Our full in-person and online schedules are both available on our website using the link below.

For tips on how to access the schedule and how to change the viewer, please watch this short video below.

Free parking this Friday, February 23rd in Downtown Belleville for DocFest! Enjoy free parking in all of the downtown municipal lots all day Friday, and of course free parking all weekend as usual.

We’re excited to be offering our full in-person weekend pass holders some exciting perks this year.Pass holders please remember to arrive 15 minutes prior to your selected film screening for priority seating.  Keep reading for more great benefits of being an in-person pass holder.

Our in-person festival pass holders get some pretty sweet perks! We thank our partners at The 116 Bistro for offering a 10% discount all weekend, just show your pass and enjoy your meal!

Please join us this afternoon, Friday, February 23, at 3pm at Capers Restaurant, 272 Front St. for our Filmmaker Panel event sponsored by the Quinte Arts Council

The audience will get to hear first-hand stories and insights from these four distinguished filmmakers about their craft, career and the quickly changing landscape of documentary film.

Attending filmmakers:

• Chrisann Hessing – This year’s film: We Will Be Brave

• Roz Mugford – This year’s film: Hidden Heroes

• Victor Cooper – This year’s film: The Local

• Therese Shechter – This year’s film: My So-Called Selfish Life

 (This event is available to weekend pass holders on a first come first served basis).

Tonight’s the night! Don’t miss the award-winning documentary Carlos, about 10-time Grammy Award winner Carlos Santana! Followed by a live concert rocking a Latino and Canadian fusion sound.

You can still get a ticket! Gala Rush Passes include Green Carpet Interviews at 6p.m., the Feature Film and Concert starting at 7p.m at The Empire Theatre tonight Friday, February 23.

Purchase your Gala Rush Pass: $50 (plus fee) at online or in-person at The Empire Theatre tonight from 5:30-7p.m. In-person sales are cash only.

Don’t miss our Saturday Night at The Empire Theatre event Saturday, February 24 at 8pm sponsored by First Nations Technical Institute. We’re showing the short film The Water Walker, and the feature film Boil Alert.

Use your full in-person pass or you can pay $13 cash at the door for a single ticket. See our online schedule for full details

Sunday Night at the Empire Theatre

Don’t miss our Sunday Night at The Empire Theatre and in-person finale film on Sunday, February 25th at 7:30pm featuring The Stones and Brian Jones sponsored by Brad Aulthouse and Andrew Bandler, Portfolio Managers, BMO Nesbitt Burns.

Sunday Night at the Empire Theatre

Don’t miss our Local Filmmaker Awards sponsored by Bay of Quinte on Sunday, February 25th at the Empire Theatre. We’ll announce the winners right before our finale film The Stones and Brian Jones.

Miss seeing one of these amazing local films over the weekend? You can still catch them as part of our virtual festival starting the evening of Sunday, February 25.

It’s not too late to get your full in-person festival pass. Available for sale online and at The Belleville Public Library.If you purchased your pass online you will need to pick up a physical pass before attending screenings. We have pass pick-ups available at the following times leading up to the festival:Belleville Public Library – Lobby 

Thursday, Feb. 22 from 4-7 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 23 from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 24 from 9:30a.m.-4:30p.m.

The Empire Theatre – Lobby

Friday, Feb. 23 from 5:30-7

Please bring a copy of your receipt or proof of purchase. If you don’t have the ability to pick up your pass prior to the screening of the first film you’d like to see, please bring your confirmation email to show the volunteers at the doors. You will be asked to pick up your pass directly following the screening of the film.

Looking for a coffee or a place to grab a meal between films today? There’s lots open downtown for you to choose from. Grab one of our flyers available at every location for more details.

What’s open:

Burger Revolution                     11am – 8pm

357 Front St

Upfront Café                              10am – 5pm

313 Front St.

Tropical Blends                             7am – 3pm

322 Pinnacle St

Bourbon St. Pizza                       11am – 10pm

5a Market St.

The Smokin’ 116 Bistro                 9am – 6pm

116 Pinnacle St.

Paraphernalia Books ‘N’ Stuff       1pm – 5pm

306 Front St.

A huge thank you to all of our funders and sponsoring partners. DocFest couldn’t bring the best in local, national, and international documentaries to Belleville every year with out their support. Please check them out on our webpage!