This year the Calgary Jewish Film Festival is going online. Streaming is geo-restricted to Alberta, so you will need to be in the province and have a credit card registered to an Alberta address to purchase a ticket. Please consult the online schedule to make sure you don’t miss out on any films that you want to see.
Streaming is new to many of us. Read the FAQ below to learn about how the Calgary Jewish Film Festival’s online festival will work.
If you have any issues with your tickets, access, or tech please contact Harvey Cyngiser: acyng@telus.net
How do I get tickets?
Explore the JFF Online 2021 Lineup. When you’re on the page of the film that you’d like to watch, click either the “Full Festival Pass” or “Single Film Pass” button (located near the bottom of each film page) to purchase. If you have a full festival pass you do not need to redeem in advance. You will be emailed a link to JFF’s online screening room in advance of the festival.
How do I use my festival pass online pass?
Passholders will all receive an email from CineSend inviting you to join our CineSend / FFYYC.ca On-Demand Portal on watch.ffyyc.ca. This is the platform that you will use to access most of the festival’s content. To watch films, follow the link to create an account and set a password. Enter the same email that is tied to your ShowPass account that was used to purchase or claim your festival pass. Then you can use your member login to access all of the films at your convenience, similar to Netflix, and do not need to reserve tickets in advance.
Do I need an account to watch a film?
Anyone who purchases a ticket to JFF must create a ShowPass account. Passholders will need to create a CineSend account to access films through JFF’s On-Demand Portal.
I want to get a ticket, but the film is sold out. Why?
Just like the live festival, there are a limited number of tickets available per film. Please reserve your tickets early to avoid disappointment.
How do I watch on-demand films? Can I watch on my TV?
If you’ve purchased a ticket you will be emailed a screening link prior to the festival starting. On the confirmation email click the link to watch. Passholders must sign into the JFF on-demand portal to watch films. If you are accessing tickets on a mobile device and do not see the Watch URL click View Purchase and you will be directed to the Watch link.
Watch on your computer, mobile phone or tablet: You can stream through the following web browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Opera. For both PC and Apple computers, we recommend that you use the latest version of your browser. Note: Internet Explorer is not supported.
There are a few options for watching on your television:
Screen Sharing (Chromecast & Apple TV): You can stream films on Chromecast or Apple TV (all generations) by screen sharing your smartphone, tablet, or computer on the same Wi-Fi network. Instructions for screen sharing using your Apple TV using AirPlay can be found here. For information on screen sharing using your Chromecast, click here.
HDMI: If you have a laptop or computer with an HDMI port, you can connect it directly to your television, using it as a second monitor. Connection details will depend on your setup, and you may need to reference the television’s manual to ensure it’s supported.
For more information, please see the complete list of technical requirements and compatibility.
How do I watch Live Events?
Some of the films will be accompanied by live post-screening Zoom discussions. In order to participate in the Zoom discussions, you must pre-register by clicking on the link. You can pre-register at anytime up until 4:00 PM on the day of the discussion. Once you have pre-registered, you will receive an e-mail with the Zoom access information.
When can I watch?
All films are available on-demand for 48 hours from the listed start time of each particular film.
Can I watch a film more than once?
Yes. Once you begin watching you have 48 hours to view the film. During this 48-hour period, you can watch or restart the film as many times as needed.
Can I watch a film in more than one location?
You can only view your film on one wifi network or internet connection. Once you start your stream in one location, you cannot continue viewing it in another location or on a different network. For example, if you start watching at home and try to restart at a friend’s house. Alternately, you can only use different devices in one location if they are using the same network. For example, if you start watching on a TV and switch to a tablet or laptop, they both need to be connected to the same wifi network.
I am receiving this error message: “Your voucher has been redeemed by a different IP address.” Why?
You can only view your film on one wifi network or internet connection. Once you start your stream in one location, you cannot continue viewing it in another location or on a different network. For example, if you start watching at home and try to restart at a friend’s house. Alternately, you can only use different devices in one location if they are using the same network. For example, if you start watching on a TV and switch to a tablet or laptop, they both need to be connected to the same wifi network.
I am not currently in Alberta. Will I be able to stream a film?
No. To purchase and watch a film, you must be in Alberta and have an Alberta address connected with your credit card. Our ticketing system ShowPass tracks your IP and will ask you for your postal code at checkout to determine if you are outside of the province. You will not be able to buy a ticket if you are not in Alberta and your credit card does not have an Alberta postal code. If you navigate your way around the system with a VPN we will not be offering refunds if you cannot stream.
Technical Streaming Requirements for JFF's On-Demand Portal
What are the system requirements?
You can watch content on PCs running Windows 7+, and Intel-based Macs running OSX 10.12+. You can also watch films on Android tablets and phones using Chrome, and on iPhones and iPads using Safari.
What are the requirements for Windows computers?
Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10. Supported browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera. We recommend using the latest version of your browser. Internet Explorer is not supported.
What are the requirements for Mac computers?
Mac OSX 10.12 or later. Supported browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Opera. We recommend using the latest version of your browser.
Can I watch content on my iPhone/iPad?
Yes, you can watch content using Safari on iOS 11.2 or later. Please note that you must have “Screen Mirroring” turned off for content to play.
Can I watch content on my Android Device?
Yes, you can watch content using Chrome on Android 6.0 or later.
Can I Chromecast content?
You can Chromecast from a Chrome web browser on PC and Mac computers as well as Android devices by selecting the cast button () in the bottom right-hand side of the player.
Can I AirPlay to my AppleTV?
You can AirPlay from most browsers if you have Apple TV by selecting the cast button () in the bottom right-hand side of the player.
What happens if I forget my password?
Use the password reset option on the login page to reset your password. You will need access to the e-mail address you use to log in.
Why does video playback stall or not play smoothly?
We use adaptive bitrate streaming which means the streaming quality will automatically adjust based on your internet speed. If your internet connection is poor or inconsistent you may experience problems during playback. If you’re on wifi, try moving closer to your router.
If you have any issues with your tickets, access, or tech please contact Harvey Cyngiser: acyng@telus.net
Is closed captioning available on the films?
We have tried to ensure that as many films as possible have open captioning or English subtitles. Captions are indicated on the film pages. Closed captions can be turned on or off while streaming the film.
How many people can watch a stream? Can I watch with friends?
Each ticket you purchase is good for one household and multiple people are able to watch the stream together on one device. JFF pays filmmakers and distributors for every film that we are showing at the online festival, and rely on ticket revenue to cover the costs. If more than one person in your household will be viewing the films, please consider making an additional donation of $18 when you purchase your Festival Pass.