Eye2Eye Film Festival
Eye2Eye Film Festival 2025
Join us for the Eye2Eye Film Festival, a celebration of bold storytelling and the power of film to connect, inspire, and challenge.
Happening June 6 - 8 at Victoria Hall in Cobourg, Ontario, the festival features screenings, conversations, and special events including our signature Emerging Filmmaker Showcases.
Festival Lineup
This year’s Eye2Eye Festival brings together a bold and thoughtful collection of films inspired by our 2025 theme: Legacy in Film. From powerful documentaries and genre-bending narratives to intimate shorts and experimental gems, the lineup reflects the voices, visions, and stories shaping our world today.
Emerging Filmmaker Showcases
The Emerging Filmmaker Showcases highlight Eye2Eye’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of storytellers. Through two competitions, the festival provides a platform for high school and emerging filmmakers to share their work, gain industry exposure, and connect with peers and professionals. All while celebrating fresh voices and new perspectives in film. Winners also receive monetary or in-kind awards that support their continued growth as filmmakers.
The two categories include the Film Newcomer Competition, open to high school students in our local regions, and the Film Forward Competition, designed for post-secondary and independent emerging filmmakers across Ontario. Both offer awards, mentorship, and screening opportunities to support creative development and kickstart careers in film.
Film Newcomer Competition
Short films 10 minutes or less by local high school students
Film Forward Competition
Short films 20 minutes or less by filmmakers & post-secondary students currently living, studying. or working in Ontario.
What are people saying about Eye2Eye?
“What Sarah and her team have accomplished with their festival is nothing short of amazing. As both an audience member and participant it was truly an inspiring weekend and an incredible experience where filmmakers were able to network with each other along with connecting with their very enthusiastic audiences. … I can only imagine where they'll take this in the future with additional funding and support. It was an honour to attend and I hope to be invited back again.”
- Jeremy LaLonde, Director, Eye2Eye 2024
“The Eye2Eye Film Festival is a tremendous asset to the Canadian film industry and community. Having attended multiple festivals over the years, I can say that this is the most professional, organized and well curated I’ve experienced. We had a chance to enjoy an incredible line up of films, workshops and Q&A’s with filmmakers over the weekend, and take advantage of fabulous networking opportunities the festival provided at their social events. Most importantly, Eye2Eye is fostering emerging talent by providing a platform for up and coming filmmakers. Eye2Eye is a warm, inclusive and exciting new festival that I would be thrilled to return.”
- Jennifer Nichols, Choreographer/Director, Eye2Eye 2024
“The Eye2Eye Film Festival was a thoroughly well thought-out festival, from the mix of International and Canadian films, to the cool theme that played through all the selected movies, to the well-attended events. As a filmmaker, I enjoy attending festivals where there are opportunities to interact with the public and with other filmmakers, and the Eye2Eye FF had that in spades - from the summer-camp vibe at the BnB we all shared, to the filmmaker events the organizers threw for us - and the opportunities to meet up with local film lovers, actors and filmmakers-in-training. Many larger festivals could really learn a lesson from Sarah and Lesley!”
- Sean Garrity, Director, Eye2Eye 2024