We feel deeply honored to have participated in the 2021 Lunenburg Doc Fest with our short puppet film, “Marianne’s Onion.” Although we were unable to travel to Nova Scotia, the festival offered virtual opportunities to connect. We were impressed with the programming and would love to attend the festival in person one day, regardless of whether we create another eligible film.

—  Alex and Olmsted, Directors, MARIANNE’S ONION

I am endlessly grateful to Lunenburg Doc Fest for the opportunity to share FEELINGS OF INVISIBILITY in their Reframed: The Ability In Disability program. Winning best short film was the icing on the cake to a very well organized festival. Their commitment to creating networking opportunities for filmmakers was incredible too! Thank you to everyone involved for all their hard work.

—  Charmaine Kachibaia, Director, FEELINGS OF INVISIBILITY
BEST SHORT FILM AWARD

Lunenburg Doc Fest was a huge lift for my work as a filmmaker and our feature doc Bluefin by winning the Best Atlantic Filmmaker award several years ago. This helps a great deal in attracting the attention of media and I am sure, encouraged the attention of programmers from other festivals. Just being selected for Lunenburg is a strong signal of quality… it is very well run and the festival attracts heavy hitters in broadcasting and distribution with the credentials to fund your next project. Masterclasses with the pros. Lunenburg has partnered on professional development workshops with Hot Docs which includes doc proposal writing, expert advice in fashioning development and release trailers, as well as how to strategize the release of your doc worldwide for the most impact. You could not ask for more! What is great is that the festival is intimate and not as crowded as those in large urban centres ensuring extraordinary access to pitch your projects and make those professional relationships that will open up important opportunities for you as a filmmaker. Lunenburg DocFest is a go-to do not miss event, and the selection of films to see are always high quality.

—  John Hopkins, Producer/Director, BLUEFIN

I was so lucky to have Madame Dishrags programmed in Lunenburg. Wish I could have been there. The online industry experience was terrific, and the film selections were excellent. Thank you, thank you. I hope to return in person soon!

— Carmen Pollard, Director, MADAME DISHRAGS

So happy to have our documentary short film “European Tour ’73” take part in this incredible film festival! The team that runs Lunenburg Doc Fest are fantastic and did an amazing job pivoting to an excellent and filmmaker-friendly online version of this year’s festival! Highly recommended!

— Ross Munro, Director, EUROPEAN TOUR ’73

— Bared Maronian, Director, BLOODLESS: The Path to Democracy

Want to thank you for an incredible festival – especially given the unique challenges of 2020. Hats off to you and all the crew for an amazing job putting it all together! The Dock Market was phenomenal and really set LDF apart from other (virtual) festivals that we’ve been part of so far this year.

— Darby Duffin, Director, FISH & MEN

This was by far the best festival that I have been a part of. From the first email communication to the festival even itself. I really could not have asked for a better experience for the international premiere of Lives Well Lived. The festivals staff and board are incredible and the audience was very engaged and played a big role in the overall good feeling that I will take away. Thank you for making this such a wonderful experience!

—Sky Bergman, Director, LIVES WELL LIVED
Sold out International Premiere

Thank you for this amazing festival, amazing people, this honour and this beautiful town.

— Feras Fayyad, Director, LAST MEN IN ALEPPO
Standing-room only Atlantic Canadian Premiere
FEATURE DOCUMENTARY AWARD

A very well run festival! Great documentary audiences, professional networking, beautiful coastal town, amazing hospitality, and fantastic films. I had an absolutely amazing experience at the Lunenburg Doc Fest. Great films and even greater audiences…and what an amazing town to visit. So many events to keep the filmmakers and filmgoers active and engaged, and a harbor cruise to boot! Highly recommend this festival.
— Darren Mann, Director, THIS COLD LIFE
Atlantic Canadian Premiere

Over the years I have been to many film festivals, but I had no idea that the best one was so close to home. Thank you Lunenburg doc Fest for achieving the perfect mix of documentary films, workshops, hospitality and strong sense of community. I will attend next year for certain!
—Rachel Bower, Director, LUNENBURG: Where the Land Meets the Sea
Standing-room only World Premiere

Lunenburg Doc Fest is a special experience for filmmakers and festival goers alike. The community that supports this event is incredibly thoughtful, engaging and champions of documentary film! The organizers of this event have created something unique – highly recommend!
—Thomas Simmons, Director, COYOTE
Standing-room only Canadian Premiere

Yes! Lunenburg doc Fest celebrates filmmakers, and really champions the films they select. It is a warm, intimate festival that allows you to meet the other filmmakers, festival organizers, and members of the community at large. It is a festival organized with love and care, with a wonderful diversity of films. It leaves you feeling inspired for a long time after the festival is over.
—Aube Giroux, Director, MODIFIED
Sold out Atlantic Canadian Premiere
AUDIENCE AWARD & ATLANTIC FILMMAKER AWARD

Amazing films, wonderful industry opportunities and a great deal of learning! Lunenburg Doc Fest is a long waited-for celebration of the documentary filmmaking in Atlantic Canada. Looking forward to attending the festival in 2017.
—Olesya Shyvikova, Documentary Filmmaker

What a great event! I couldn’t think of a more perfect place to watch incredible documentaries while connecting with others in the industry. Lunenburg is the perfect backdrop for this one of a kind doc film festival. Thank you!
 — Eryn Foster, Filmmaker 

Doc Fest 2015 was a smashing success and this event has created yet another reason for people to fall in love with Lunenburg. The creative energy was palatable here on the weekend.  The program completely lived up to its billing of offering thought-provoking entertainment and something for everyone found in film subjects from around the globe including two premiere screenings and opportunities for interaction with filmmakers and producers.  It was thoroughly enjoyable and I can hardly wait for next year!
  — Rachel Bailey, Mayor, Town of Lunenburg 

From the organizers to the sold-out audiences, the Lunenburg Doc Festival has been an exceptional experience of extraordinary people, remarkable stories, and a town with a heart as big as the sea that pulses with art, culture, and heritage. All this under a blood red moon! I am so honoured.
  — Shandi Mitchell, Director, TELL ME
SHORT FILM AWARD & ATLANTIC FILMMAKER AWARD

The Lunenburg Documentary Festival is a world-class event that brings moving and ground-breaking documentaries to surprisingly large and enthusiastic audiences in a charming Nova Scotian seaport which also happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site loaded with history and natural beauty.
  — Chuck Lapp, Chair of Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) Atlantic (2015)

What a wonderful success! We were delighted to have attended, and already are looking forward to what next year might bring. Thank you for all your hard work and for that of the many others who were responsible for this wonderful weekend of information and entertainment! We loved it! Again, thanks! Well done!
  — Jim and Heather Lockhart, Audience Member

You have created an extraordinary and powerful festival. Lunenburg really is a remarkable town.

—Shandi Mitchell, Filmmaker

I laughed, I cried and was touched by the beautiful stories.

—Anonymous

The films that I saw were amazing, and it was a wonderful learning experience for me!

—Madeline Toal, Young Filmmaker

A world-class festival.