The annual Vancouver International Film Festival showcases exceptional cinema in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Their spectacular roster includes some of the best cinema from around the globe, one-of-a-kind live performances, talks, industry sessions, and other unique events celebrating film and film culture.
This year, B.C.-made films are a highlight, showcasing the province’s rising global influence in the industry. From thought-provoking documentaries to groundbreaking narratives, these films embody the creativity and talent that define our local storytellers. Here’s a look at the B.C. films featured at this year’s festival.
CHEF & THE DARUMA, Wallop Film
CAN I GET A WITNESS?
Directed by Ann Marie Fleming, AMF Productions/CIGAW Productions Ltd.
In a not so distant future, there is a reality where in order to save the planet, “death is everyone’s job”, with 50-year-olds taking the sacrifice, while teenage artists need to document it.
ARI’S THEME
Directed by Nathan Drillot & Jeff Lee Petry
Ari Kinarthy’s existence is marked by worry and vigilance around his health, as he struggles with spinal muscular atrophy which has progressively weakened his muscles and left him vulnerable to infection and sickness. Yet he was born with the soul of an artist and a passion for music and remains curious and eager to collaborate with other musicians despite his limited physical strength. Anticipating the end of his life, Ari has an ambitious goal: to create music that will capture his experiences and memories and to leave a legacy through which people will remember him.
INEDIA
Directed by Liz Cairns, Experimental Forest Films Inc./Living on Light Pictures Inc.
After a series of mysterious and debilitating allergic reactions to food, a young woman joins a radical community of people who claim to be nourished by light.
MONGRELS
Directed by Jerome Yoo, Hodu Mob Films Inc.
In rural Canada in the 1990s, a Korean family – a widower, his teenage son, and young daughter – attempts to find footing in a new land while navigating the dark forests of grief. Sonny has been hired to eradicate the feral canines plaguing the town, while sensitive Hajoon figures out what it means to be a man. Finally, young Hana, missing her mother, dreams up ways to make her return.
THE CHEF & THE DARUMA
Directed by Mads K. Baekkevold, Cedar Sento Documentary Inc.
For 36 years, Tojo’s has been a mainstay in the Vancouver food scene, beloved by critics, foodies, and a plethora of celebrities. A pioneer of Japanese cuisine in the West, chef Hidekazu Tojo helped bring sushi to the mainstream and is known as the inventor of the California Roll. Still working in his seventies, chef Tojo is inspired to look back on his life and ponder the legacy he will leave behind. He recalls his early years as a Japanese immigrant, coming to Canada at the age of 21, and his ambition to create a singular culinary path. We also accompany the chef on a return trip to Japan, where he connects with locals and explores new food trends.
CURL POWER
Directed by Josephine Anderson, independent (Josephine Anderson)/Curl Power Productions Ltd.
Curl Power follows a team of teenage girls as they pursue their unusual dream of becoming Canadian National Curling Champions, and seek out their own paths amid the legacies of their world champion mothers. This intimate and imaginative coming-of-age documentary tells a story of angst and ecstasy, following the funny and tender evolution of five best friends as they reckon with their bodies, minds, and the great unknown.
ONE DAY THIS KID
Directed by Alexander Farah, Wallop Film Inc.
As told by filmmaker Alexander Farah through a deftly composed array of small yet pivotal moments, a first-generation Afghan Canadian man takes steps toward establishing an identity of his own while always conscious of his father’s shadow.
HATCH
Directed by Alireza Kazemipour & Panta Mosleh
A group of Afghan refugees hide inside a water tanker as they attempt to cross the border to safety.
INAY (MAMA)
Directed by Thea Loo, Thea Loo Films
With the desire to help answer unresolved questions and heal lingering wounds, Inay investigates the flawed immigration pathways between the Philippines and Canada that kept so many Filipino children from their mothers. Inay, which means “mama” in Tagalog, is an intimate and personal look at the experiences and trauma endured by many Filipino Canadians.
LUCKY STAR
Directed by Gillian McKercher, Notable Content
When reformed gambler Lucky falls victim to a tax scam, he returns to playing poker to make the money back. Meanwhile, his family tries to make ends meet by resorting to their own morally dubious strategies. Lucky Star is a family drama about fatherly love, deceit, and redemption, and a slice of life of the Chinese-prairie diaspora.
THE STAND
Directed by Christopher Auchter
Drawn from more than a hundred hours of archival footage and audio, Christopher Auchter’s riveting new feature doc recreates the moment when the Haida Nation took a stand for the future.
ANGELA’S SHADOW
Directed by Jules Arita Koostachin
Balancing darkness and light to dramatic effect, Jules Arita Koostachin crafts a ghost story rich in narrative traditions, period details, and uncanny allure.
VIFF runs from September 26 – October 6, 2024. Learn more and see the full program here.
