15th anniversary leads to the addition of WIFF Alley

The 15th anniversary of Windsor International Film Festival will leave a lasting mark in downtown Windsor. 

The festival has grown in the past 15 years expanding from a three-day festival with 65 films in 2005 to a ten-day festival with 277 films. In celebration of 15 years of WIFF, they have added WIFF Alley and the WIFF Village. The alley runs between Chatham Street West and University Avenue, across from the Capitol Theatre.  

During the last weekend of WIFF, University Avenue will be closed between Pelissier Street and Victoria Avenue, and a tent will be set up as a hangout for the festival known as WIFF Village. People travel from across Canada to see films at WIFF and the village will allow people to make new connections.

“I’ve come the past six years, we love it. I’m in Ottawa and I come with my mom, she is in Montreal and we fly here. This is our fourth time together,” said Isabelle Routhier who attended a Canadian film with her mother. Routhier hadn’t checked out WIFF Alley but said she thinks it shows that the city welcomes the festival.

According to Lynne Watts,  chair of the WIFF board, the alley was called WIFF Alley before the mural was made.  

 “We were able to obtain some money from the City of Windsor and [Councilor] Rino Bortolin’s board funds and came up with a proposal to do some lighting and some murals so it’s a permanent mark on the city,” said Watts.

The 277 films shown at WIFF are selected based on quality, originality and also on their ability to lead WIFF to success.

Sandi Shoust a volunteer of ten years has watched the festival grow.

“When we first started it was just very basic, we were just trying to get by from day to day but now with technology, computers, the kiosks it’s like a real film festival experience,” said Shoust, one of about 300 volunteers this year.

“What I like most about volunteering here is first of all, is just being a part of the success of this and seeing how its grown.”

The festival and WIFF Village will end on Nov 10. To purchase tickets go to windsorfilmfestival.com or to the box office next to the Capitol Theatre.