What's On
Geographies of Solitude
Jacquelyn Mills immerses us in the natural wonders of Nova Scotia's stunning and remote Sable Island, home to wild horses, sparrows, invertebrates, and a devoted researcher. Winner of multiple awards at the Berlinale and Hot Docs.
The Word
In 1968 Czechoslovakia, a small-town notary refuses to join the Communist Party. Inspired by director Beata Parkanová's own grandparents, The Word depicts the intimate lives of Václav and Věra and their bond in the face of political intimidation.
A Piece of Sky
In a remote alpine village, Anna, a young mother, falls in love with Marco, a strong and silent farmhand. After they get married, Marco’s behaviour grows erratic, leading up to a transgression that threatens to tear their family apart.
International Shorts: Family Ties
The bonds of family form the basis of this program of short films. Bonds with history and responsibility—sometimes close, sometimes strained—now and for the future.
VIFF Short Forum: Program 1
What kind of alchemy occurs to transform hardship into fortune? Here, the extraordinary burn brightly.
Rebellion
This candid observational documentary gives us the inside story on the rise of Extinction Rebellion, the environmental protest movement which injected new urgency into climate activism. An empowering testament to the inspiring impact of direct action.
Carajita
In the Dominican Republic, Yarisa works as a maid and a nanny for a wealthy, powerful family. When she suffers a personal tragedy, she must re-evaluate the last two decades of her life and her relationship with the family to whom she has given so much.
Utama
High in the Bolivian Andes, a llama farmer confronts his own mortality and the impending demise of an ancient way of life in this visually expressive, strikingly authentic Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner.
International Shorts: Morality Plays
Morals are being challenged on many fronts. The protagonists in this program of short films are all faced with difficult moral choices and they don’t always make the right decisions.
The Klabona Keepers
The Klabona Keepers is a fierce account of the Tahltan Nation's struggle to protect the Klabona Sacred Headwaters from commercial mining. Interspersing verité cinematography with interviews, the film documents the tactics used by the land defenders.
A Fire Inside
During Australia's apocalyptic bushfires in 2019-2020, volunteer firefighters put their lives on the line to save their communities. A clarion call about climate change and an ode to the camaraderie of strangers standing together in the midst of a crisis.
