International Festival of Winter Cinema 2027
Where else in Canada can you watch movies on a screen made out of snow - outdoors at a magical winter festival? This is the only free outdoor film festival - in the world - and it happens right here in Edmonton. Watch outdoor themed movies around the subjects of mountains, polar life, climate and Indigenous subjects while you sip on hot chocolate and get covered in blankets to stay cozy.
Event Details
Dates: Runs within the Silver Skate Festival, February 5 – 15, 2027
Location: William Hawrelak Park, 9330 Groat Rd NW, Edmonton (alongside Silver Skate)
Admission: Free
Info & program: ifwc.ca
About the Festival
IFWC is a juried, competitive festival celebrating winter-themed cinema from local, Canadian, and international filmmakers, with a focus on Indigenous perspectives, winter and mountain life, and our changing climate. Its signature is the Snow Screen — a structure built from pure snow — set up in the park as part of Silver Skate. After a day of skating and snow sculptures, you settle into a chair under the stars, warmed by blankets and fire pits, and watch shorts and features on a screen no other festival in the world can offer. 2027 marks its tenth season.
Highlights
The Snow Screen is created by having films projected on a giant screen made of snow
Winter & mountain cinema including local, Canadian, and international shorts and features
Indigenous and climate-focused films front and centre
The Snowflake Awards featuring Diamond (Best Winter Film), Golden (Best International), Crimson (Best Canadian), and Sapphire (Best Edmonton Film)
Cozy outdoor viewing with blankets, hot chocolate, and fires
Part of Silver Skate so you can pair it with a full day of winter festival fun
Good to Know & Getting There
It's an outdoor evening event in a river-valley park, so dress seriously warm and bring a blanket. You'll find the snow theatre within the Silver Skate grounds at Hawrelak Park — easily reached via transit, or driving.