Program A-Z

Affable curmudgeon Marc Maron jokes his way through grief, trying to make sense of the world and his comedy following the death of his partner. A cantankerously poignant, wryly funny cri de coeur from one of the most genuine comedians in the business.

Wistful in tone and graceful in its direction, Zhuo Bian’s film stars Li Zhenping as Xie Shuwen, an elderly widower trying to find a measure of peace in his final years. While not without its sad moments, this is undoubtedly a life-affirming work.

This vibrant documentary explores interdisciplinary artist Rashaad Newsome’s visionary 2022 exhibition Assembly, a multimedia extravaganza of artists collaborating to create an immersive, empowering space exploring the joy of Black and Queer culture.

From her journey through high school and college, then out into the wider world, Ramya’s dream of finding the perfect guy is obstructed by societal mores, strict parents, unrequited love and the untrammelled chaos of her own mind, in Varsha Bharath’s naughty and affecting comedy.

In Tehran, Seti dreams of singing freely in the streets. Bidad, directed by Soheil, is a raw, urgent portrait of resistance, courage, and hope. A must-see film about one woman’s voice echoing a generation’s fight for freedom.

Kahlil Joseph’s long-awaited, hypnotic debut is a 21-track odyssey through Black memory and imagination. Fiction, archive, and digital fragments collide aboard a transatlantic ship in this radical, time-bending voyage across collective consciousness.

In this emotional second feature from filmmaker Gail Maurice (Rosie, VIFF 2022), a proud lesbian Métis journalist struggles to reconcile with her estranged mother, while a new entanglement with a captivating stranger threatens to upheave their lives.

In the late 1990s, eight-year-old Sasha and her Hungarian immigrant family relocate to a new home on Vancouver Island. Their fresh start is interrupted by increasingly dangerous behaviour from Jeremy, the family’s oldest child.

On the night of March 31, 1943, famed lyricist Lorenz Hart holds court at Broadway’s iconic Sardi’s bar. While his former collaborator, Richard Rodgers, celebrates the success of his new musical, Oklahoma!, Hart confronts his own shattered present.

Danzuka Yuiga’s poetic film tells the story of a fractured family in contemporary Tokyo. The city’s concrete overpasses, bright lights, and sterile architecture are central figures in a landscape that embodies its characters’ estrangement.

From her Sundance winner Gregory Go Boom to the acclaimed Zola, Janicza Bravo transforms chaos into surrealist cinema gold. Her bold vision has elevated episodes of Atlanta, The Bear, and Poker Face. Join us for a talk with this fearless storyteller.

When 13-year-old Karolina is chosen to be part of the main lineup of an acclaimed children’s choir, it draws unwanted attention. Broken Voices is a gutting account of a grave abuse of power based on a real-life story.