From teens to hockey to rock and roll: this year's Kingston Canadian Film Festival has something for everyone

A remake of the 80's film Youndblood, a documentary on Bif Naked and another about Degrassi are among 34 films being shown at the festival.

The line up is set for this year's Kingston Canadian Film Festival.

Organizers of the 2026 edition unveiled the list of movies that will be screened at the festival next month.

There will be a total of 34 films plus dozens of short films shown from Feb 25 to Mar 1.

The festival's Director of Development Ryan Luttikhuis says their film festival is different than much bigger festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival.

He says instead of showcasing the best films before the major festivals, they work the other way around.

The festival opens up with the screening of Youngblood, a remake of the 1986 film that starred Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze. Later on, there is a screening of a documentary Degrassi: Whatever it Takes.

Luttikhuis says there will be some special guests appearing at the screening.

In addition to the films, there are musical performances by July Talk, Born Ruffians, Julianna Riolino, and Ancient Shapes.

Luttikhuis says there will also be three comedians performing at the festival.

Here's the full line up for the 2026 Kingston Canadian Film Festival:

Agatha's Almanac
At the Place of Ghosts - notable cast: Forrest Goodluck
Bedrock - guests attending: producer Danae Elon, Director Kinga Michalska
Bif Naked - concert and documentary - guest attending: Bif Naked***
Blue Heron
Byeeee - shot locally - guest attending: director Chell Stephen
Degrassi: Whatever it Takes - guests attending: director Lisa Rideout, actors from original series Stacie Mistysyn (Caitlin) & Amanda Stepto (Spike)***
Follies - guest attending: director Éric K. Boulianne
Holy Days - notable cast: Jacki Weaver, Judy Davis, Miriam Margolyes
Home - guest attending: producer Linda Schuyler (also produced Degrassi)***
Honey Bunch - notable cast: Jason Issacs, Julian Richings, Grace Glowicki, Ben Petrie
I Lost Sight of the Landscape - guest attending: director Sophie Bédard Marcotte
Les Furies - notable cast: Anne‑Élisabeth Bossé, France Castel, Antoine Bertrand
Little Lorraine - guests attending: actor Joshua Close, producer Tim Doiron, executive producer Vanessa Amodeo - notable cast: Stephen Amell, Sean Astin
Lovely Day
Middle Life - guests attending: director Pavan Moondi, actors Leah Fay Goldstein, Peter Dreimanis (also from July Talk)*** - notable cast: Leah Fay Goldstein, Peter Dreimanis, Luke Lalonde, Norah Sadava, Colin Burgess
Mile End Kicks - guest attending: producer Evan Dubinsky - notable cast: Jay Baruchel, Devon Bostick, Barbie Ferreira
Modern Whore - guests attending: director Nicole Bazuin, actor Andrea Werhun - notable cast: Andrea Werhun
Montréal, ma belle - guest attending: director Xiaodan He - notable cast: Joan Chen, Charlotte Aubin
Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising - guest attending: actor Tanya Talaga
Nika & Madison - guest attending: director Eva Thomas - notable cast: Amanda Brugel, Jennifer Podemski, Shawn Doyle
Nirvanna: The Band - the Show - the Movie - notable cast: Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol
Space Cadet - notable director: Kid Koala
Steal Away - notable cast: Angourie Rice, Mallori Johnson, Lauren Lee Smith - notable director: Clement Virgo
Team of the Century - directed by local filmmaker Annie Stewart (graduate of our 18 MM Program for Kingston youth)
The Art of Adventure - guest attending: director Alison Reid
The Borderline - TV series - guests attending: Aaron Martin, Graeme Steward, Robert Budreau
The Cost of Heaven - guest attending: director Mathieu Denis
The Things You Kill
True North - notable cast: Miranda de Pencier, Andy Milne
We Walk Through The Fire Together - shot and produced locally
Worldless - local filmmaker - guest attending: director Gary Kibbins
Wrong Husband
Youngblood - Opening Night Film - guest attending: Director Hubert Davis - notable cast: Blair Underwood, Shawn Doyle, Ashton James

Stand up shows from:
Shaun Majumder (This Hour Has 22 Minutes)
K Trevor Wilson (Letterkenny)
Mark Forward (Mr. D, Letterkenny)

Concerts by:
July Talk
Born Ruffians
Julianna Riolino
Ancient Shapes

Shorts Programs:
Canadian Shorts (the best short films from across Canada)
Local Shorts (the best short films from local filmmakers)
Youth Shorts (the best short films from local filmmakers 18 and under)
Doc Factory Showcase (showcasing the short films from this year's KCFF Doc Factory cohort)
18 MM Program Showcase (showcasing the short films from our youth filmmaker training program cohort)
Slaight Music Video Showcase (showcasing the music videos of this year's Slaight Music Video Program cohort)

More information can be found at the festival's website. 

Story by Ken Hashizume