in this timely political farce.

Middletown, directed by Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss (USA)
Canadian Premiere

Students from a 1990s’ film class look back on the power of uncovering the truth through filmmaking.

Mistress Dispeller, directed by Elizabeth Lo (USA/China)

The economics of marriage in China go under the microscope as one woman infiltrates a marriage in order to save it.

The Mountain, directed by Rachel House (New Zealand)

Three kids embark on a quest to conquer a mountain and put old ghosts to rest.

The Penguin Lessons, directed by Peter Cattaneo (USA/Spain)

An English teacher at a Buenos Aires boarding school begrudgingly befriends a penguin in 1976 in this true story.

Racewalkers, directed by Kevin Claydon & Phil Moniz (Canada)
Opening Night Film & Canadian Premiere
Grand Jury Prize for the Best Unstoppable Feature at Slamdance Film Festival

An aspiring Olympian takes up the extreme sport of racewalking and puts one foot forward after another in pursuit of his dream.

Sad Jokes, directed by Fabian Stumm (Germany)
Best Director and FIPRESCI Prize Winner at Munich Film Festival

A film director deals with serious events in his personal life while finding the right comedic note for his new movie.

Shelf Life, directed by Ian Cheney (United States)
Best Cinematography Winner at Tribeca Film Festival

Cheese, glorious cheese! Gourmands around the world explore the many wonders of our favourite wine pairing.

Souleymane’s Story, directed by Boris Lojkine (France)
Un Certain Regard Best Actor Winner, Jury Prize Winner and FIPRESCI Prize Winner at Cannes Film Festival

A migrant in Paris works tirelessly as a food-delivery courier and must earn enough overnight to pay for documents that will assist his application for asylum.

So Surreal: Behind the Masks, directed by Neil Diamond & Joanne Robertson (Canada)

The hunt for Yup’ik masks leads to an unexpected connection to the artistic obsessions of the French Surrealists.

Star Wars (Anangong Miigaading), A New Hope, directed by George Lucas (USA)
*Special Screening Free Access*

A rare opportunity to see George Lucas’s 1977 sci-fi classic on the big screen, celebrating the film’s Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) dubbing.

Two Women, directed by Chloé Robichaud (Canada)
Special Jury Award for Writing at Sundance Film Festival

Two suburban Montréal moms make a pact to spice up their sex lives in this frisky Québécoise farce.

Universal Language, directed by Matthew Rankin (Canada)
Canada’s Selection for the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature Film

Director Matthew Rankin comes to BMFM to present his multiple award-winning surrealist comedy.

THE BUFFER FESTIVAL:
Sabrina Cruz and Melissa Fernandes from Answer in Progress to showcase why nobody knows what curry is, funded by the Canadian Media Fund.

Additional Buffer Festival creators to be announced.

Disclaimer: BMFM Lead Film Programmer Jason Gorber, and Assistant Programmers Pat Mullen and Rachel West, are all members of our That Shelf Senior Staff.