Digital illustration of a blue-skinned woman with black, curly hair. She is wearing an orange spiked choker and another spiked object on her chest. She is making a gesture with her hand over her chest, and a lightning bolt is projecting from her eye. The background is white.

BREAKTHROUGHS FILM FESTIVAL

That’s a wrap on BFF 2025!

We'll see you for our 15th edition — our quinceañera 🎊 — in December 2026!

People sitting in a dark movie theater watching a film, illuminated by the screen.

BFF sees cinema as a meeting place.

We champion emerging women, trans, and non-binary filmmakers as they experiment, discover, and grow in their craft.

We create space for bold, personal storytelling and bring these films into conversation with an engaged and open audience. Our audience is essential to our community and the lifeline of the work. 

Grounded in intersectional feminist values, we are committed to building an inclusive, artist-centered environment that prioritizes equity, access, and creative freedom. 

The festival is a CSA qualifying short film festival.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences logo featuring a stylized gold Oscar statuette on a black background.

Winners of the 2025 BFF

  • S.A.D.

    Audience Choice Award

  • Hair!

    Breakthroughs Award

  • On a Sunday at Eleven

    Jury Award

  • The First Female Indigenous Pornographer

    Best Canadian Film

  • Cocoon

    Outstanding Local Film

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts

Produced with the support of the City of Toronto through Toronto Arts Council

Thank you to our sponsors

Thank you to our media partner

Thank you to our community partners