Now Playing
La Grazia
A contemplative, mournful but richly imagined movie about a retiring Italian President (Toni Servillo from The Great Beauty) facing two thorny ethical decisions that may define his legacy.
Image: © Andrea Pirrello
The Ice Tower
In Lucile Hadžihalilović's spellbinding fantasy drama, an orphan (Clara Pacini) becomes enthralled by a movie star (Marion Cotillard) playing the Snow Queen in a fairy tale film adaptation. Winner of the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution.
Where to Land
Hal Hartley's first new film in a decade is a melancholy farce about mortality and what we'll call "late middle-age". Bill Sage is a semi-retired filmmaker who isn't dying faster than the rest of us but who behaves like he might be.
The Secret Agent
Having run afoul of an influential bureaucrat in Brazil’s military dictatorship circa 1977, Marcelo decamps to Recife to live under an assumed name — but he’ll soon come to understand precisely how rampant the country’s corruption has become.
Best of 2025
Dec 26 – Jan 8
Our year in cinema. Catch up on the ones that got away. Review your favourites.
Check out the most critically-acclaimed films of 2025, and take a chance on one or two smaller films that didn’t get the hype but we’re convinced will stand the test of time.
Trouble & Desire: 3 by Hal Hartley
Jan 2 – Jan 8
To mark the release of Hal Hartley’s first film in a decade, Where to Land, we’re showing his 1994 cult favourite Simple Men (his third film) as well as Ned Rifle, from 2014.
Where to Land
Hal Hartley's first new film in a decade is a melancholy farce about mortality and what we'll call "late middle-age". Bill Sage is a semi-retired filmmaker who isn't dying faster than the rest of us but who behaves like he might be.
New Spanish Cinema
Jan 9 – 14
This year’s New Spanish Cinema is packed with an exceptionally strong line-up — award-winning cinema, an Opening Gala featuring tapas and wine, and a flamenco-inspired VIFF Live.
Pantheon: The Greatest Films of All Time
Pantheon is a monthly series showcasing a selection of the “greatest movies of all time,” inspired by the mother of all film lists, the critics’ poll that has run once a decade in the UK’s Sight & Sound magazine since 1952.
Breaking the Waves
Jan 18
Lars von Trier’s 1996 masterpiece is a devastating melodrama featuring an indelible performance from Emily Watson as the woman whose love for her husband knows no bounds.
VIFF Live
Live performances that push the boundaries of traditional film programming, intersecting cinema culture with music, comedy, podcasting, and performance in unique, cinema-infused live shows.
The Flamenco Guitar of Yerai Cortés + Por Derecho (For the Right) Live
Winner of the Goya Award for Best Documentary, this is an exquisite and surprisingly intimate portrait of the brilliant young guitarist Yerai Cortés, preceded by an hour of passionate flamenco music, song and dance performed by Flamenco Rosario.
Vince Mai Plays Mancini
Local trumpeter and film composer Vince Mai returns to the VIFF Centre with his quintet to play selected hits of celebrated film composer Henry Mancini prior to a screening of the beloved Pink Panther movie A Shot in the Dark.
Laura Crema Sings Lorenz Hart
For this unique show, leading jazz vocalist Laura Crema has put together a set of some of Lorenz Hart's most memorable songs. Afterwards, enjoy Ethan Hawke's portrait of the legendary lyricist in Richard Linklater's new movie, Blue Moon.
Cousin Harley + Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Come join Local Hillbilly heroes Cousin Harley, for a night of traditional Rockabilly, Western Swing and early Rock n Roll before reveling in the rock n roll biopic excess of John C Reilly as the legendary Dewey Cox!
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