The art of monster-making has come a long way since the gothic laboratories of Mary Shelley’s imagination. While Boris Karloff’s iconic Frankenstein remains timeless, modern audiences expect creatures that aren’t just terrifying — they must appear authentically alive.
Dennis Berardi, a renowned VFX supervisor, has mastered this delicate balance of practical artistry and digital innovation. His approach draws from the same fundamental principles that made Universal’s classic monsters so enduring: compelling character design paired with believable physicality. He believes spectacular effects must always serve the narrative.
Throughout his extensive career, Berardi has pushed the boundaries of visual effects, crafting everything from fantastical beasts to seamless digital environments.Join us as he shares insights from his work, exploring how modern VFX techniques honour the legacy of practical effects while opening new storytelling possibilities. Discover the secrets to bringing monsters to life in the digital age.
Moderated by Michael Cliett, VFX Supervisor, Shōgun
Supported by
Dennis Berardi
Oct 11
6:30 pm
Annex Theatre
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
See More Talks at VIFF
A Wish Come True: The Making of Obsession with Producer Haley Johnson
Producer Haley Johnson takes us behind the making of one of the year’s most culturally impactful films, Obsession.
The Close-Up: In Conversation with Carrie Coon
Carrie Coon is a formidable stage and screen talent, acclaimed for The Leftovers, Fargo, The Gilded Age, The White Lotus, and The Nest. VIFF honours Coon with a Luminary Award, recognizing her remarkable contributions to film, television, and theatre.
Image: © Heather Hazzan
Worlds Within Worlds: Brandon Tonner-Connolly & Matt Hyland, Production Designers, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
Production designers Brandon Tonner-Connolly and Matt Hyland dive into their approach to collaboration and how they work with directors like Jane Schoenbrun on I Saw the TV Glow and Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.
Stories Behind the Music: Mark Mothersbaugh, Composer & Musician
Join legendary DEVO co-founder and composer Mark Mothersbaugh in conversation with award-winning composer and former studio executive Robert Kraft, exploring a singular career spanning Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, Thor: Ragnarok, and more.