Skip to main content
The Death of James film image; cartoon of one boy holding a sick ferret while another boy talks to him

The Death of James

VIFF Short Forum

World Premiere

Two friends grapple with mortality as they are confronted with a dying pet ferret.

 

Supported by

    

Media Partner

Community Partner

Director
Cast

Isaiah Lehtinen, Kyle Bailey, Amanda Brugel

Credits
Country of Origin

Canada

Year

2023

Language

English

Film Contact
Links
18+
14 min
Animation BC Spotlight Comedy Shorts
Look Mom! Production

Credits & Director

Executive Producer

Josh Bowen, Iouri Stepanov, Artem Vasilyev

Producer

Courtney Wolfson

Screenwriter

Ellery Vandooyeweert

ANIM

Marina Patrakeeva

Production Design

Kristoffer Mikkelsen

Sam Chou headshot; The Death of James director

Sam Chou

Sam Chou, a prominent series creator and animation filmmaker from Toronto, first gained acclaim with Crime: The Animated Series (2014) which won Best Series for Adults at the Ottawa International Animation Festival. His collaboration with Mattel led to First Snowfall, showcased at the 2017 Fantasia International Film Festival. VRDLK: Family of Vurdulak (2023) received multiple awards, and he was honored with the Kaj Pindal Award. His latest film, In the Heat (2023), premiered at Annecy and was featured at the Savannah Film Festival.

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

Frankenstein

Dir. Guillermo del Toro
149 min

Frankenstein and Guillermo del Toro might have been made for each other. The movie does not disappoint, a ripping yarn of grand adventure, spectacle, hubris, passion and XXL body parts, a tale of the fantastic that rings the imagination. Screening in 35mm.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

Checkpoint Zoo

Dir. Joshua Zeman
107 min

The amazing true story of the rescue of thousands of animals trapped on the frontline at an Ecopark when Russia invades Ukraine in 2022.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

An Taibhse (The Ghost)

Dir. John Farrelly
92 min

A winter caretaker and his troubled teenage daughter take up residence in a remote country mansion in this harrowing mid-19th century Irish makeover of The Shining.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre
More info

Sold Out

Oddity

Dir. Damian McCarthy
98 min

The aptly-titled Oddity is a fiendish and disturbing horror movie about a blind seer, her murdered twin, and the psychiatrist widower's new girlfriend...

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre
More info

Sold Out

Predators

Dir. David Osit
96 min

"Punk'd for pedophiles." That's what Jimmy Kimmel called Chris Hansen's true crime/reality TV show, To Catch a Predator (2004-07). Two decades on, David Osit examines why the show made such an impact, for good or ill, and sits down with Hansen himself.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

The Outcasts

Dir. Robert Wynne-Simmons
95 min

One of earliest examples of "folk horror", The Outcasts (1982) draws on Irish mythology and folktales to eerie effect. Simple Maura is rumoured to have spent the night with the mythical fiddler Scarf Michael, with dire consequences for all... Screening followed by a panel discussion on Irish horror.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema