The Foundation produces the Vintage Film Festival every year on a weekend in October. 
Mission Statement of Marie Dressler Foundation
To preserve and promote the memory of Marie Dressler and other remarkable Canadian women in the film industry and to celebrate our love of vintage films with our community.
Vision Statement of Marie Dressler Foundation
We aim to build engaged community audiences through the curated presentations of film history at Canadian Women in Film Museum (the “museum”) an exhibitions of vintage filmmaking.
Our Values
We are committed to:
- Providing accessible museum and Festival experiences by removing physical, social and economic barriers to participation;
- Valuing and empowering volunteers and employees; and
- Nurturing collaborative community partnerships
Vintage Film Festival
A major activity of the Foundation is to bring our love of film to our community through the annual Vintage Film Festival (the “Festival”) held in October each year at The Capitol Theatre in Port Hope, Ontario.
Founded in 1992, the Vintage Film Festival features a curated program of films made at least 50 years ago and screened over a weekend. Proceeds of the Festival assist in the charitable work of Marie Dressler Foundation.
Canadian Women in Film Museum
Located in the natal home of Marie Dressler, now named Marie Dressler House, at 212 King St. W., Cobourg, Ontario, the museum features permanent interactive exhibits for Marie Dressler, Mary Pickford, and Norma Shearer, the only Canadian women (so far) to win an Academy Award for Best Actress and information about other Canadian women in front of and behind the camera in early Hollywood. The Cinema trailblazeHER at the museum presents a varied program of films made by women and about early female film actors.
Visit the Museum's own web site here.
You can visit the Canadian Women in Film Museum at 212 King Street West, Cobourg, Ontario, Canada Consult the museum’s website here for hours of operation:
More information on the Museum here.
Marie Dressler Foundation Board 2024/25
| President & Chair of the Board | Rick Miller |
| Corporate Secretary | Matthew Wardle |
| Treasurer | Tammy Archer |
| Director – Chair/Community Outreach | Scott Fraser |
| Director | Rina Short |
| Director – Chair, Vintage Film Festival | Rick Hill |
| Director | Tammy Browes-Bugden |
| Director – Chair, Collections Mgmnt. | Chris Jiggins |
For more information on the history and heritage of Cobourg, consult the following websites:
- Cobourg History- web site devoted to the History of Cobourg
- Cobourg Museum – learn about Cobourg and Area Museum
- Cobourg Library - Extensive material available
Please note that the Foundation is not a department of the Town of Cobourg nor is this site operated by the Town. To contact the town, please refer to their website at www.cobourg.ca