Skip to main content
Blaze film image, director Del Kathryn Barton

Blaze

This event has passed

In the wake of witnessing a brutal assault, 12-year-old Blaze (Julia Savage) takes shelter in an imaginary world. Inspired by the posters and trinkets in her bedroom, this glittery, candy-coloured realm is also home to Zephyr, a papier-mâché dragon who consoles and counsels Blaze as she learns to overcome her debilitating fear. As her doting single dad (Simon Baker) accepts that he’s powerless to put things right, it’s left to Zephyr to stoke Blaze’s warrior spirit, allowing her to finally roar and ensure that justice is dispensed.

Having twice scored the prestigious Archibald Prize for her psychedelic fantasy artwork, Del Kathryn Barton now unleashes a towering debut feature that fuses live action, practical puppetry, stop motion animation, and expressive visual effects to chart Blaze’s tumultuous passage into adulthood. Teeming with images that sear themselves onto the subconscious, it’s a testament to what the imagination is capable of. Likewise, it asserts that rage can be every bit as purifying as fire.

 

Media Partner

Director

Del Kathryn Barton

Cast

Julia Savage, Simon Baker, Yael Stone, Josh Lawson, Sofia Hampson

Credits
Country of Origin

Australia

Year

2022

Language

English

Film Contact
Content Warning

Graphic Violence, Sexual Violence

19+
101 min

Book Tickets

This event has passed.

Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Dir. Nick Park & Merlin Crossingham
79 min

Aardman Animation's handcrafted mix of dad jokes, slapstick, mock dramatics and understated emotion makes this return for the claymation odd couple a constant delight. The villainous Feathers McGraw is back to no good, commandeering Norbot the robot. Rated: G

VIFF Centre - Vancity Theatre VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

It's a Wonderful Life

Dir. Frank Capra
130 min

Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings. This Christmas classic is whimsical, sure, but it has the depth to stand up to multiple watches, and it really should be a communal experience, because that is what it's about. Rated: G

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

The Count of Monte Cristo

Dir. Matthieu Delaporte & Alexandre de La Patelliere
178 min

You can't beat this evergreen Alexandre Dumas tale for adventure, intrigue and romance. This lavish French blockbuster from the writers of the recent Three Musketeers movies pulls you in from the first scene and doesn't let off for the next three hours. Rated: PG

VIFF Centre - Vancity Theatre

Flow

Dir. Gints Zilbalodis
84 min

In this wordless and gorgeously atmospheric animated feature, a solitary black cat survives a tsunami and must confront his fear of water whilst sailing through a flooded world with a group of misfit animals. An enchanting adventure film for all ages. Rated: G

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre VIFF Centre - Vancity Theatre

The Holdovers

Dir. Alexander Payne
133 min

Destined to become a seasonal staple, this bittersweet comedy reunites Sideways director and star Alexander Payne and Paul Giamatti in the portrait of a surly classics teacher forced to babysit five "orphans" at boarding school over the holidays.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

Who by Fire

Dir. Philippe Lesage
162 min

Jeff, a 17-year-old aspiring filmmaker, goes on vacation with his friend Max and his family to an isolated lodge. Philippe Lesage’s film is a tense, mesmerizing tour de force that is both agonizing and cathartic. A Berlinale award winner.

VIFF Centre - Vancity Theatre

Credits

Executive Producer

Kristina Ceyton, Deanne Weir, Daniel Bessen, Chris Plater, Boris Tosic, Simon Baker, Josh Pomeranz, Jonathan Page, Samantha Meers, Luke Tosic

Producer

Samantha Jennings

Screenwriter

Del Kathryn Barton, Huna Amweero

Cinematography

Jeremy Rouse

Editor

Dany Cooper

Production Design

Alex Holmes

Original Music

Sam Petty, Angel Olsen