Digi60 Filmmaker Festivals Incorporated

What Digi60 Filmmaker Festivals Incorporated does

Digi60 Filmmaker Festivals Incorporated is a registered Canadian not-for-profit corporation, founded in 2004 and incorporated in 2011, that operates an annual filmmaker challenge-based film festival and year-round professional development programming for new and emerging digital filmmakers in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. The organization is volunteer-run and governed by a Board of Directors; it produces the signature annual 60-Day Challenge, in which filmmakers receive a theme and complete a short film within 60 days for juried screening and awards, alongside the four-day Summer Accelerator workshop series held each August, the IWD Creator Lab, the BIPOC Creators Micro-grant (PANDC) program, and ongoing podcasts (Film Chats, Wallbreakers) and a Virtual Speaker Series.

The underlying technology stack is conventional and non-proprietary: a Squarespace-hosted website, Eventbrite for ticketing, YouTube for film and podcast distribution, and Facebook/Instagram for community engagement. No proprietary platform, AI/ML capabilities, patents, or app are disclosed. Digi60's "production infrastructure" rests on a venue-and-partnership network rather than technology: DARC provides equipment and edit suites, Arts Court hosts workshops, Ottawa Art Gallery's Alma Duncan Salon hosts screenings, and Club SAW hosts panels and mixers.

Digi60's revenue model is multi-stream and typical of a community arts non-profit: donations, ticket sales and festival passes, a $400 non-refundable Summer Accelerator registration fee, and grants from the City of Ottawa (Arts Funding Program, Cultural Facilities Fund), the Ontario Trillium Foundation (Resilient Communities Fund), and ACFO-Bilingual Ottawa Bilingue. Pricing is deliberately accessibility-driven — professional development events are pay-what-you-can or by donation, and the $2,000 BIPOC micro-grants are targeted at equity-denied filmmakers. Customers are individual emerging filmmakers and audience members, with no enterprise or institutional anchor accounts.

Name

Digi60 Filmmaker Festivals Incorporated

Legal name

Digi60 Filmmakers' Festival

Website

https://digi60.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Digi60 Filmmaker Festivals Incorporated is a volunteer-run Ottawa non-profit that runs an annual 60-day filmmaking challenge-based festival, year-round workshops, and equity-focused micro-grants for new and emerging filmmakers in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Festival and Filmmaker Professional Development

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Screenwriting Workshops (Film/TV/Web) (EDAMAMAE)

Keywords

• Filmmaker festival services
• Professional development programs
• Short film competitions
• Filmmaking workshops training
• Filmmaker mentorship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The festival operates as a volunteer-run, registered not-for-profit. Donations go directly toward supporting the festival's operations and programming. The festival also receives funding from government programs and grants.
2. Ticket Sales and Festival Passes: Revenue is generated through ticket sales and festival passes for the annual festival screenings, workshops, and evening programming. Evening programming (optional for Summer Accelerator participants) is open to the general public for a small admission fee.
3. Summer Accelerator Registration Fees: Upon acceptance to the Summer Accelerator, registered attendees pay a non-refundable registration fee of $400 to secure their spot. Financial barrier support is available upon request.
4. Government and Foundation Funding: Digi60 receives funding support from the City of Ottawa (Arts Funding Program, Cultural Facilities Fund), Ontario Trillium Foundation (Resilient Communities Fund), ACFO-Bilingual Ottawa Bilingue (Bilingual grant), and other institutional funders. This supports specific programs such as the BIPOC Creators micro-grant and bilingual programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Digi60 Filmmakers' Festival operates an annual filmmaker challenge-based film festival and year-round training programs for new and emerging digital filmmakers in Ottawa, Canada. Its core offering is the signature 60-Day Challenge where filmmakers receive a theme and have 60 days to complete a short film that is screened, juried, and awarded at the annual festival. Surrounding the festival, Digi60 runs professional development workshops, panels, networking events, the four-day Summer Accelerator intensive, podcasts, and micro-grant programs supporting equity-seeking filmmakers.

Product overview

Digi60 Filmmaker Festivals Incorporated operates as a not-for-profit grassroots filmmakers' festival offering a portfolio of interconnected programs for new and emerging filmmakers. The core offerings include the annual Digi60 Filmmakers' Festival with its signature 60-Day Challenge, the four-day Summer Accelerator intensive workshop series, and year-round professional development programming including the Virtual Speaker Series, Film Chats Podcast, Wallbreakers Podcast, and Filmmakers on Filmmakers web series. Additional programs include IWD Creator Lab, Speed Mentoring, Live Pitch workshops, and BIPOC Creators Micro-grants providing mentorship and $2,000 funding for Francophone and bilingual filmmakers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Summer Accelerator: Four-day intensive workshop series dedicated to skills-building for emerging filmmakers in Directing, Producing, Acting, and Screenwriting
• 60-Day Challenge
• Film Chats Podcast
• Wallbreakers Podcast
• Filmmakers on Filmmakers
• Creator Lab

Products and services

• Digi60 Filmmakers' Festival The main annual festival featuring screenings, professional development workshops, panels, networking events, and juried film competitions. Designed for new and emerging filmmakers in the Ottawa-Gatineau region, with tickets and passes sold to filmmakers and general audiences.
• 60-Day Challenge The signature challenge component where filmmakers receive a theme and must complete a short film within 60 days. Films are screened at the annual festival with juried evaluations and awards. Open to new and emerging filmmakers in Ottawa-Gatineau.
• Summer Accelerator A four-day intensive workshop series for emerging filmmakers focusing on skills-building in four streams: Directing, Producing, Acting, and Screenwriting. Features mentorship, hands-on learning, and evening networking events. $400 non-refundable registration fee upon acceptance, with financial barrier support available.
• BIPOC Creators Micro-grant (PANDC Programme) A mentorship and micro-grant program providing $2,000 grants and four mentorship sessions at DARC for up to 5 Francophone or bilingual BIPOC filmmakers annually to create short films under 15 minutes that are screened at the annual festival.
• IWD Creator Lab International Women's Day programming featuring workshops, mentorship, and networking events for women+ creators, held annually in March. Includes panels, skill-building workshops, and screening programs supporting women+ filmmakers in Ottawa.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20 years of operation, with alumni going on to have films screened at major festivals and selected for CBC's Short Film Faceoff
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Inside Out OttawaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Digi60 collaborated with Inside Out Ottawa (2SLGBTQIA+ film festival) in November 2022 to celebrate queer cinema in Ottawa, with networking events at DARC's Loop Space. This marked Inside Out Ottawa's return to the Capital.
• CBC OttawamajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020CBC Ottawa returned as media sponsor for the virtual Digi60 Filmmakers' Festival in 2020. CBC has featured Digi60 films on 'Absolutely Canadian' programming, conducted interviews with the Executive Director, and provided coverage of the festival. Three Digi60 films were featured on CBC's Absolutely Canadian 'Ottawa Reel Shorts' programming.
• SAW VideominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Digi60 aligns with SAW Video's statement of solidarity with Black and Indigenous communities. SAW Video is referenced as a festival partner with a Black Canadian Filmmakers and Media Artists resource project.
• Digital Arts Resource Centre (DARC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDARC is Digi60's primary venue and operational partner, providing workshop spaces (The Loop, The Knot Project Space, Microcinema, Workshop Room), equipment access, edit suites, post-production spaces, and community membership for filmmakers. DARC is described as Ottawa's Full-Cycle artist-run Media Art Centre. Digi60 filmmakers use DARC facilities to complete their 60-Day Challenge projects.
• Arts CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts Court (2 Daly Ave) is the primary venue for festival screenings, workshops, the Summer Accelerator, after-parties, and speed mentoring events. The facility provides BlackBox Studio, Theatre, and general event spaces.
• Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ottawa Art Gallery (Alma Duncan Salon at 10 Daly Ave) is the primary screening venue for festival films, hosting the 60-Day Challenge Block A, B, and C screenings and the Community Shorts program.
• Club SAWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClub SAW (67 Nicholas St) is a venue for panels, live pitching events, networking mixers, festival kickoffs, and the IWD 2021 live virtual speaker series panel. It serves as a key community programming space.
• Affinity Production GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffinity Production Group is listed as a partner/supporter of the Summer Accelerator, contributing to the ecosystem of Ottawa film industry resources.
• Algonquin CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlgonquin College is listed as a partner of the Summer Accelerator and is referenced as a key educational institution in Ottawa's film ecosystem. Many Digi60 alumni and participants are Algonquin College graduates.
• Ottawa Film OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ottawa Film Office (Film Commissioner Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos) participates in festival programming, including speed mentoring and decision-maker panels, to support independent filmmakers in Ottawa.
• 1Department EntertainmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner1Department Entertainment sponsors speed mentoring events for underrepresented creatives and participates in live pitching panels. CEO Shane Boucher and Director of Business Development Caitlin Delaney serve as mentors and panelists at festival events.
• Lenz StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLenz Studios (Fitch Jean, Head of Development & Production) facilitates the BIPOC Creators micro-grant panel discussions and participates in festival programming, providing mentorship to Francophone and BIPOC filmmakers.
• GAPC EntertainmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGAPC Entertainment (Executive Producer Hoda Elatawi, President & CEO) participates as a panelist and decision-maker in festival programming including producing panels and decision-maker events.
• Vortex Productions / Vortex MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVortex Productions (SVP Christopher Giroux) participates in speed mentoring and live pitching panels, offering career advice and industry insights to emerging filmmakers.
• National Film Board of Canada (NFB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNFB (Kate Vollum, Acting Producer Ontario Studio; Chanda Chevannes, Executive Producer Ontario Studio) hosts 'Working with the NFB' workshops, helping filmmakers understand how to pitch and collaborate with the NFB, including the Filmmaker's Assistance Program.
• ACTRA Ottawa / ACTRA Ottawa Women's CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACTRA Ottawa co-presents the IWD programming (with ACTRA Ottawa Women's Council) and provides industry expertise through panels and workshops. The General American Accent Workshop was presented in partnership with ACTRA Ottawa.
• The Lotus MovementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Lotus Movement co-presented the IWD 2023 'Embracing Our Creative Selves' event with Digi60, including yoga flow, networking, and a women+ documentary screening program.
• Up Light Entertainment / Up Light AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUp Light Entertainment sponsored the Producing Panel at the 2023 festival. Up Light Academy sponsored the 2022 Producing Panel. The company supports professional development programming for emerging filmmakers.
• CBC Creator NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBC Creator Network (represented by Christine Maki, Producer) participates in live pitching panels and mentoring events, providing a pathway for emerging filmmakers to connect with CBC programming.
• Carleton UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarleton University graduates have participated as podcast hosts (Samphe Ballamingie), practicum students, and filmmakers. The university is a feeder institution for Digi60's filmmaker community.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Inside Out: Canadian 2SLGBTQIA+ film festival network with an Ottawa chapter that Digi60 has partnered with. Comparable as a festival focused on marginalized filmmakers that combines juried exhibition with year-round community programming and industry panels.
• Regent Park Film Festival: Toronto-based community film festival focused on underrepresented and emerging filmmakers. Comparable mission and programming model to Digi60: low-barrier-to-entry screenings, youth-driven programming, and equity-focused curation for new voices.
• imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival: Canadian festival dedicated to Indigenous screen content, combining a festival showcase with year-round professional development, mentorship, and industry programming. Comparable to Digi60 in combining juried exhibition with career-development programming for underrepresented filmmakers.
• SAW Video: Ottawa-based artist-run media arts centre providing production facilities, workshops, and distribution support for independent video makers. Directly comparable as a local Ottawa partner/peer offering film production resources to the same emerging filmmaker community Digi60 serves.
• Reelworld Film Festival: Toronto-based festival and screening series specifically focused on Black and racialized filmmakers. Directly comparable to Digi60's equity-driven programming model (BIPOC micro-grants, equity-denied priority access) and target audience of underrepresented emerging creators.

Broad incumbents

• National Film Board of Canada: Canada's public film producer and distributor, which Digi60 partners with for 'Working with the NFB' workshops. Comparable as an ecosystem participant offering distribution pathways and professional development, though as a federal Crown corporation operating at vastly different scale.
• Canadian Film Centre: Toronto-based film and media training institution offering professional development programs for emerging creators. Comparable to Digi60's Summer Accelerator as a structured skills-building program for emerging filmmakers, though at much larger institutional scale.
• Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity: Canadian multidisciplinary arts institution offering film and media residency programs, workshops, and mentorship. Comparable to Digi60's Summer Accelerator as a structured intensive training environment for emerging filmmakers, though operating as a much larger national institution.

Regional players

• Atlantic Film Festival: Canadian regional film festival offering juried screenings, industry panels, and emerging-filmmaker programming. Comparable to Digi60 in serving as a regional launchpad for emerging talent, but at materially larger scale and infrastructure.
• RIDM (Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal): Montreal-based documentary film festival offering professional development alongside screenings. Comparable to Digi60's documentary programming (Digi60 'Docs' editions) and workshop/mentorship structure, though operating at significantly larger scale in a different Canadian market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcYUF4ZeLj9ksPM2b_KcHeA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Digi60FilmmakersFestival
• Instagraminstagram.com/digi.60
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/digi60-filmmakers-festival

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Digi60 Filmmaker Festivals Incorporated