World Premiere
Harvey (Benjamin Turnbull) is a middle-aged, overweight biologist. He lives a lonely life, often feeling invisible on his daily commute and starving for interaction. He spends his time photographing plants and visiting his comatose father in the hospital. While browsing an adult bookshop, he unearths a gay magazine called Cherub, “For big men and their admirers.” Curious and nervous, he submits a photo to the magazine’s Cherub of the Month contest.
Produced as his M.F.A. thesis at York University, Devin Shears’ debut feature (his previous film Grown in Darkness screened at the 2022 VIFF Short Forum) is a gentle, warmhearted character study featuring a deeply human performance from Turnbull. Harvey flourishes before our eyes as he overcomes the fear of being humiliated and experiences the highs and lows of feeling seen. Featuring richly textured cinematography, a shimmering score, and completely dialogue-free, Cherub is an ambient charmer that heralds the arrival of a bright, young talent in Shears.
Oct 3 & 4: Q&A with director Devin Shears and actor Benjamin Turnbull
Presented by
Media Partner
Benjamin Turnbull
Canada
2024
No Dialogue
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
Credits & Director
Producer
Mithila Majithia, Devin Shears
Screenwriter
Devin Shears
Cinematography
Nick Tiringer
Editor
Devin Shears
Production Design
Annette Wanjiku Wanjiru
Original Music
Anastasia Westcott
Devin Shears
Devin Shears is a filmmaker from St. John’s, Newfoundland, currently living in Toronto. His past work has played at VIFF, Atlantic Film Festival, and Antimatter, among others. Cherub is his first feature film, made as part of his MFA thesis at York University.
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
The Richest Woman in the World
Isabelle Huppert plays cosmetics CEO Marianne in this teasingly ambivalent satire inspired by the Bettancourt Affair, when L'Oreal heir Francoise Bettancourt scandalized France by frittering away her fortune on a notorious celebrity photographer.
The Python Hunt
Strange but true: the Florida Everglades are overrun with unwanted visitors. Not tourists, but invasive Burmese pythons decimating the local critters. The state's solution: an annual contest: $10 000 to whomever bags the most snakes in ten days.
Departures
Two lads meet at an airport gate and begin monthly trips to Amsterdam together. Their chemistry is off the charts, but it's Jake who's calls the shots while Benji is the one who's emotionally invested. Comparisons to Pillion and Trainspotting are on mark.