VIFF Labs empower the emerging creator by cultivating meaningful direct engagement extending beyond the boundaries of their craft.
Designed for intimate, invitation-only groups formed through targeted community partnerships, Labs facilitate interactive, hands-on knowledge sharing and nurture conversations between established global talent and local creators. The framework and programming of Labs is designed to be open and safe. Conversations take place in a non-hierarchical environment, allowing local emerging artists to connect with each other as well as with more established filmmakers.
Take a look back at the VIFF 2022 Labs
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Supported by
Everything You Wanted to Know About Intimacy on Set (but were afraid to ask)
The role of an intimacy coordinator on a film set has become one that is long overdue and essential. With her experience as an intimacy coordinator on CSI: Vegas, the erotic thriller Deep Water, and the NC-17 rated Blonde, Jean Franzblau joined VIFF Labs for a deep dive into what filmmakers should consider when including forms of nudity and intimacy at any scale. This session was everything you wanted to know about sex on a film set but were afraid to ask.
Slashing Expectations: New Worlds in Indigenous Cinema
With Indigenous-led films becoming one of the most dynamic voices in the global cinema landscape, films like Nyla Innuksuk’s Slash/Back underscore the importance of Indigenous perspectives in science fiction and horror. In this VIFF Lab, Innuksuk took us through her process of her first feature, the importance of collaboration, and explored the ethics of trauma in horror cinema.
The Art of the Long Follow: The Road to Jeen-Yuhs
Assembled from over 20 years of footage by co-directors Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah, Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy captures the development of a complicated and mercurial artist. Unfurling over five hours and in three chapters, in this lab, Simmons took us through his approach for this ambitious docu-series from collaboration, following a subject, and sifting through the footage in a process that spanned two decades.
Co-presented by
Thinking Outside the Frame: Approaches to Hybrid Documentary
Through an intricate woven framework of hybrid documentary techniques, Chase Joynt’s Sundance Audience Award-winning film Framing Agnes has created a profoundly unique exploration of the subjective complexity of trans histories. In this VIFF Lab, Joynt unpacked his approach to disrupting the traditional documentary form, bringing archival documentation to life through impactful, intricate techniques that interrogate the objectivity of historical narratives in documentary.
Playing the Part: Performance and Participation in Documentary
From Kate Plays Christine, Bisbee ’17, to his latest film, Procession, critically acclaimed director Robert Greene continues to push the boundaries of documentary filmmaking. Integrating performance and participation as an essential part of his process, he has pushed the boundaries of the contemporary documentary form. From unearthing emotional landscapes and histories to its use as a form of trauma therapy, Greene explored the evolution of his unique approach in this lab.
Seeing and Being Seen
Sundance U.S. Documentary Directing Award-winning filmmaker Reid Davenport took us through the process of I Didn’t See You There. With Davenport directing, shooting and producing the documentary, his feature debut is an honest and empowering achievement in autobiographical storytelling, exploring Reid’s perspective as he moves through the San Francisco Bay Area in his wheelchair. The session explored the intersection of accessibility and filmmaking, and the act of seeing and being seen in self-led narratives.
Participant Reviews
“Was very insightful and an honour to be part of an intimate conversation with industry professionals. Always great to hear peoples stories and how they got to where they are. I left feeling inspired.”
“The format really worked, the moderator made sure that everyone had time to speak. I feel like I learned a lot about starting to produce or upleveling from shorts to feature lengths.”
“It was a good, intimate event and it was really great to have Ellen Kuras right there. I liked that the lab had a smaller number of people, it felt less intimidating to ask questions and also gave Ellen enough time to properly discuss and elaborate on points.”
Past Guests Have Included
RaMell Ross, Director Hale County This Morning, This Evening
Marie Clements, Writer, Director, Producer Red Snow
Jen Malone, Music Supervisor Euphoria and Atlanta
Tyler Hagan, Producer The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open and Never Steady, Never Still
Tarik Bradford, President, Dahomey Music
Karen Pearlman, Author Cutting Rhythms: Intuitive
Madonna Wade Reed, Music Supervisor Batwoman and Whoopsie Daisy
Jennifer Abbott, Director The New Corporation: The unfortunately Necessary
Chase Joynt, Director Framing Agnes
Aisling Chin Yee, Director The Rest Of Us
Theo Anthony, Director, All Light, Everywhere
Lindsey Dryden, Producer Trans In America
Kirsten Johnson, Director Dick Johnson Is Dead
Joseph Patel, Producer Summer of Soul
James LeBrecht, Co-Director Crip Camp