A kaleidoscope of ground-breaking artists, great performances, and cultural icons
Portraits? VIFF 2026’s feature docs on the arts. The precocious vivacity of a children’s music school in the Dominican Republic. A delightful insider perspective on L’Orchestre de Paris. From Farruquito: A Flamenco Dynasty and Fugs Film! to the revelatory James McNeill Whistler and Tilda Swinton’s heartfelt appreciation of pop pioneer Patrick Wolf, sensational aesthetic discoveries await. One of Cascadia’s greatest-ever photographers? Japanese-Okanogan Frank Matsura. Vitally important post-WW2 female artist you don’t know? German Rebecca Horn? Latest global opera phenomenon? Samoan Pene Pati!
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Agridulce (Bittersweet)
Four aspiring young musicians in the Dominican Republic find fulfilment in the study of bachata music. Tinged with melancholy but full of joy, Agridulce (Bittersweet) is rooted in hopefulness of a bright future through music.
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Farruquito: a Flamenco Dynasty
Legendary flamenco dancer Farruquito struggles to reconcile his past with his family legacy. Revelling in the artistry of Romani music and dance, Farruquito: A Flamenco Dynasty explores family dynamics and the pursuit of greatness.
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Fugs Film!
Originating as a group of New York beatniks, The Fugs' taboo-embracing contempt for social norms made them one of the strangest bands of the 1960s. Fugs Film! is a raucous, irreverent celebration of rebellion, poetry, and counterculture legacy.
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James McNeill Whistler
One of America’s greatest artists, James McNeill Whistler fashioned his life as a work of art in its own right. James McNeill Whistler looks beyond his famous portraits and self-styled “nocturnes” to dive into the true depths of Whistler’s legacy.
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Nous, L'orchestre De Paris
Philippe Béziat’s documentary offers an unprecedented look at the Orchestre de Paris and the camaraderie of its 120 members. A jubilant ode to the transcendence of classical music.
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Our Mr. Matsura
Part of the first wave of Japanese immigrants to the United States, Frank Matsura's photographs in Okanogan County created a regional legacy that endures a century later. Our Mr. Matsura is a joyful celebration of life revealed through photography.
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RADIOHEART: The Drive and Times of DJ Kevin Cole
Featuring a scintillating soundtrack of tunes going back to the ‘70s, RADIOHEART is a heartwarming celebration of one of the greatest radio DJs, Kevin Cole, whose musical tastes and influence are still reverberating across the world’s soundwaves.
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Rebecca Horn – the Secret Life of Things
Rebecca Horn's extraordinary biography is interwoven with her surreal oeuvre. An essential document of one of the 20th century's most influential artists, Rebecca Horn – The Secret Life of Things celebrates the unsung legacy of a pioneering visionary.
Image: © Rebecca Horn
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Tenor: My Name Is Pati
Exploring the humble origins of renowned Samoan opera singer Pene Pati, Tenor: My Name is Pati is a charming underdog story about devotion to music and pursuing your dreams.
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WOLF
Narrated by Tilda Swinton, WOLF contrasts the chaotic wilderness of musician Patrick Wolf’s early career with his current cultivation of a more contemplative life. This is a tender portrait of an artist rediscovering himself to prevail against the odds.
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