The first Knowlton Film Festival began in 2012 when Knowlton resident Claude Chamberlan, still president of the Festival des Films du Monde, worked with the late Bohdana Swonok and Pepita Ferrari to found a film festival in Knowlton. Pascale Buissières becomes spokesperson. The festival came to an end in 2014 after the 3rd edition, due to a lack of funds.

At the end of 2017, Nicholas Pynes, then general manager of Théâtre Lac-Brome, had the idea of setting up a film festival in Knowlton again, and asked Michèle Bazin, who had just retired from the Just For Laughs Festival, to organize the project.

With the help of Nick, ex-Gazette journalist John Griffin and the Town of Knowlton, who took the project to heart, she put together a small team, including Micheline Brochu, who became the corporation’s secretary, and the new Knowlton Film Festival was born.

Three editions later, Julie Bradet, the Festival’s current CEO, took over, tripling the program and quadrupling the box office. Pascale Buissières once again becomes spokesperson. The Town of Knowlton continues to fund the project, which is now part of the Brome-Missisquoi region’s tourism offering.