There is high drama a plenty in this program of short films where uncommon scenarios turn into transformative life and death experiences.
October 4 & 6: Q&A with the film teams
This short film program includes the following films:
Cuarto de Hora
Nemo Arancibia, Chile/France (15 min)
A woman passing by a serious car accident becomes a French translator for a young Haitian man as he is taken by ambulance to a hospital.
Confessions
Stephanie Kaznocha, USA (12 min)
After the death of a friend two elderly nuns contemplate what the future holds, prompting them to embark on a journey of self discovery.
Fairplay
Zoel Aeschbacher, Switzerland/France (18 min)
Three males from different generations engage in dangerous, competitive and high risk situations in search of recognition.
Big Bang
Carlos Segundo, Brazil (14 min)
In Uberlandia, Brazil, a dwarf earns his living fixing ovens, which he easily fits into thanks to his small size.
A Lien
Sam Cutler-Kreutz, David Cutler-Kreutz, USA (15 min)
On the day of their green card interview a young couple confronts a twisted and dangerous immigration process.
Solo un Ensayo
Hugo Sanz, Spain (9 min)
Two sisters are hiding inside a wardrobe in an empty room, the younger one thinks it’s a game but it soon becomes apparent that a serious threat has appeared outside.
Jeong-Dong
Choi Woo Gene, South Korea (24 min)
On returning to Seoul a man moves into a cheap rental floor of a big house, but soon he starts to have strange experiences so his friends come to help investigate.
Community Partner
Various
Various
2022-2023
International Shorts
Various with English subtitles
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Sirât
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.
The Choral
Yorkshire, 1916. Dr Henry Guthrie (Ralph Fiennes) is entrusted with the role of chorus master — despite his suspicious ties with Germany. As conscription papers arrive, the community is thrown into chaos, but music proves a worthy distraction.
The Painted Life of E.J. Hughes
A beautiful portrait of E.J. Hughes, who quietly helped reshape the artistic landscape of British Columbia in the 20th century. This extraordinary documentary explores Hughes’s legacy not only as an artist, but as a devoted, humble human being.
2026 Oscar® Shorts (Documentary)
Don't come to the program of Oscar®-nominated documentary shorts for escapism. But let's talk about the Canadian contender, Perfectly a Strangeness, featuring an abandoned observatory and three donkeys. More of this, please.