Belleville Downtown DocFest is receiving $10,400 in capital grant funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
The announcement was made at Belleville Public Library on Friday.
“The capital grant will enable us to enhance our virtual component and to make the online experience more comparable to the in-person live experience,” chair of the Belleville Downtown DocFest, Holly Dewar, says in a press conference.
“The funding also allows us to update our technology and to improve the overall quality and the experience, both the in-person and the online festival.”
Technology upgrades include purchasing laptops for screening locations and video conferencing equipment that the festival says will provide a better virtual experience that will compare with their in-person experience.
“For example, last year we had 12 award-winning filmmakers who came to Belleville and who did Q and As after their films,” Dewar said.
“Now we’ll be able to make that available as well online to our online viewers.”
Belleville Downtown DocFest is returning in 2024 as a hybrid event.
There will be an in-person weekend running from February 23 – 25, 2024. The virtual festival will then run from February 25 – 28.
Tickets will go on sale on December 1.
