How do you start a film festival in the middle of a pandemic—with no roadmap, no guarantee of success, and no idea if anyone will show up? Kasia Smuga did just that. As programmer of the Mighty Niagara Film Festival, she’s learned everything from grassroots marketing to website logistics to handling corrupted film files—and found joy in every challenge.

In this episode, Kasia shares how trusting her instincts, leaning into community, and embracing “learning by doing” helped her turn a one-time outdoor experiment into a five-year tradition.