Northern lights. 24-hour daylight in the summer. –40°C in the winter.
Gold miners. Dog mushers... and a FILM FESTIVAL.

Dawson City, Yukon, a town that still retains its turn of the century charm complete with wooden sidewalks. Where young and old, artist, labourer, professional and slacker intermingle — dressed in gumboots, long johns and parkas.

Dawson City

Among the most northern competitive film festivals in the world, the Dawson City International Short Film Festival (DCISFF) has been showing short films of all genres every Easter weekend since 2000. The festival also includes special events such as master classes with exciting guests, meet and greets, workshops, filmmaking challenges and awards.

"...a world that succinctly embodies our visions of heaven and hell through its unique combination of hospitable down-hominess and unabashed lunacy. Think Fitzcaroldo meets The Waltons."

Photos courtesy of the Dawson City Museum

A short history of KIAC and the festival

The Dawson City International Short Film Festival sprang into action in 2000, as a project of the Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC) and a few ambitious and creative film enthusiasts from the community. KIAC is an arts centre founded and governed by the Dawson City Arts Society (DCAS) that offers a range of programming; including community courses in visual and performing arts, an annual arts festival, the film festival, an art camp for kids, an artist-run centre (the ODD Gallery and residencey program) and much more.

Every Easter weekend, The Dawson City International Short Film Festival (DCISFF) opens its arms to a migration of film lovers for a four-day celebration of short film. The festival presents films of all genres from around the world as well as those made in the Yukon. Special events such as panel discussions, meet and greets, workshops, and awards continue to boost professional contacts and marketing opportunities for filmmakers, providing a unique networking environment.

The festival has hosted many notable Canadian and International guests including Mike Clattenburg, Lee Demarbre, Carol Geddes, Karen Hines, Chris Landreth, Bruce McDonald,Marv Newland, Ron Mann, Andrea Dorfman, Phil Hoffman, Don McKellar, John Walker, Cari Green, Bill MacGillivray, Terry Greenlaw, Deco Dawson and Gerald Wexler.

Objectives of the DCISFF
To build a strong program of film education, entertainment, presentation and development for Yukon residents in the context of the Klondike Institute of Art and Culture’s (KIAC) other arts and media education streams.

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A short history of KIAC and the festival