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Eric's Backyard Film Festival

Beginning in the summer of 2021. Eric’s Backyard Film Festival spawned from a desire to showcase a short film recently made by Eric Génier. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and a lack of budget to submit to film festivals, Eric decided to throw a film festival in his backyard. The festival featured a vintage pop-up shop, a tarp acting as a screen with Eric’s stereo receiver from his basement as the speakers, a community potluck, over 16 short films showcased, and an estimated guest attendance of 80 people.

In 2022 the festival followed with another edition at the same time. This year, the Toronto-based band CONNIE played their first-ever show before the films. Rounding out the festival with a musical act. The festival had a total of one hour and a half of films played. estimated attendance of 90 people.

The most recent festival garnered an estimated 120 people. A much larger vintage pop-up shop with 3 additional vendors, 2 musical acts, a rap performance, a live art piece installation, a fully decorated pre-seating garage space, official festival merch, videography and photography coverage, front-of-house staff, and an overall feeling of something special happening. 22 films were submitted in total with 12 programmed culminating in another hour and a half of short films.

  • “You know when you’re in a specific place at a specific time and you’re seeing something fresh and important? This is that, if you’re an Oakville area creative, you must go! ”

    -El Mielke

  • “Phenomenal! Love love love the community! My First EBYFF was so sick!”

    -Nico

  • “Greatest Film Festival there is!”

    -Kellsie McColough

  • “Good music. Great movies. Better Bathroom. Love it more and more each year!”

    -Chloe Zinn

  • “So amazing man, love the grassroots vibe, good community, and super friendly environment❤️”

    -Joe Capone

  • “It was magical, truly a sight to behold with all of us. A memory to last a lifetime.”

    -Leila Marie Nieto

Past Backyard Film Festivals

  • 2023 Eric's Winter Film Festival

    Eric’s Winter Film Festival (EWFF) took place on December 16, 2024, and was an overwhelming success. As the first festival undertaken by the entire Eric’s Backyard Artist Collective (EBAC) team at an external venue, Sheridan College’s Marquee, the event marked an important step forward in our mission to build a welcoming and inclusive community for artists and art lovers in the Halton region.

    It showcased 14 films, included two musical performances, had 7 local vendors with diverse products, and had over 165 attendees.

    Click for more photos from the event!

    Click for more photos

    Sponsors

    NDP Oakville North-Burlington Film.ca

    See photos

  • 2021 Eric's Backyard Film Festival

    Eric’s Backyard Film Festival was first imagined in the summer of 2021.

    Eric Génier wanted to share a short film he had made. But, COVID-19 restrictions and a lack of budget to submit to film festivals made that impossible.

    Or was it?

    The first Eric’s Backyard Film Festival was held on September 11, 2023 in Eric Génier’s backyard (thanks Mom and Dad). The festival featured a vintage pop-up shop, a tarp asking as a screen, the stereo receiver from Eric’s basement, and a community potluck. Over 16 original short films were shown to roughly 80 people. Everyone had a blast and nobody caught Covid-19.

    See photos

  • 2022 Eric's Backyard Film Festival

    In the summer of 2022, Eric hadn't thought about holding Eric’s Backyard Film Festival. Things were sort of getting back to normal in a world with a COVID vaccine. But, then people kept asking when he was holding Eric’s Backyard Film Festival.

    The people had spoken.

    The second Eric’s Backyard Film Festival held on September 10, 2022 in Eric Génier’s backyard. And it was even bigger!

    In addition to 90-minutes of original films - a musical act was invited to perform. Toronto-based band, CONNIE, played their debut show before the films.

    The vintage pop-up shop was back. And so was the community potluck. Roughly 90 people came and once again they had a great time.

    See photos

  • 2023 Eric's Backyard Film Festival

    The third Eric's Backyard Film Festival was held on September 9, 2023. Over 120 people attended.

    The festival was expanded even more. In addition to 90-minutes of original films, two musical acts performed live, there was one rap performance and a live art installation. The vintage pop-up shop was back - plus three additional vendors! A fully decoraged pre-seating garage space was added. And so was merch! Yes, in 2023, it was possible to buy an Eric's Backyard Film Festival t-shirt (yes, the t-shirts sold out!)

    A total of 22 films were submitted. 12  we're played, the first festival where tough decisions we're made to create a stellar program.

    Finally, there was a place for young artists in Oakville (and the surrounding area) to showcase their work.

    See photos

The Washroom Experience

When you go to Eric's Backyard, you must go to the washroom. Everyone will tell you how great the washroom is.

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