Whether you’re in the mood for a tearjerker, a historical biography, or an endearing story about a blind used-car salesman in Milwaukee, this year’s NorthwestFilmFest brings more than 20 films — and a wealth of different emotions — to the Metro Cinema this month.
“The beauty of documentaries is, they can run the gamut from something that’s more comedic to something that’s going to tear your heart out,” says Guy Lavallee, the festival director and lead programmer. “But they all really make you want to do something, to be active in something or make a difference in something.”
NorthwestFilmFest is one of North America’s longest-running documentary film festivals, dating back to the early 1980s. In its earliest iterations, the festival’s lineup focused largely on international development, but over the years, the festival evolved, changing names — it was previously known as the Global Visions Film Festival — and moving around throughout the year. This year is the first time the festival is running in April, but Lavallee hopes it won’t be the last.
“We just thought, ‘let’s move it to April,’” he says. “Especially after this winter, people are just clamouring to get out and do something, so this is a perfect time.”
Over the past four decades, the festival’s programming has also grown to include a wider breadth of films, beyond strict documentaries. This year’s lineup includes special 50th anniversary showings of All the President’s Men and Network, two feature films rooted in non-fiction storytelling about investigative journalism in the 1970s. In between the screenings, audiences can also take in a panel discussion on media and journalism. The goal, Lavallee explains, is to bring audiences a range of thought- and conversation-provoking content.
“It allows us to play with the programming, and gives audiences a bit more variety,” he explains. “Then, it all ends up being fodder for amazing conversations after, if you’re going to go for a drink or a bite to eat with your friends and discuss what you just experienced.”
This year’s lineup also features several homegrown stories, including screenings of the three finalists for the Edmonton film prize, and the premiere of The Perfect Match, a film about a Ghanaian-Edmontonian family’s quest to increase awareness of stem cell donation in Black communities. The film’s producer, Sheena Rossiter, says the film sparks conversations around health care, trust and community, making it a perfect fit for local audiences at NorthwestFilmFest.
“It’s really important for us to show this film in Edmonton, because without the community, there wouldn’t be a film,” she says. “It’s a very Edmonton story — the people featured in it live here, and all the crew also live here in Edmonton, so it feels really important to be showing it here.”
NorthWestFilm Fest runs April 8 – 14, 2026, at Metro Cinema at the Garneau Theatre, 8712 109 St NW, Edmonton.
