Filmmakers can soon submit their work for the Yorkton Film Festival’s 80th anniversary season, with the call for entries opening this October right after Thanksgiving. The festival also announced its milestone edition will run May 26 to 30, 2027, continuing its run as North America’s longest-running film festival.
The Yorkton Film Festival shared the dates and submission window on its website, noting early bird rates will be available for the 2026/2027 season. The festival started in 1947 as the Yorkton Film Council, a volunteer distribution agency for the National Film Board, and held its first event in 1950.
This year’s 79th edition drew 200 visiting filmmakers, with 85 percent coming from outside Saskatchewan. It also relied on 149 volunteers who gave 2,699 hours to review 300 film entries, resulting in 110 nominations across 27 categories.
The festival has long been a showcase for Canadian film. The Golden Sheaf Award, first presented in 1958, remains its top prize. This year, Siksikakowan: The Blackfoot Man won the Best of Festival Golden Sheaf Award, directed by Sinakson Trevor Solway of the Siksika Nation.
The Yorkton Film Festival is a qualifying festival for the Canadian Screen Awards and runs a mentorship program supported by the RBC Foundation, offering 46 hours of guidance to emerging filmmakers.
