AFCOOP Updates - August 7th, 2025

Awards, AIFF trailer party, upcoming screenings and more!

💗 Linda Joy and Helen Hill awards applications are now due September 1st

🎟️ AIFF is having a trailer party on the 13th! Learn more below.

🌀 New membership opportunities!

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LINDA JOY & HELEN HILL AWARDS

The deadline is fast approaching for the Linda Joy and Helen Hill awards! AFCOOP provides these three awards to Atlantic Canadian filmmakers (not restricted to Nova Scotia) annually at the Atlantic International Film Festival in September. The awards include prizes to support their upcoming projects, including cash and in-kind benefits.

Linda Joy Busby (1950 – 1984). Click on the image to see “Linda Joy”

Helen Hill (1970 – 2007). Click on the image to see her short “Madame Winger Makes A Film”

You can apply for the following awards:
  • Linda Joy Award Package

  • Linda Joy Post Award Package

  • Helen Hill Award

CARBON ARC

JANE AUSTEN WRECKED MY LIFE
Laura Piani | France | 2024 | 98m

A single bookseller and writer is invited to the Jane Austen Writers' Residency where she is caught in a very unexpected romantic triangle. English and French with English subtitles

KILLER OF SHEEP
Charles Burnett | USA | 1978 | 80m


Charles Burnett's cinematic masterpiece Killer of Sheep, magnificently restored in 4K with sparkling picture and sound, is one of the crown jewels of the Black indie filmmaking movement known as the L.A. Rebellion. The film evokes the everyday trials, fragile pleasures, and tenacious humor of blue-collar African Americans living in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles in the 1970s.

Part of the August retrospective on Charles Burnett. Also playing THE ANNIHILATION OF FISH! on August 23rd, 8:30pm!

DANIELA FOREVER - TGI SCI FI!
Nacho Vigalondo | Spain, Belgium 2024 | 110m

A single bookseller and writer is invited to the Jane Austen Writers' Residency where she is caught in a very unexpected romantic triangle. English and French with English subtitles

Tickets $12 online ($11.40 at the door if available). Prices include HST

FLEAPIT CINEMA PRESENTS: THE MAIDEN
Graham Foy | Canada (AB) | 2022 | 117m *Atlantic premiere

PRECEDED BY: STRAY
Ashley McKenzie | Canada (NS) | 2013 | 15m


THE MAIDEN tells the story of a perfect summer day ending in tragedy, weaving a cosmic connection between three suburban teenagers.

Accompanied by Ashley McKenzie’s third short film, STRAY. The string is taut between these films; both encapsulate coming-of-age on the fridges, allowing the camera to float alongside ambient scenes of sensitive creatures in landscapes woven with industrialism–and characters that form bonds with cats.

SWEET ANGEL BABY
Melanie Oates | Canada (NFLD) | 2024 | 96m
*in-person Q&A with director!

Eliza is an unassuming and beloved member of a small fishing community in Newfoundland who sees all of her relationships put in jeopardy after her secret social media persona is exposed.

Melanie Oates has a strong, singular directorial voice, and directs Michaela Kurimsky to an unforgettable performance.

AIFF 2025 TRAILER PARTY

AIFF is excited to announce a whole lineup of exciting new offerings in honour of their 45th anniversary including: memberships, exclusive AIFF45 merch, and three days of free industry programming! Read more here.

Come to the much anticipated Trailer Party at Carbon Arc Cinema—your first chance to preview this year’s film lineup.

Connect with film lovers, and enjoy 10 curated film trailers from our 2025 lineup, complete with exclusive behind-the-scenes commentary from our programmers!

The AIFF Box Office team will be on-site, so you can be among the first to secure tickets for the festival. Tickets for the event are FREE with registration!

August 28th, 7:00PM at Carbon Arc Cinema

Member Alex Kronstein is looking for support from friends, community, and colleagues!

In this own words:

On May 5th, one of my external hard drives suddenly failed - a 2TB drive containing both personal and critical business files I couldn’t afford to lose. Over the days that followed, it became clear that this wasn’t a simple glitch: the motor had failed, three internal heads were damaged, and even professional data recovery software couldn’t get anything off it.

[…] The total recovery - including parts, service, diagnostics, and a replacement drive - came to $2200. I’ve paid it, but it’s left a serious dent in my finances during an already tough time.

So I’m putting this GoFundMe out there not as an emergency, but as a humble ask: if you’re able and willing to help me recover some of this unexpected expense, I would be incredibly grateful.

Volunteering with AIFF is a wonderful opportunity to:

- Develop new skills and build your résumé
- Meet artists and fellow film enthusiasts
- Access festival screenings and exclusive perks
- Contribute to a vibrant cultural event that brings our community together

The Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF) is an eight-day celebration of cinema from all over the world featuring over 100 film screenings and events, including Q&As, receptions, panels, and industry events. None of this would be possible without the dedication and enthusiasm of its volunteers. Join AIFF in making the 2025 Festival unforgettable.

AIFF is recruiting volunteers for all areas of the Festival, including Front of House, Transportation, Social Media, Special Events, and more.

Festival Dates:
September 10 – 17, 2025

Location:
Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane, Halifax

Interested volunteers can sign up and learn more at:

VICTORIA FILM FESTIVAL DISCOUNT

Deadline to submit your film to Victoria Film Festival is September 5th, 2025. They want to see your films!

Use the code: VFF2026afcoop20off to receive 20% off your submission fee.

Learn more about the festival and how to submit by visiting their website here!

CHARLOTTETOWN FILM FESTIVAL DISCOUNT

ChFF 2025 extends its programming and broaden its scope to include more opportunities for screenwriters, comedy creators, television professionals, and French creatives. This year's edition will be something special, and they want to see AFCOOP members there!

Use the code: AFCOOP20 to get 20% off your tickets and passes

Click on the image to head to their website.

WONDER’NEATH IS HIRING


Wonder’neath Art Society brings practicing artists and local residents together in dynamic studio exploration. They support artistic development, cross-pollination of ideas, and community dialogue through the arts.

Wonder’neath is hiring a Young Canada Works Art Programming and Outreach Intern! Learn more about the position here!

Deadline to apply is August 10th, 2025.

The start date for this position is September 23, 2025.

SENDING FILM FOR PROCESSING?

AFCOOP mails a package to our partner lab on the first Tuesday of every month!

You can drop the film off anytime to our technical coordinator, Cody at anytime!

For more information on getting your film processed, email Cody: [email protected]

AFCOOP’s Filmmakers Job Board is a place to connect with filmmakers and film crews looking for work, or volunteers looking to gain experience in Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada.

Submitting to the AFCOOP Job Board is totally free! All posts are subject to approval by AFCOOP staff and will be reviewed before they appear on the site.

Note: You don't have to create an account to post a job. If you wish, simply enter your email to sign up at the time of job submission.

See it all HERE!

ABOUT AFCOOP: Established in 1974 the Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative (AFCOOP) is a non-profit, community organization dedicated to supporting the production and presentation of independent film and moving-image-based work in a collaborative, learning environment.

AFCOOP acknowledges that we are located and operate in Kjipuktuk, in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi’kmaq, Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet), and Passamaquoddy Peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1726. The treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognized Mi’kmaw and Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet) title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations. We are all treaty people.