March 8 to 12 at the VIFF Vancity Theatre
![]() |
|
A Revolution in Four SeasonsBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Saturday March 11th at 12 PM |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
01:27:14 Jessie Deeter, USA/Tunisia BC Premiere |
This is an extraordinary story of two women with opposing political views, each working to realize their visions of post-revolution Tunisia. Over the course of four years we follow Emna, a secular journalist fighting to keep religion out of government, and Jawhara, a politician working towards a Tunisia guided by Islamic principles. Both understand the stakes are high, and both make difficult choices to balance their public roles with marriage and motherhood. This penetrating documentary goes a long way towards explaining how Tunisia became the only country to emerge from the Arab uprisings as a functioning democracy. This screening will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Ayesha S. Chaudhry, with panelists Tamir Moustafa, Adel Iskandar, and filmmaker Sara Maamouri. |
|
Credits: | Director/Producer: Jessie Deter; Executive Producer: Marcy Garriott; Co-producer: Rob Peterson; Lead Performer: Emna Ben Jemaa; Co-producer and Editor: Sara Maamouri; Cinematography: Bassem Aounallah & Hatem Nechi; Editors: Chris A. Peterson, A.C.E, Bill Weber; Composer: Miguel Atwood-Ferguson |
Social Media: |
Facebook |
Additional Links: | TRAILER |
![]() |
|
A Woman Wakes to the Sound of a Train and Runs Up a Hill to See ItBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Friday March 10th at 3 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:02:54 Kara Hornland, BC Worldwide Premiere |
Crafted without dialogue,shaped by magnificent shots, this short film raises questions at the intersection of existence and reason. It also takes us on a breathtaking journey across plains, fields, and mountains, as a woman searches for the sound to which she awoke. | |
Credits: | Director: Kara Hornland; Cast: Syd Lazzara; Director of Photography: Jody Rogac; Assistant Camera: Kane Hopkins; Supervising Sound Editor: Jeremy Therrien; Sound Effects; Editor: Nate Evans; Colourist: Aerlan Barrett; Costume Designer: Jules Francisco |
![]() |
|
AftermathBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Thursday March 9th - 3:15 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:37:13 Sonja Keßler, Germany Canadian Premiere |
Set in 1916 Germany, the film explores an interface of fable and realism. A woman waits for her husband to return from war. A young boy awaits his brother. She has become bitter and marginalized by her grief. He is keenly attracted to her. The two form an unusual friendship, until the brother returns. The story is harsh, but moments of unexpected intimacy shine in the dark setting. | |
Credits: | Director: Sonja Keßler; Writer: Sandra Schroeder; Producer: Jenny Lorenz; Cast: Jenny Schily, Joshua Fröhlich |
Additional Links: | TRAILER |
![]() |
|
AmbiguousBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Saturday March 11th - 6:15 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:01:55 Darren Borrowman, BC Worldwide Premiere |
Comedy and commentary in a side-splitting satire of the beauty and advertising industries. The troupe “Strapless” pokes fun at the standards of beauty set for women in commercials and life. | |
Credits: | Director/Producer/Editor/Post-Production: Darren Borrowman; Writer/Producer/Cast: Lauren Martin McCraw; Cast: Jackie Blackmore, Iva Kapsikova, Sidika Larbes; Music: Red Heartbreaker; Onset Assistance: Tom Belding |
Social Media: |
Facebook |
Additional Links: | borrowtime.ca straplesscomedy.com |
![]() |
|
AnishoaraBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Friday March 10th - 9 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
01:39:33 Ana-Felicia Scutelnicu, Germany/Moldova North American Premiere |
Anishoara is a 15 year old girl living in a small village in a picturesque valley among the rolling hills of Moldova. She lives peacefully with her grandfather and little brother. But as the landscape changes during the four seasons beautifully captured in the film, so does Anishoara. Faced with her own maturing desires, and the unwanted attention of others, this coming of age story haunts us with its understated and compelling sensibility. | |
Credits: | Director/Writer: Ana-Felicia Scutelnicu; Directors of Photography: Cornelius Plache, Luciano Cervio, Maximilian Preiss; Editor: Hannah Schwegel; Sound: Niklas Kammertöns; Music: Stephan Bruns, Manja Ebert, Stephan Franz; Producers: Jonas Weydemann & Jakob D. Weydemann" |
Social Media: |
|
Additional Links: | TRAILER FILM WEBSITE |
![]() |
|
Being StrongBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Wednesday March 8th - 2:30 pm |
Run time: Directed by: |
00:08:56 Jessica Hallenbeck, Bree Beveridge, BC |
Featuring Lillian Howard,Rosemary Georgeson, Sallee Whitewing, and Kelsey Sparrow, this short builds on compelling interviews to explore cultural, racial, and gender issues. The result is an open and candid exploration of what it means to be strong Indigenous women. | |
Credits: | Directors/Producers: Bree Beveridge, Jessica Hallenbeck; Production Support: Rosemary Georgeson, Kelsey Sparrow, Thor Larson; Editing: Kelsey Sparrow, Jessica Hallenbeck; Cinematography: Jessica Hallenbeck |
Additional Links: | FILM WEBSITE |
![]() |
|
BombingBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Friday March 10th - 5:30 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:14:18 Gloria Mercer, BC Vancouver Premiere |
Sophie is an unmotivated comedian. Then her estranged daughter unexpectedly returns, and Sophie finds a new way forward in a film tackling themes of motherhood, fulfillment, and responsibility. | |
Credits: | Director/Writer/Producer: Gloria Mercer; Cast: Lauren McGibbon, Penelope Good, Sarah Faye Bernstein; Cast, Annabel Maclean, Derek Trowell, Tyson Storozinski, Daniel Jeffery; Assistant Director: Aidan West; Director of Photography: Katrina Tadros |
Social Media: |
Facebook |
Additional Links: | TRAILER |
![]() |
|
BreathBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Wednesday March 8th - 7:30 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
01:49:35 Narges Abyar, Iran Canadian Premiere |
Breath follows the young, imaginative and joyful Bahar as she grows up in Iran. A deeply considered and well-crafted film, Breath weaves exquisite live action performances with animated sequences and the intimacy of voice-over to reveal a child’s complex experience of family, school, friendship, literacy and social ambition. This visually innovative film captures Bahar’s growing agency and resilience with the Iranian revolution as a backdrop, before it turns to the devastating consequences of the Iran-Iraq war. This screening will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker and opening night party with live music by Gordon Grdina and Kenton Loewen. |
|
Credits: | Director & Scriptwriter: Narges Abyar; Director of Photography: Saed Nikzat; Editor: Sajad Pahlevanzadeh; Music Composer: Massoud Sekhavatdoust; Animators: Hossein Jamshidi Gohari & Amin Haghshenas; Producers: Mohammad-Hossein Ghassemi & Abouzar Pourmohammadi; Cast: Sareh Nour Mousavi, Pantea Panahi Ha, Mehran Ahmadi, Jamshid Hashempour, Shabnam Moghadami, Siamak Safari, Gelareh Abbasi |
Social Media: |
Facebook |
Additional Links: | TRAILER IMDB |
![]() |
|
By the PoolBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Friday March 10th - 3 pm |
Run time: Directed by: |
00:15:16 Karine Bélanger, Quebec |
In the summer heat a vibrant community forms around a municipal pool. Lifeguards spend their time enjoying each other and the water. Yet, when the time comes, they meet critical responsibilities. Beautifully composed, this is an unexpectedly engaging piece. | |
Credits: | Director/Writer: Karine Bélanger; Producer: Andrew Przybytkowski; Cast: Julianne Côté, Théodore Pellerin, Simon Pigeon, Carla Turcotte; Crew: Vincent Biron, Valérie Gagnon-Hamel, Sophie Benoit-Sylvestre, Jean-Sébastien Beaudoin-Gagnon, Peter Venne |
Social Media: |
|
Additional Links: | TRAILER |
![]() |
|
Dead TripletBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Saturday March 11th - 6:15 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere Status: |
00:07:21 Alex Heller, USA Worldwide Premiere |
When a freak accident kills their triplet sister Anne, Charlotte and Emile must redefine their own relationship and learn how to succeed in the world as twins. Edged with dark humour and courting the absurd, Dead Triplet is a witty short following the misadventures of a newly formed duo. | |
Credits: | Writer/Director: Alex Heller; Producer: David Brown; Director of Photography/Colorist: Ned McGregor; Editor, Sound Designer: Jack Forbes" |
![]() |
|
Deuteronomy 24:16BUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Friday March 10th - 9 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere Status: |
00:11:04 Leen Issa, BC Worldwide Premiere |
When an ambitious female fighter faces an unexpected fate at the hands of a male boxer, her girlfriend and his father take matters into their own hands. This highly-stylized short film tells its remarkable story without dialogue, exploring how morality, violence, ambition, and weakness all have consequences. | |
Credits: | Director: Leen Issa; Writer: Lisa Purves; Executive Producers: Sam Khouth, Andrew Francis; Producers: Lisa Purves, Michael Khazen |
Social Media: |
|
Additional Links: | IMDB |
![]() |
|
FishBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Friday March 10th - 5:30 pm |
Run time: Directed by: |
00:11:33 Heather Young, Nova Scotia |
A single mother raises three young children while clinging to a fading relationship with their father. Shot over four years, Fish is a fiction/documentary hybrid exploring the ways in which love, responsibility, loneliness, and desperation interconnect. | |
Credits: | Director, Writer, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor, Sound editor, Colourist: Heather Young; Sound Consultant and Mixer: Graham Colwell; Cast: Robyn Mendoza, Miguel Mendoza, Tomas Mendoza, Elisabel Mendoza |
Social Media: |
![]() |
|
For the Love of MusicBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Friday March 10th - 3 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:23:17 Arwen Hunter, BC Worldwide Premiere |
For the Love of Music is an intimate look at the celebrated Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra, led by the legendary Norman Nelson. It is a touching exploration of the lifelong commitment of musicians to their craft, and the community that forms. | |
Credits: | Director, Writer, Editor: Arwen Hunter; Producer: Eric Lamontagne; Executive Producers: Compass Rose Entertainment Inc. and The Sooke Philharmonic Society |
![]() |
|
Here nor ThereBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Thursday March 9th - 3:15 pm |
Run time: Directed by: |
00:14:59 Julia Hutchings, BC |
After a mysterious meeting in an underground parking lot, an actor agrees to play a private detective at a funeral. There, he unexpectedly unravels a bizarre truth. Here Nor There is a quirky, creative, and intimate portrait of family betrayal and loyalty. | |
Credits: | Director/Writer/Producer/Editor: Julia Hutchings; Casting: Larry Macdonald, Alex Bruhanski, Deanna Milligan; Director of Photography: Ryan Flowers; Sound : Oscar Vargas; Composer: Gary Sill |
Additional Links: | FILM WEBSITE |
![]() |
|
HoodsBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Saturday March 11th - 6:15 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere Status: |
00:20:14 Maja Aro, BC Vancouver Premiere |
When Scarlet Hood finds her grandmother’s lifeless body, her quest to avenge the death leads her to uncover a secret legacy. In this dramatic fantasy, Hoods weaves classic storylines into a contemporary fairytale with a strong female lead. | |
Credits: | Director/Writer: Maja Aro; Producer: Jeffery Aro; Producer: Louisa Phung; Key Cast: Eva Bourne, Aleks Paunovic, Gabrielle Rose, Ty Olsson |
Social Media: |
Facebook |
|
|
JAAT SDIIHLYL'LXA Woman Who ReturnsBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Wednesday March 8th - 2:30 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere Status: |
00:14:10 Heather Hatch, Alberta BC Premiere |
Incorporating stunning shots of the BC coast with unique animated elements, JAAT SDIIHLYL'LXA Woman Who Returns follows an Edmonton woman as she sews a traditional blanket with her grandmother in order to become a member of her Haida clan. An uplifting reflection, this short documentary addresses the painful legacy of colonialism and systemic injustice to forge its own intimate path towards healing. | |
Credits: | Director: Heather Hatch; Writer: Kurt Spenrath; Producer: Frederick Kroetsch; Cast: Heather Hatch |
![]() |
|
January HymnBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Friday March 10th - 3 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:13:09 Katherine Canty, Ireland BC Premiere |
A haunting reflection on the loss of a loved one, January Hymn presents a fractured narrative of a young woman’s journey through emptiness, loneliness, and grief. With exquisitely crafted shots and dreamlike sequences, this short film explores a young woman’s memory of a home forever changed. | |
Credits: | Writer, Director, Editor, Sound Designer: Katherine Canty; Producer: Tanja Harney; Director of Photography: Kate McCullough; Cast: Niamh Algar, Ally Ni Chiarain, Aisling McLaughlin |
Social Media: |
|
Additional Links: | TRAILER |
![]() |
|
Lemonade MafiaBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Saturday March 11th - 6:15 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:09:00 Anya Adams, USA Canadian Premiere |
Kira's organic lemonade dynasty is threatened when rival entrepreneur Shantel moves in on her territory. From Vancouver-born director Anya Adams, with strong performances from Yvette Nicole Brown (Community), Marsai Martin (Blackish), and Emily Procter (CSI Miami), Lemonade Mafia mixes humour with heart in this thirst quenching comedy for all ages. | |
Credits: | Director: Anya Adams; Producers: Cj Pyles, Redelia Shaw, Anya Adams; Writer: Keith Edie; Cast: Marsai Martin, Ava Acres, Emily Procter, Yvette Nicole Brown, Trevor Larcom, Theodore Barnes, Ashley Liao |
Social Media: |
Facebook |
Additional Links: | TRAILER FILM WEBSITE |
![]() |
|
LutineBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Saturday March 11th - 9 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
01:37:55 Isabelle Broué, France BC Premiere |
Lutine follows director Isabelle Broué as she films a documentary on polyamory while trying it out herself. Blurring the boundaries of documentary and fiction, Broué’s self reflections are often quirky, sometimes moving, but never heavy handed. Addressing her own doubts on issues of desire, social norms and gender roles, the film expands our understanding through a sustained and almost surreal subversion of the expected narrative. This screening will be followed by a Skype Q&A with filmmaker Isabelle Broué. |
|
Credits: | Director, Writer, Isa (Lead Actor): Isabelle Broué; Cast: Mathieu Bisson, Philippe Rebbot, Agathe Dronne, Laurent Lederer; Cinematographer/Director of Photography: Isabelle Razavet; Editor: Sonia Bogdanovsky |
Social Media: |
Facebook |
Additional Links: | TRAILER FILM WEBSITE |
![]() |
|
MarigoldsBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Saturday March 11th - 6:15 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:07:38 Jillian Acreman, New Brunswick BC Premiere |
Peter O'Toole is a young botanist contemplating his legacy. Filled to the brim with timely wit and dry humour, Marigolds tells the story of one man’s unique quest to make an impact on the world. | |
Credits: | Writer/Director/Producer: Jillian Acreman; Cinematographer: Jesse Anthony; Editor: Matthew Carr; Sound Designer: Helena Danghin; Cast: Ryan O’Toole, Elizabeth Goodyear |
Social Media: |
|
Additional Links: | IMDB |
![]() |
|
Maypole RoseBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Saturday March 11th - 9 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:13:24 Christine Buijs, Ontario Worldwide Premiere |
In one night of drug-fuelled intimacy, Ryland, a stay-at-home painter, struggles to keep a big secret from his husband, Torrance. A challenging look at same-sex intimacy, the film candidly explores entitlement, satisfaction, and loyalty. Maypole Rose opens a quirky, salacious, window into the imperfect life of a gay couple who share an affinity for junk food, weed, and monkey sex. | |
Credits: | Writer/Director: Christine Buijs; Producer: Brian Carver and Christine Buijs; Director of Photography: James Poremba; Editor: Micah Rix-Hayes; Production Designer: Daina Valiulis; Composer/Sound Designer: Emory Martin EMORY MARTIN ; Cast: Kyle Shields, Alexander Plouffe |
Social Media: |
Facebook |
![]() |
|
Oh, I Get ItBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Saturday March 11th - 6:15 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:08:31 Danny Tayara, USA Canadian Premiere |
Oh, I Get It explores belonging from the perspectives of queer comedians pushing back against rigid boundaries of what — and who — can be funny. | |
Credits: | Directors: Sara McCaslin & Danny Tayara; Cast: Danielle K.L. Grégoire, Kathleen Nacozy, Ijeoma Oluo, Elicia Sanchez |
Social Media: |
Facebook |
Additional Links: | TRAILER FILM WEBSITE IMDB |
![]() |
|
On the BeachBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Thursday March 9th - 3:15 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:19:20 Nele Mueller-Stöfen, Germany Canadian Premiere |
Laura and Clemens spend their holidays at the sea in Northern Germany. Laura is bored and invents a game, pretending to be blind. Captured in an innovative and fresh narrative, accomplished with strong performances, the film draws us into an unexpected and swiftly growing moral dilemma. | |
Credits: | Director/Writer: Nele Mueller-Stöfen; Producers: Jakob Deutsch, Edward Berger, Jan Krüger; Cast: Laura Tonke, Fabian Busch, Maren Eggert, Peter Jordan |
![]() |
|
On the FarmBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Thursday March 9th - 6 pm |
Run time: Directed by: |
01:30:35 Rachel Talalay, BC |
Elle-Maija Tailfeathers delivers a no-holds-barred performance as her character struggles to leave a cycle of addiction and sex-work to re-unite with her son. Concerned by the disappearance of friends and co-workers in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, she plays a crucial role when a social worker and police officer finally begin to investigate. Set against an indifferent and dysfunctional criminal justice system, the story reveals the courage embodied in marginalized women who choose to resist racism, sexism and classism. This screening will be followed by a panel discussion with filmmakers Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Doreen Manuel, Dennis Foon and Indigenous activist Lorelai Williams. |
|
Credits: | Director: Rachel Talalay; Writer: Dennis Foon; Producer: Rupert Harvey; Associate Producer — Lindsay Moffat; Editor: Lara Mazur; Cast: Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Sarah Strange, Sara Canning, Patrick Gallagher |
Additional Links: | TRAILER IMDB |
![]() |
|
Polish Go HomeBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Friday March 10th - 5:30 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:29:56 Elena Andreicheva, UK North American Premiere |
This compelling documentary presents Kuba, a flawed young man who lives on the streets of London. We journey with him back to Poland, where he faces the responsibilities he left behind, and continues to search for that elusive place he can call home. | |
Credits: | Filmed and Directed by: Elena Andreicheva; Producer: Agata Mastalerz; Editor: Pawel Stec; Composer: Terence Dunn |
Additional Links: | TRAILER FILM WEBSITE |
![]() |
|
Push StartBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Friday March 10th - 3 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:14:51 Carleen Kyle, BC Worldwide Premiere |
Emotionally frozen after the death of her father, Perdita (Jazmine Campanale), has been doing what others expect. Then her goldfish helps her restart life on different terms. This is an evocative exploration of both grief and self-realization. | |
Credits: | Director/Writer/Producer: Carleen Kyle; Story Writer/Producer: Jazmine Campanale; Producer: Mark Anthony Hogan; Associate Producer: Gordon Rempel; Composers: Scott McLeod, Spencer Teeter, Jesse Waldman; Cinematographers: Sarah Thomas Moffat, David Yao; Editor: Gordon Rempel |
Social Media: |
|
Additional Links: | IMDB |
![]() |
|
QipisaBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Wednesday March 8th - 2:30 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:35:42 Myna Ishulutak, Nunavut BC Premiere |
Myna has been living in Nunavut’s capital Iqaluit, but longs to reconnect with her childhood roots. She leaves everything to settle in Pangnirtung with her family, and delivers a thoughtful reflection on place, belonging, and cultural reclamation. | |
Credits: | Writer and director: MYNA ISHULUTAK; Cinematographer: AÏDA MT; Editor: AÏDA MT; Sound recordist: TOMMY TREMBLAY, DANIEL TAUKIE, AÏDA MT; Sound editor: MARTIN ALLARD; Sound mixer: BRUNO BÉLANGER; Original music: TOMMY TREMBLAY; Production: MYNA ISHULUTAK |
Social Media:
|
![]() |
|
RangerBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Sunday March 12th - 3 pm |
Run time: Directed by: |
00:08:05 Sandra Ignagni, BC |
This stunning documentary invites us to explore the unique landscapes, seascapes and auditory environments of the voyage of the M.V Northern Ranger. With glimpses of rarely seen communities, Ranger paints a lyrical portrait of land and people as passengers and crew unite on a long journey home along the Labrador coast. | |
Credits: | Producer/Executive Producer/Director/Editor: Sandra Ignagni; Co-Director/Co-Editor: Trevor Meier; Story Consultant: Dana Rae Warren; Sound Designer: Kevin Hamilton; Colourist: Ryan Schroeder; Music: The Nunatsiavut Brass Band (rights permitted) |
![]() |
|
Shan and KateBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Friday March 10th - 5:30 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:17:20 Zoë Rae, Australia Canadian Premiere |
Shan and Kate are trying to make it through the school week without embarrassing themselves. This hilarious coming-of-age story explores the power of friendship on the up-and-down roller coaster of young romance. This lighthearted jump back in time explores adolescence in all its innocent glory. | |
Credits: | Director/Writer: Zoë Rae; Producer: Bronte Rose Jovevski; Cast: Chelsea Williamson, Jenna Owen, Adam Roberts, Brenton Parkes, Nick McDougall; Cinematographer: Matt Scott Chow; Editor: Nick Radford |
Social Media: |
|
Additional Links: | TRAILER FILM WEBSITE |
![]() |
|
SistersBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Friday March 10th - 5:30 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:25:58 Natasha Merkulova, Russia North American Premiere |
Nina is a successful woman with a career and a family. Her sister is reckless and self-destructive. Nina offers loving interventions to keep her safe, but the situation demands more. The film is a tender and candid exploration of care among siblings. | |
Credits: | Directed by Natasha Merkulova; Screenwriter: Natasha Merkulova; Direcotor of Photography: Ksenia Sereda; Production design: Oleg Dorichenko; Producers: Julia Mishkinene, Aleksandr Plotnikova; Production: Vita Aktiva |
Social Media: |
![]() |
|
SnatchedBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Friday March 10th - 5:30 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:22:57 Emmanuelle Nicot, Belgium North American Premiere |
Raïssa and Alio have shared the same room in a foster home since childhood. One evening Raïssa returns to discover that Alio has left without telling her. With strong performances and gritty, well considered, cinematography, Snatched opens a window into the difficult world of the foster care system. | |
Credits: | Director/Writer: Emmanuelle Nicot; Producer: Julie Esparbes; Cast: Hajar Koutaine, Clémence Warnier, Saïda Manaï, Olivier Prémel, Jennifer Tambwe, Anton Kouzemin, Hélène Couvert |
Additional Links: | FILM WEBSITE |
![]() |
|
Sourdough StarterBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Saturday March 11th - 9 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:03:02 Gail Noonan, BC BC Premiere |
This stop-motion animation offers a whimsical, tongue-in-cheek take on human connection in its approach to love and leavening. | |
Credits: | Gail Noonan - Allison Mullally – slow motion filming Ceile Prowse – digital consultant Shelley McIntosh-digital effects Chris Clark – sound design and mix Larry Di Stefano – digital output Musicians: Meg Iredale-Gray : lead vocal & guitar Adam Iredale–Gray on bass Jenny Ritter on banjo, harmony vocal |
Social Media: |
|
Additional Links: | FILMMAKER WEBSITE |
![]() |
|
StalingradoBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Thursday March 9th - 3:15 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:12:32 Anyora Sánchez, Spain BC Premiere |
Antonio, a shepherd from rural Spain, and Tatiana, an educated Russian woman, must negotiate the difficulties caused by his spiteful mother who disapproves of their life together. Against the backdrop of vast countryside and small village life, this riveting portrait of colliding worlds examines the intersection of power, culture and class. | |
Credits: | Director: Anyora Sánchez; Cast: Sebas Fernández, Anna Naya, Ma Jesús Garrido; Script: Ignacio Alonso, Ignacio Dorado; Production: Iván Pérez; Cinematography: Dario Missaghian, Carlos Fernández- García; Editing: Clara Martínez, Gonzalo Castro |
Additional Links: | IMDB |
![]() |
|
StepsBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Saturday March 11th - 6:15 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:08:04 Noémie Brassard, Quebec BC Premiere |
Against the backdrop of a ballet class, 10 year old Josephine candidly ponders her body, relationships, and imagination. | |
Credits: | Director, Writer, Editor : Noémie Brassard; Director of Photography: Julie Pelletier; Sound: Amélie Boutin; Sound Mixer/Sound Editor: Bruno-Pierre Bouchard et Alexandre Côté; Cast: Joséphine Lefevbre-Legault |
Social Media: |
![]() |
|
Stingray SistersBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Sunday March 12th - 3 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
01:16:08 Katrina Channells, Australia North American Premiere |
This is the story of the magnetic Eather sisters who, with stubborn humour, resist the fracking of indigenous territories in Australia. The work not only explores what it means to live in a mixed family, but how to unite communities despite youth who lose hope and elderly who pass away, redefining what it means to truly lead. This is an inspirational and timely documentary that manages to trace beauty in the madness. This screening will be attended by Alice Eather, Noni Eather, and director Katrina Channels, and followed by a panel discussion with special guests, including a representative from Raventrust. |
|
Credits: | Director: Katrina Channells; Producer: Bridget O’Shea; Cinematographer: Nikolas Lachajczak; Editors: Maria Papoutsis and Katrina Channells |
Social Media: |
|
Additional Links: | TRAILER |
![]() |
|
SweatBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Wednesday March 8th - 2:30 pm |
Run time: Directed by: |
00:04:44 Kristin Snowbird, Manitoba |
An intimate portrait about reconnecting with one's roots, director Kristina Snowbird recreates her experience of the sweat lodge. Reflecting on themes of belonging, identity, and the generational loss of custom and culture, Sweat presents an experience at once both fragile and strong. | |
Credits: | Director: Kristin Snowbird; Producer: Kevin Lee Burton; Cinematographer: Theo Pelmus; Editor: Kevin Lee Burton |
![]() |
|
The Goodnight KissBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Saturday March 11th - 6:15 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:10:05 Laura Adkin, BC Vancouver Premiere |
Following a couple that navigates the ups and downs of a multi-year relationship, The Goodnight Kiss explores facets of marriage, parenthood and independence. It ends with a bang and an unexpected twist. | |
Credits: | Director/Writer/Producer: Laura Adkin; Writer: David Lewis; Producer: Victoria Angel; Cast: Lisa Durupt, David Lewis, Anthony Konechny |
Social Media: |
Facebook |
![]() |
|
The PatriotBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Thursday March 9th - 3:15 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:14:58 Eva Riley, UK Canadian Premiere |
After befriending a Roma boy, 11-year old Hannah, the daughter of a far-right extremist in Britain, confronts the tensions between xenophobia and her burgeoning empathy. | |
Credits: | Director/Writer: Eva Riley; Cinematographer: David Pimm; Editor: Abolfazl Talooni; Sound Designer: Robert Malone; Sound Recordist: Barry Coxhead; Production Design: Irene Dimarca; Music: Antonio Nardi; Producer: Michelangelo Fano; Cast: Halle Kidd, Rafael Constantin, Michael Elkin, Ray James |
Social Media: |
|
Additional Links: | TRAILER FILM WEBSITE |
![]() |
|
The Things We Do They Don't UnderstandBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Thursday March 9th - 3:15 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:20:26 Ashley Michel Hoban, USA Canadian Premiere |
Jess has breakfast with the mother of an absent man with whom she shared one night. Awkward? Even more so in that they don’t speak the same language. With compassion and humour the film explores the small miracles of unexpected connections. | |
Credits: | Writer/Director: Ashley Michel Hoban; Producer: Calla Videt and Natalie Eakin ; Executive Producer: Randall Pritchard; Cast: Kate Britton, Yvette Mercedes, Jon Rua; Director of Photography: Sheldon Chau |
Social Media: |
|
Additional Links: | TRAILER FILM WEBSITE |
![]() |
|
The Thinking GardenBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Wednesday March 8th - 2:30 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:35:07 Christine Welsh, BC/South Africa Vancouver Premiere |
In the dying days of apartheid, three generations of women in a South African village create a community garden. Inspiring, powerful, and masterfully filmed against a backdrop of climate change and poverty, The Thinking Garden shows what can happen when women take matters into their own hands. | |
Credits: | Director/Producer/Writer: Christine Welsh; Producer/Writer/Concept and Research: Elizabeth Vibert; Cinematographer/Editor/Location Sound: Moira Simpson; Assistant Director/Interpreter: Basani Ngobeni |
Social Media: |
Facebook |
Additional Links: | IMDB FILM WEBSITE |
![]() |
|
The WakeBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Friday March 10th - 3 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:19:48 Oonagh Kearney, Ireland BC Premiere |
In Ireland, women are silenced in the courts, the church, the health-care system, and the arts. This silencing also happens at home, as well as in the body. Using dance as a unique cinematic language, The Wake is an Irish film that liberates the stories of women inside the house. Therein we discover a world of memory, joy, violence and transformation. | |
Credits: | Director: Oonagh Kearney; Producer: Zlata Filipović; Cinematographer: Matthias Pilz; Art Directors: Barbara Knezevic & Tara Lewis; Costume Designer: Sorcha McClenaghan; Hair and Makeup: Designer Sara Golding; Choreography: Cindy Cummings; Editor: Carmela Iandoli; Composer: Linda Buckley |
Social Media: |
Facebook |
Additional Links: | TRAILER FILM WEBSITE |
![]() |
|
Trip Along ExodusBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Saturday March 11th - 3 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
02:00:04 Hind Shoufani, Palestine Canadian Premiere |
Hind Shoufani describes her feature-length documentary as “an homage to my dad, an ode to Palestine, an ode to the revolution, an ode to socialist thinking, a call to rebellion perhaps, a call to remembering who the enemy is and a portrait of a visionary, powerful man who was very much a tragic and broken figure by the end of his life.” Using poetry, animation, archival footage, interviews, and other multimedia formats, this innovative work tells the story of Palestine’s struggle for liberation through the experience of the director’s father, Dr. Elias Shoufani, who, for more than a generation, was the Arab world’s leading analyst of Israeli affairs. This screening will be introduced by Adel Iskandar and followed by a Skype Q&A with filmmaker Hind Shoufani. |
|
Credits: | Producer/Director/Writer: Hind Shoufani; Editor: Ayman Nahle; Cinematography: Adam Shapiro, Lafi, Nick Zajicek, Hind Shoufani, Jato Smith, Raja2i Khatib, Hussam Hariri, Atilio Menendez Ferrer; Music: Jean Madani, Bassel Abbas, Munma; Color: Belal Hibri |
Social Media: |
|
Additional Links: | TRAILER 1 TRAILER 2 FILM WEBSITE |
![]() |
|
TryingBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Saturday March 11th - 6:15 pm |
Run time: Directed by: |
00:11:14 Shauna Johannesen, BC |
Steve and Ellie are confidant getting pregnant will be child’s play, but as sex becomes un-sexy, and foreplay becomes more about needles than necking, they begin to renegotiate their expectations. This funny film presents a poignant commentary on the social pressure to conceive. | |
Credits: | Director/Writer/Producer: Shauna Johannesen; Producers: Paul Armstrong, Ines Eisses, Lulu Pan, Kristyn Stilling, James Danderfer; Cast: Christina Sicoli, Patrick Gilmore |
Social Media: |
Facebook |
Additional Links: | FILMMAKER WEBSITE |
![]() |
|
Uncertain SpringBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Friday March 10th - 3 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
00:16:51 Carole Laganière, Quebec BC Premiere |
Francis spends his last days in hospice care. He finds joy in the daily visits of his 14 year old niece and the photos and videos she sends him. Quiet, charming, and hopeful, with strong, dynamic, performances, Uncertain Spring reveals that as one life is extinguished, another’s begins to bloom. | |
Credits: | Director/Screenwriter: Carole Laganière; Director of Photography: Dominic Dorval; Editor: Aube Foglia; Sound: Richard Lavoie; Sound editor: Mélanie Gauthier; Artistic direction: Charlie Beaudoin; Cast: Paul Ahmarani, Jade Charbonneau |
Additional Links: | TRAILER 1 |
|
|
Unveiled: the Kohistan Video ScandalBUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Wednesday March 8th - 12 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
01:27:18 Brishkay Ahmed, BC/Pakistan BC Premiere |
After a "shameful" video surfaces of four young girls singing and clapping in a remote village in the Kohistan region of Pakistan, they disappear. A young man goes into hiding after accusing the local tribal council of ordering their killings. The film acts as a virtual trial, bringing together evidence which unveils a sharp conflict between constitutional and tribal justice. The telling of this story not only highlights the impunity with which criminals hide behind traditions, but itself becomes an important step towards resolving the conflict in favour of the rights and freedoms of women and youth. This free screening will be followed by a Q&A with filmmakers Brishkay Ahmed and Elizabeth Sanchez, and moderated by Heather Allin. |
|
Credits: | Director/Producer/Writer/Editor: Brishkay Ahmed; Producer/Writer: Elizabeth Sanchez; Cinematography: Imran Babur; Composer: Chris Hind |
Additional Links: | TRAILER FILM WEBSITE |
![]() |
|
Where to, Miss?BUY TICKETS |
|
Screening time: | Thursday March 9th - 9:00 pm |
Run time: Directed by: Premiere status: |
01:22:20 Manuela Bastian, Germany/India Canadian Premiere |
This is the story of Devki, a courageous young woman struggling to become a taxi driver in India. We follow her in time as she contends with three roles: daughter, wife, and mother, and works to offset the opposition of father, husband, and father-in-law. Grappling with blatant and continuous sexism, her daily routine is defined by a constant battle to defend her aspirations of financial independence. | |
Credits: | Director: Manuela Bastian; Producer: Bianca Laschalt; Producer: Marvin Rößler; Director of Photography: Jan David Günther; Editor: Maximilian Raible |
Social Media: |
|
Additional Links: | TRAILER FILM WEBSITE |