About The Festival

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The Vox Popular Media Arts Festival is the evolution of the Bay Street Film Festival; a not-for-profit annual media arts festival that presents Canadian and International films, videos and film installations of all genres in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

As seen in Flightnetwork’s Article – The Top 20 Film Festivals In North America .

History of Vox Popular Media Arts Festival

Celebrating its 14th anniversary from September 13-16, 2018, the Festival helps professional independent artists show their work to audiences of all ages, interests and abilities to enrich their experience of media arts. The 13th anniversary marked the first year at the new location in Trinity Hall on Park Avenue .

The Vox Popular Media Arts Festival an integral part of Northwestern Ontario’s film history and since its inception in 2005 has celebrated the ongoing achievements of independent filmmakers. The Festival focuses on showcasing the latest films of emerging and established professional independent filmmakers working in remote and isolated communities around the world so the diverse stories and perspectives of the near and far North are given increased visibility and prominence.

In the past thirteen years, Vox Popular Media Arts Festival has screened over 450 films, hosted over 120 visiting filmmakers from Northwestern Ontario, Canada and around the world, held dozens of discussions and highly successful Master Classes. Our audiences are of all ages and interests including the Finnish, First Nations, Francophone and other specific communities in our region.


We pay screening fees to artists and distributors*, according to current CARFAC (Canadian Artist Representation/Le Front des Artistes Canadiens) rates. We provide several travel grants to help subsidize the expenses of filmmakers from around the world* traveling to Thunder Bay to present their film, participate in Q&A sessions after screenings, participate in panel discussions and most importantly, to interact and share film and film-making experiences with Northwestern Ontario communities.

We’re supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, Heritage Canada, The Ontario Trillium Foundation, the City of Thunder Bay and many dedicated local sponsors from the downtown core and across the city.

Festival Details

The festival’s primary venue is the Trinity Hall at 310 Park Avenue in downtown Thunder Bay which is attached to the 146 year old Trinity United Church. The Trinity Hall features a 300-seat auditorium, a high-quality BOSE sound system, a large format 24′ projection screen, a stage, and an accessible entrance off Algoma St.

The festival’s secondary venue is used for Master Class workshops during the festival which is located in the auditorium of the Waverley Public Library (285 Red River Road).

Location Details

Thunder Bay, Ontario is located on Lake Superior between Toronto, Ontario (1 hour and 40 minute flight) and Winnipeg, Manitoba (1 hour and 15 minute flight) and a 475 km flight distance north of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The city is serviced by an international airport. Check out www.thunderbay.ca for more information about Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario.

* Some restrictions may apply.

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