VIFF Labs is an intimate, invitation-only series that empowers emerging local filmmakers through meaningful, direct dialogues with global talent.
As the curator of VIFF Labs, it remains a privilege to extend invitations that bring global industry experts to participate in dialogues at VIFF. Our Labs cover a range of diverse and relevant topics, aimed to spark meaningful conversation and ideas between international talent and Vancouver’s local filmmaking community.
Ken Tsui, VIFF Labs Curator
Presented by
VIFF Labs 2025 Highlights
Anatomy of Heretic
Last fall, A24’s Heretic emerged as a sleeper horror sensation. At the heart of its haunting rhythm is the precise, unnerving work of Leo Award–winning editor Justin Li. In this session, Li takes us through his editorial process, sharing some of his favorite moments from the film and unpacking how he shaped the scares for Heretic.
Featured Speaker: Justin Li, Editor
Close Quarters with the Zürcher Brothers
Whether it’s families or siblings, Ramon and Silvan Zürcher have mastered the art of intimate, closed-quarter cinema — blending emotional precision with moments of refined absurdity. From their striking debut The Strange Little Cat to The Girl and the Spider and The Sparrow in the Chimney, the Zürcher Brothers have redefined the cinematic chamber piece with a style that’s both poetic and unpredictable. Join them for a conversation on their writing and directing process.
Featured Speakers: Ramon & Silvan Zürcher, Director & Writer
Moderator: Chelsea Birks
Supported by
Framing The Smashing Machine
Shot in hyperrealistic 16mm, The Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie, offers an unflinching, intimate portrait of an MMA legend. Rooted in the raw honesty and visceral texture of Maceo Bishop’s strikingly gritty, documentary-style aesthetic, this session with Bishop pulls back the curtain on the creative process behind one of the year’s most hotly anticipated biopics.
Featured Speaker: Maceo Bishop, Cinematographer
The Recipe for a Chef's Table
Ten years ago, Chef’s Table transformed the way we experience food on screen. With its cinematic visuals and deeply human storytelling, the groundbreaking docuseries elevated culinary documentaries into an art form and ignited a global conversation around food, culture, and creativity. Join acclaimed showrunner and director Brian McGinn for an intimate look at the storytelling ingredients of one of Netflix’s longest-running series.
Featured Speaker: Brian McGinn, Director & Showrunner
Moderator: Jesse Einstein
Woven Identities
From The Materialists and Past Lives to The Curse and Bodies Bodies Bodies, Katina Danabassis has emerged as the go-to costume designer for A24’s distinct brand of zeitgeist-defining storytelling. Her work is marked by a rare ability to create understated wardrobes that feel effortlessly lived-in, seamlessly weaving style, character and story. Danabassis joins us for an in-depth conversation about collaborating with directors such as Celine Song in crafting visual identities through silhouette, texture, and fit.
Featured Speaker: Katina Danabassis, Costume Designer
Moderator: Sophie Jarvis
Featured Guests
Brian McGinn
Director & Showrunner
Brian McGinn is a director, writer, and producer based in Los Angeles. He co-created the Emmy-nominated Netflix series Chef’s Table, where he has served as director, executive producer, and showrunner. His work also includes the feature documentary Amanda Knox (TIFF 2016), Street Food, and Trial by Media. He has produced projects for Marvel, Pixar, LucasFilm, and FX’s The Bear through his company Supper Club.
Justin Li
Editor
Justin Li is a Vancouver-based film and television editor known for his collaborative spirit and genre fluency. He brings a precise, story-first approach to shaping narratives across drama, thriller, comedy, and horror. His work on high-profile productions — including Heretic (2024), Under the Bridge (2024), and Apple TV+’s Silo (2025) — has earned industry recognition for its clarity, rhythm, and emotional impact. Justin believes deeply in the power of editing to reveal “the why of what we are,” with a belief that great art comes from unifying the work of many into a singular, human-centered vision. Whether shaping narrative tension or balancing performance and pacing, his editorial voice is both precise and purpose-driven, helping elevate story and character with every frame.
Katina Danabassis
Costume Designer
Katina Danabassis is a Canadian-born costume designer known for her work with A24 and her “radical realism” approach to authentic, character-driven wardrobes. She first gained notice for her work on C’mon C’mon and Bodies Bodies Bodies, which established her as a distinctive voice in contemporary costume design. She has since collaborated with directors including Celine Song on Past Lives, with additional credits such as The Materialists and The Curse.
Maceo Bishop
Cinematographer
Maceo Bishop is an American cinematographer. Winner of the BSC Operator of the Year Award for Uncut Gems and winner of an Emmy in 2021 for his work on Hamilton (Disney+). Recent work includes The Smashing Machine — Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt (A24, Release Oct. 3, 2025); The Curse — Emma Stone, Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie (A24, 2023). Recent projects include a film with director Philippe Parreno starring Charlotte Gainsbourg, Vicky Krieps and Zoe Saldana.
Ramon Zürcher
Director & Writer
Born in 1982, Swiss screenwriter and director Ramon Zürcher studied visual arts at the Bern Academy of the Arts and film directing at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin. His debut feature, The Strange Little Cat premiered at Berlinale Forum in 2013 and was selected at over 80 festivals. In 2021, his second film, The Girl and the Spider, also premiered at Berlinale where it was awarded Best Director and the FIPRESCI prize in the Encounters section. The Sparrow in the Chimney is his third feature.
Silvan Zürcher
Director & Writer
Silvan Zürcher was born in 1982. From 2002 to 2008 he studied philosophy, film studies and German studies at the Universities of Bern and Zurich. Simultaneously, he worked as a projectionist at a cinema in Bern. From 2009 to 2014 he studied film production at the German Film and TV Academy Berlin (DFFB). During his degree, he produced a series of short and medium-length films. On the side, he works as a director’s assistant and develops his own material for fiction films. In 2013 he completed his degree with his first feature-length fiction film The Strange Little Cat, which went on to receive several awards.