Community Organizers Keep Film Festivals, Tours Thriving in Distillery District

The Distillery District draws film enthusiasts through coordinated events that build on its established role as a production site. The 2026 Lavazza IncluCity Film Festival, hosted by the Italian Contemporary Film Festival, runs nightly from June 27 to July 21 with international screenings under the stars.

Organized Gatherings Around Cinema

The festival brings residents and visitors into shared viewing experiences that connect the district's past productions with current programming. A dedicated Dark Side series presents horror and thriller films across six nights within the June 27 to July 21 window, while the Fellini Forever art exhibition occupies space at 34 Distillery Lane to mark the work of Federico Fellini.

Weekend Tours Highlight Production Record

Separate Toronto Distillery District Film Tours operate on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 5:30pm. These outings examine five decades of local filming activity and require a ticket price of $21 plus HST and booking fee. The tours operate alongside the festival to extend engagement with the same locations used for earlier projects.

Decades of Documented Use

Records show the Distillery District has served as a filming location for over 1,600 films and 2,400 total productions since the 1970s. Specific titles include The Fly, X-Men, Chicago, Cinderella Man and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, each drawing on the Victorian-era architecture for period settings. These numbers form the foundation for the current community programming.

Attending Remaining Events

Tickets for the film tours can be arranged through the listed booking channels, and festival screenings continue nightly until July 21. Participants can combine attendance at the outdoor series with a weekend tour to trace the documented production history across the same streets and buildings.