The longest running film festival in North America is on again for the 75th year.

The Yorkton Film Festival kicked off Thursday night at the Painted Hand Casino in Yorkton with the screening of a film called “Donkeyhead”.

YFF Executive Director Randy Goulden says it was a great night to start the event, adding film makers from across Canada are attending this year’s festival, from Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

“We’re pretty excited about that,” she said.

There will be plenty going on Saturday at the Gallagher Centre in Yorkton.

Goulden noted over 300 films are entered into this year’s Festival, and 38 of them will be available for public viewing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and YFF On Demand is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“People can come and watch the films for free, this is free, and also talk with the film makers about their films, about why they made them, and really have those conversations.” she said.

The marquee event of the Festival is the Golden Sheaf Awards Gala, which will also be at the Gallagher Centre tomorrow evening.

“This is what many, many film makers are coming to Yorkton for too because they’re nominees in the Golden Sheaf Awards, which are really a rigorous form of adjudication for these awards and they’re a first step into the Canadian Screen Awards and other prestigious awards across North America.” she explained.

There’s tickets still available for the Gala.

More information on this weekend’s schedule can be found on the Yorkton Film Festival website.

(With files from CJGX Yorkton)