The HOBBY: Tales from the Tabletop

Name: The HOBBY: Tales from the Tabletop
Start: 2025-08-23T16:00:00-04:00
Location: 1 Wellington St., Stratford, ON, Canada, Ontario

Schedule

Sat, 23 Aug, 2025 at 04:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

1 Wellington St., Stratford, ON, Canada, Ontario | Stratford, ON

Let's Play !..
https://sff.eventive.org/schedule/687949c40d754bcfd0c06273
Stratford Film Festival Presents: The Hobby: Tales from the Tabletop, A New Hit Documentary Produced by Local Filmmaker Justin Rebelo
The Stratford Film Festival invites you to join the game during a fun-filled screening of The Hobby: Tales from the Tabletop on Saturday, August 23 at 4:00 pm at Stratford City Hall Auditorium (1 Wellington St.). This engaging new documentary by award-winning filmmaker Simon Ennis explores the vibrant subculture of modern board games — from ancient Mesopotamia to today’s global renaissance.
Following the screening, there will be a filmmaker discussion with Ennis and the film’s producer, Justin Rebelo, a former Stratford resident and CEO of Vortex Media. The conversation will be moderated by Stratford Film Festival Director Megan Smith-Harris.
Rebelo, whose extensive career includes senior positions at eOne and HBO Canada, has produced more than 40 feature films and TV movies. This marks a special homecoming for the industry veteran, whose roots trace back to the very heart of Stratford.
"The Hobby: Tales from the Tabletop has — and continues to — travel the world,” says Rebelo. “So I'm overjoyed to bring this heartwarming, audience-pleasing documentary to my hometown of Stratford. The film is about community, so to share it where I spent my formative years dreaming of filmmaking is truly special."
From a 4,000-year-old Mesopotamian artifact tucked away at the British Museum to the World Series of Board Games on the Vegas Strip to, this film is an affectionate, character-driven story of what gamers simply call “the hobby.” The film features a compelling cast: from the “Roger Ebert of board games,” to a birdwatcher-turned-superstar game designer, to a rock-climbing philosopher who finds deeper meaning in gameplay.
Premiering at SXSW 2024, the film has since been featured at prestigious festivals including CPH:DOX and New/Next, winning over audiences and critics alike with its warmth, wit, and insight.
"On an early research trip, I asked one of the most influential reviewers in the hobby what matters most about board games,” recalls Ennis. “He answered, without hesitation: ‘Nothing. People matter.’ That answer became the heartbeat of the film."
Don’t miss this special Stratford screening and the opportunity to meet the filmmakers behind one of the most charming and insightful documentaries of the year.
TICKETS: https://sff.eventive.org/schedule/687949c40d754bcfd0c06273
MORE INFO: https://stratfordfilmfestival.com