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Marianne film image, director Julien Gaspar-Oliveri

Marianne

North American Premiere

A woman gets interviewed by a young journalist for her heroic act of saving children, but she’s a moody and reluctant participant. A tough and poignant drama about how people are more than their actions, and how heroes can be ordinary people who were not really thinking about the danger they faced. This is a thoroughly enticing story that keeps you on edge with a gripping, eerie, and unpredictable lead character. The sounds of the rushing river and torrential rain build the tense mood and add to the emotional impact. It’s a wonderfully different two-hander with terrific performances that show us different degrees of trauma as the film slowly reveals the act of bravery she still has difficulty talking about.

 

Community Partner

Director
Cast

Pauline Lorillard, Soumaye Bocoum, Damien Lemercier

Credits
Country of Origin

France

Year

2021

Language

In French with English subtitles

Film Contact
17 min

Featured in:

Plastic Killer film image, director Jose Pozo

International Shorts: Having a Bad Day

Misadventures, bad choices, and a series of unfortunate events are all present in this program of short films. There is some serious drama and a bit of comedy on display in these exhilarating, thoughtful, and unpredictable tales.

 

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Sirât

Dir. Óliver Laxe
115 min

A desperate father (Sergi Lopez) searchers for his missing daughter through the spiritual wasteland of the Moroccan desert. An unforgettable sensory powerhouse, Sîrat will have you riveted and rattled for hours after the end credits have rolled.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

Sun Ra: Do the Impossible

Dir. Christine Turner
84 min

Whether he was a man, a musician, or an emissary from Saturn (as he claimed), Sun Ra was one of the unique visionaries of the 20th century. Christine Turner’s documentary explores the legacy of this iconoclastic who turned his life into a work of art.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

The Love That Remains

Dir. Hlynur Pálmason
109 min

Anna and Magnús have separated, leaving her to raise their three children as he spends long stretches at sea, working as a fisherman. As the seasons pass, their emotions ebb and flow. A richly conceived story with unexpected delight and humour.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

2026 Oscar® Shorts (Live Action)

Dir. Various
119 min

This year's contenders in the Live Action category include comedies, drama, an experimental musical, and a dystopian fantasy; films from the UK and the US, France and Israel.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

All That's Left of You

Dir. Cherien Dabis
145 min

Jordan's submission for the Academy Awards, All That's Left of You makes the most of its epic format to chronicle seven decades of Palestinian history while tracking the psychological impact of cycles of exile and oppression on three generations.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

2026 Oscar® Shorts (Animated)

Dir. Various
83 min

The nominees for Best Animated Short Film include The Girl Who Cried Pearls, a fable from Canadian filmmakers Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, narrated by Colm Feore.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

Credits

Producer

Thierry Lounas, Claire Bonnefoy

Screenwriter

Julie Debiton

Cinematography

Robin Fresson

Editor

Baptiste Petit-Gats

Original Music

Maurice Marius

Director

Julien Gaspar-Oliveri headshot, Marianne director

Julien Gaspar-Oliveri

Julien Gaspar-Oliveri directed Passe with Laure Calamy and then Villeperdue, a medium-length film released in theatres in 2017. The film received the Jury and Audience awards at the Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur. His short film, L’âge tendre, was broadcast on Arte in 2020, selected by many festivals, and nominated for the 2022 César Awards for Best Short Film. Gaspar-Oliveri also teaches theatre and cinema at the Cours Florent in Paris.