For the next four days, Tofino residents and visitors will be switching things up and taking in the views INSIDE. This comes as the 18th annual Tofino Film Festival attracts hundreds of people to watch thought provoking films from around the world at the popular West Coast vacation destination.

The event features the Guerrilla Film Festival winning submission Stand Up Puddleboarding as well as other educational and inspirational films that will be screened at the Clayoquot Sound Community Theatre.

Up to 700 people are expected to watch films on the big screen over the next few days. The festival is meant to enhance visitors’ experience while visiting Tofino, which is a part of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Some of Tofino’s Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) funding went toward this year’s film festival. RMI is a $10.5 million a year program that addresses the unique circumstances of resort-oriented municipalities to develop and enhance local tourism related infrastructure and amenities. The communities that participate in the RMI program include Fernie, Golden, Harrison Hot Springs, Invermere, Kimberley, Osoyoos, Radium Hot Springs, Revelstoke, Rossland, Sun Peaks, Tofino, Ucluelet, Valemount and Whistler. Since 2008, Tofino has received $4,565,689 in funding from the RMI program.

To keep our economy diverse, strong and growing, since September 2011 the BC Jobs Plan has been building on the strengths of our province’s most competitive sectors using our educated and skilled workforce. B.C.’s tourism sector is one of the eight key sectors identified in the BC Jobs Plan, creating more than 132,200 jobs and $13.9 billion in revenues throughout the province in 2013. Since RMI inception in 2007, over $87.6 million has been invested in tourism infrastructure and programs to support local and regional tourism economies in the 14 participating communities.

Quotes:

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour -

“Events such as the Tofino Film Festival add to a visitors’ experience when spending time in this beautiful part of Vancouver Island. We’re pleased to provide RMI support for the festival as it helps attract more people to the area particularly during a quieter tourism period, and encouraging a year round approach to growing tourism revenue in Tofino.”

Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State Tourism and Small Business -

“The Tofino Film Festival is a great example of a community creating a unique and successful tourism event that supports their local economy. The festival capitalizes not only on Tofino’s spectacular natural scenery but also on their distinct West-coast culture. The festival brings visitors to the region and helps keep local tourism-related businesses strong.”

Josie Osborne, mayor of

“The Tofino Film Festival is a great example of how the Resort Municipality Initiative has helped our community sustain and grow an exciting, year-round event program. Tofino’s growing event scene has helped build a strong increase in tourism visitation, particularly during the shoulder and off seasons. Events and festivals, like the Tofino Film Festival, have become a staple of our local tourism economy.”