For a moment we weren’t sure we were going to have a 2026 Soo Film Festival. On the final day of last year’s festival our projector broke which made us move the show over to Bayliss Public Library on a moment’s notice. We can’t thank the staff at Bayliss enough for opening just for us which allowed us to finish the festival with only a slight delay. We also thank the filmmakers and our audience for rolling right along with us.
Then we had to fix the projector, if it was in fact repairable. The closest factory authorized repair center is in Chicago which meant we had to find a reasonable way to get it there and back. Then there was the question if parts would be available due to the projector’s age. With all these unknowns we thought it best to make other arrangements in case we were in fact going to be without a projector, which is why we are at The LSSU Arts Center this year for the weekend portion of the festival. We are grateful for the tremendous understanding of everyone at Soo Theatre and for the Arts Center being able to accommodate us. The projector turned out to be repairable and we fully anticipate returning to Soo Theatre in 2027.
If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to help us with the projector repair please visit soofilmfestival.org/donate.
The festival kicks off with free evening programs at Bayliss Public Library Wednesday and Thursday. The festival continues Friday through Sunday at The LSSU Arts Center.
Of note this year are two films with connections to Sault Ste. Marie. Dave Cairns and Jude Reed make their feature directing debut with the horror film Yooper Frankenstein which they shot here and cast with many local actors. See it Friday at 8pm as our Friday Night Fright selection. Adam and Zach Khalil are Sault Tribe members returning to the festival with their feature documentary Aanikoobijigan [ancestor/great-grandparent/great-grandchild]. The film covers the important work of tribal repatriation specialists who fight to recover Indigenous human remains from museum archives and return them to their ancestral homes. See it Saturday at 6:30pm.
Our shorts programs once again offer a wide variety of films across several genres and even several countries. The international shorts screen Thursday at Bayliss. Saturday starts with student films and is followed by a collection of shorts Made in Michigan. Sunday we cast the net a little wider and feature shorts from around The Great Lakes. Please, do not miss the student films on Saturday. We particularly encourage student submissions and this could be your first look at your favorite filmmakers of tomorrow.
Soo Film Festival places an emphasis on Great Lakes films and filmmakers but entry is open worldwide.
All films in every category are eligible for an Audience Award. Festival attendees are encouraged to vote for their favorites.
Thank you for coming out and supporting the festival. We are thrilled to once again welcome you to Sault Ste. Marie for five days of moviegoing. Your support helps filmmakers stay here and work here.
Thank you for making possible another year of Great Lakes, Great Movies.
Jason Markstrom
President
Soo Film Festival
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