2011 has been an exciting year of development for the Festival of Moving Media. We have been working collaboratively with local arts festivals to develop the Guelph FAB 5. Through this initiative we participated in a diverse range of arts events including the Jazz Festival’s Nuit Blanche and a film tent at the Hillside Festival.  I am also happy to report that our Ed Video collaborative project Hidden Histories has developed into a multi-year series, this year the focus is ‘Secret Places’. We have asked local filmmakers to create five-minute films based on their interpretation of this theme. Lastly, we are expanding our children’s programming both within the festival and the schools. All of these initiatives are grounded in the priorities of the festival - the desire to contribute to our community, instill the love of film, and develop the inquisitive mind.

- Carolyn Meili, Festival Coordinator

Guelph's Festival of Moving Media (FOMM), running annually on the first weekend of November (Nov. 3-6, 2011), features films and videos that offer a global perspective and provide a broader viewpoint of day-to-day events. Mandated to present a major, annual, cultural event for Guelph and the surrounding community, the Festival provides a venue for the work of diverse international artists and activists whose work is not necessarily considered in the mainstream. The festival also serves as a catalyst towards increasing community understanding of the world and its diversity. The goal is also to encourage co-operation between community groups in Guelph and Southern Ontario.

One of the world's first documentary film festivals, The Guelph International Film Festival began in 1984 as a partnership between the Guelph International Research Centre (GIRC) and the Development Education Program of the University of Guelph's Centre for International Programs. The festival was originally funded by the Canadian International Development Agency and the University of Guelph's College of Arts and Social Sciences and the Central Student Association. Local businesses and City Council also contributed additional sponsorship.

In the eighties, the Festival ran for seven consecutive years under the name Guelph International Film Festival, drawing large audiences to its unique mix of international feature films and documentaries. After a 13-year hiatus, the festival was revived in 2003 by the Guelph International Resource Centre (GIRC); a 30 plus year old non-profit, non-governmental organization that educates Canadians about global issues as well as their local links. www.girc.org

The Festival changed its name to the Guelph Festival of Moving Media in 2008. Eight years on, and with its new name reflecting current documentary trends and the explosion of online media. Guelph's Festival of Moving Media 2011 will run November 3-6th, and will once again feature a selection of global feature films, documentaries, short videos, visiting directors, plus programming for children.

The Festival continues to screen outstanding documentaries addressing local and international issues. One of the unique aspects of this festival is the opportunity the audience is given to discuss media art and the impact of films and videos after each screening. Many films include a host speaker and discussion after the screening. A large proportion of the films are by donation, keeping the festival affordable for all.

FOMM Policy Statement: Services to People with Disabilities

Our Commitment
The Festival of Moving Media strives at all times to provide its goods and services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. We are also committed to giving people with disabilities the same opportunity to access our goods and services and allowing them to benefit from the same services as other customers.
GFOMM makes every effort to accommodate accessibility at its venues where possible. Should you require assistance at any of our screenings or events, please contact us at 519-822-3110 or info@festivalofmovingmedia.ca before November 1st to make arrangements. With our RSVP we will be able to provide an attendant to ensure you don’t miss a thing!

History and Disclaimer
Guelph's Festival of Moving Media is a small media arts festival run by two part time staff and a great team of volunteers. We provide access to excellent films from around the world with minimal admission prices, often pay what you can. The festival traditionally takes place over the first weekend in November in a variety of venues throughout downtown Guelph with a growing number of outreach sites in community centres, farms and the University. Our downtown venues range from local galleries to coffee shops, large churches to small art studios. NOT ALL OF THESE VENUES ARE CURRENTLY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE. We have marked which venues are accessible on our printed program as well as our website. Every year we strive to increase the percentage of venues with wheelchair access.

Providing goods and services to people with disabilities
The Festival of Moving Media is committed to excellence in serving all customers including people with disabilities and we will carry out our functions and responsibilities in the following areas:

Use of service animals and support persons
We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal on the parts of our premises that are open to the public and other third parties.
We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person. Any person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to enter any of the Festival of Moving Media’s venues with his or her support person. At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to his or her support person while on our premises.
Fees will not be charged for support persons for admission to any of the Guelph Festival of Moving Media events. Volunteers and supervisors will be aware of and implement this policy.

Feedback process
Feedback regarding the way the Guelph Festival of Moving Media provides goods and services to people with disabilities can be made verbally to staff and volunteers, festival surveys or by e-mail at info@festivalofmovingmedia.ca
All feedback will be directed to Carolyn Meili, Festival Coordinator.