Moving through often uncharted (subaltern) territory, these works and their subjects carry the remnants of emotional and physical labour on their shoulders, both literally and figuratively.
This short film program includes the following films:
Samba Infinito
Leonardo Martinelli, Brazil/France (16 min)
Amid the revelry of Rio’s Carnival, a wandering boy chances upon a weary street sweeper whose long-repressed grief derails his humble obligations.
Force Times Displacement
Angel WU, Taiwan (12 min)
Along the endless arch of incessant work, workers ache for change.
L’mina
Randa Maroufi, Morocco/France/Italy/Qatar (26 min)
Although the practice of coal extraction was halted in 2001, a treacherous mine in Jerada, Morocco remains informally active and is manned by the town’s residents, who collaboratively act out a performance of their labour.
BOA
Alexandre Dostie, Canada/France (25 min)
When tragedy strikes the church, young Leonidas careens toward a brotherhood of an entirely different order, shedding the old ways to become something more intentional.
+10K
Gala Hernández López, Spain/France (32 min)
Pol lives in Miami with his grandmother, endlessly pursuing personal growth schemes and online coaching seminars to master Crypto investing. He is becoming the best version of himself, but he’s not sure when his labours will bear fruit.
Community Partner
Various
Various
2024 & 2025
Various
Book Tickets
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Another World
This hit anime from Hong Kong gives us an unpredictable, sometimes darkly karmic tale taking place on either side of the afterlife involving a headstrong princess with bad karma and the spirit guide who tries to help her get on a better path.
Alipato At Muog (Flying Embers & A Fortress)
Burgos' impassioned documentary about the military abduction of his brother Jonas, an activist and organizer, and the subsequent cover-up, recently became only the second doc to win the Filipino Academy Award for Best Film.
Mistura
This foodie film from Peru tells the story of a newly single socialite reinventing herself — and the local cuisine — after her husband has left her for a younger woman. Along the way, she finds support from unexpected places...
GoodFellas
The ultimate crash and burn movie, Scorsese's exhilarating gangster film is infused with the excitement of fast cash, girls, guns and drugs. Yet this brazenly amoral movie also captures the brutality, betrayal, and spiritual void of the criminal world.
