In the late 1990s, eight-year-old Sasha (Eyul Guven) and her Hungarian immigrant family relocate to a new home on Vancouver Island. As they settle in, the younger siblings are equally enchanted with the surrounding nature and the rudimentary paint programs on their father’s PC. But Jeremy (Edik Beddoes), the oldest child, grows increasingly withdrawn as he busies himself hand-drawing elaborate maps of fantasy realms. As his erratic behaviour escalates, his family are gripped by a sense of powerlessness.
Having amassed an extensive filmography of internationally celebrated shorts, Sophy Romvari helms a staggeringly assured debut feature that’s richly detailed, sophisticatedly designed, and deeply felt. Kurt Walker’s adroit editing instils an enthralling rhythm and allows for seamless temporal shifts in which we’re introduced to an adult Sasha (Amy Zimmer). Meanwhile, the shots composed by Romvari and cinematographer Maya Bankovic are nothing short of exquisite. But more than its captivating imagery, it’s Blue Heron’s haunting heartache that ensures that it’s an indelible viewing experience.
Swatch First Feature Award, Locarno 2025; Best Canadian Discovery, Toronto 2025
Oct 4 & 5: Q&A
Presented by
Media Partner
Eylul Guven, Iringó Réti, Ádám Tompa, Edik Beddoes, Liam Serg, Preston Drabble
Canada/Hungary
2025
In English and Hungarian with English subtitles
Coarse language
Open to youth at The Cinematheque
At Fifth Avenue
Book Tickets
Credits & Director
Executive Producer
Riel Roch-Decter, Lauren Melinda, Neil Champagne, Veronica Diaferia, Sara Eolin, Jasmin Karibzhanova, Sam Sutcliffe
Producer
Ryan Bobkin, Sara Wylie, Sophy Romvari, Gábor Osváth
Screenwriter
Sophy Romvari
Cinematography
Maya Bankovic
Editor
Kurt Walker
Production Design
Victoria Furuya
Sophy Romvari
Sophy Romvari is a Canadian-Hungarian filmmaker based in Toronto. Her acclaimed short films have screened at TIFF, Hot Docs, Sheffield, and True/False, earning her recognition as a rising talent. In 2020, she completed her Master’s at York University, where her thesis film Still Processing premiered at TIFF and was later featured on the Criterion Channel. She has directed for CBC and Kino Lorber. Her latest short is available on The New Yorker and MUBI. Blue Heron is her feature debut.
Filmography: Pumpkin Movie (2018); Still Processing (2020); It’s What Each Person Needs (2022)
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
The Voice of Hind Rajab
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
The Chronology of Water
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.
Montreal, ma belle
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.
Spring After Spring
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.