Charlottetown Film Festival rebrands as Anchor Fest, expanding into TV, comedy and music

An audience attending the inaugural Page to Pitch Competition, in association with the P.E.I. Writers Guild, is seen in this handout photo at the Charlottetown Film Festival on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Andrew Lewis

The Charlottetown Film Festival is getting a new name and a broader scope.

For its 12th year, the Prince Edward Island-based event will relaunch as Anchor Fest, expanding beyond film to include television, comedy, music and podcasts.

Organizers say the change was inspired by multi-arts festivals such as South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, with the goal of connecting emerging and established artists with industry professionals across Canada.

The first edition is set to run Oct. 14–18, 2026.

Programming will include Canadian and select international features with “a bold and comedic lens,” more world premieres and interactive screenings. The festival also plans to feature musical performances, stand-up showcases, live podcast tapings and industry panels focused on Canadian creators and trends in East Coast music and screen arts.

Anchor Fest will be run by a newly founded non-profit organization called the Anchor Motion Picture Alliance.

Jenna MacMillan, former director of the Charlottetown Film Festival and now executive director of Anchor Fest, says audiences in Atlantic Canada are “hungry for innovative, cutting-edge, and comedic content.”

“We’ve been inspired by festivals from all over the world, from Galway to SXSW, to bring fresh, new ideas to our audiences,” she said in a statement.

“We hope that Anchor can expand its scope, and expand its audiences.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2025.

Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press