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The Flying Sailor film image, co-directors Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby

The Flying Sailor

Based on the true events of the Halifax Explosion in 1917, a sailor soars above the blast towards the great unknown.

 

Supported by

Community Broadcast Partner

Community Partner

Directors
Credits
Country of Origin

Canada

Year

2022

Language

No Dialogue

Film Contact
Content Warning

Violence

PG
8 min

Featured in:

N'xaxaitkw film image

VIFF Short Forum: Program 6

Cinematic form is given to life’s big mysteries: luck and fate, love and loss, and the spiritual supernatural.

 

More Info

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

Tough Old Broads

Dir. Stacey Tenenbaum
90 min

Tough Old Broads is a feature documentary that follows three trailblazing women as they continue to make waves well into their 70s. Because you can't keep a good woman down.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Dir. Kaouther Ben Hania
89 min

Mixing documentary and reenactment, this film powerfully evokes the desperate attempts of the Red Crescent to rescue a six year old child trapped in a car under Israeli military fire. Oscar nominee: Best International Film

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

The Chronology of Water

Dir. Kristen Stewart
128 min

Kristen Stewart's fearless directorial debut is based on the best-selling memoir by Lidia Yuknavitch (Imogen Poots), a chronicle of her abusive childhood, traumatized adulthood, and escapes through swimming, drugs, sex, and ultimately writing.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

Montreal, ma belle

Dir. Xiaodan He
118 min

In this Valentine to discovering love later in life, the ever-elegant Joan Chen plays Feng Xia, a 53-year-old Chinese immigrant and mother in Montreal whose world is turned upside down when she meets and falls in love with a young Quebecoise.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

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

Spring After Spring

Dir. Jon Chiang
78 min

Three daughters strive to live up to the standards set by their mother Marie Mimi Ho, and keep Vancouver Chinatown's Spring Parade going through thick and thin, in this enormously affectionate local documentary by Jon Chiang.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

Credits

Executive Producer

David Christensen

Producer

David Christensen

Screenwriter

Amanda Forbis, Wendy Tilby

ANIM

Amanda Forbis, Wendy Tilby, William J Dyer

Editor

Serge Verreault

Original Music

Luigi Allemano

Directors

Amanda Forbis headshot, The Flying Sailor co-director

Amanda Forbis

Amanda Forbis studied film, video, and animation at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver. In 1995, Wendy Tilby invited her to Montreal to co-direct When the Day Breaks (1999). It received numerous honours, including the Short Film Palme d’Or at Cannes, an Academy Award nomination, and the Grand Prix at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, Zagreb World Festival of Animated Films, and the Hiroshima International Animation Festival. In 2011, they followed up with Wild Life, which was also nominated for an Academy Award.

Wendy Tilby headshot, The Flying Sailor co-director

Wendy Tilby

Wendy Tilby’s first film, Strings (1991), won many international awards, including a Genie Award and first prize at the Hiroshima International Animation Festival, in addition to being nominated for an Academy Award. Tilby then joined forces with Amanda Forbis to direct When the Day Breaks (1999). It received numerous honours, including the Short Film Palme d’Or at Cannes, an Academy Award nomination, and the Grand Prix at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, Zagreb World Festival of Animated Films, and the Hiroshima International Animation Festival. In 2011, they followed up with Wild Life, which was also nominated for an Academy Award.