Coming this February: The Stratford Winter Film Festival

The Stratford Winter Film Festival [SWFF] had its debut season in February, 2024; it was a modest success. The Festival will return in 2025, bigger and better, keeping the best aspects of its inaugural run, and adding a few enhancements. Save the dates: February 14-17, 2025.

One of the founders of the Festival shared a bit more context. "Last season, the three of us were newly transplanted to the area. We hoped that creating the SWFF would bring vibrancy and activity to the city during the darkest and quietest days and nights of winter. There has been tremendous goodwill shown from the various communities here: arts, businesses, civic leaders, and the general citizenry, the support from all those groups helped us through the most difficult of all years, namely our first year." A recent article in The Stratford Times highlighted some of the changes coming in 2025: different, larger, more suitable venues; a more leisurely four-day run instead of a more compressed three-day span, allowing better pacing to see the different films. Up to 12 titles are being curated by the founding trio. You can follow the organization here on social media, and/or on their website to current as details are announced. "We are trying to deliver everything that was good about last year’s experience, only bigger and smoother this year." said another one of the founders.

Fun bit of trivia: did you know that there was a Stratford Film Festival, way back in the day? One of the first events of its kind, it ran from 1956-1961 and 1971-1975. Films from around the world were screened at the Avon Theatre. Guess who was the driving force behind it? Tom Patterson! Yup, the same visionary who brought the Stratford Festival to life.

There will be associated "Off SWFF" events at various restaurants and businesses in town including The Relic Lobby Bar, Pazzo's, The Little Prince Micro-Cinema, Fosters, and Mercer Kitchen. A shuttle bus service will offer transportation from one cinema to another, which will help with parking during the snowy season. We plan to share additional posts as more details are finalized.

If you are planning a visit to Stratford in the winter months for shopping, dining, and the Winter Film Festival, check out the various member properties here on DiscoverStratford.com. You'll find over 25 different independently owned and operated venues, many of which are open year-round. Search by dates, amenities, location; check out images of B&Bs, Inns, Suites and furnished short-term Apartment rentals.