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The Painted Life of E.J. Hughes film image; man painting by a river

The Painted Life of E.J. Hughes

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World Premiere

Since his death in 2007, the renown of Canadian painter E.J. Hughes has only continued to grow. For decades, his extraordinary works highlighting the landscapes of British Columbia have captivated the public, but his personal life is less well known. A solitary man dedicated to his art, Hughes led a fascinating life, struggling to make ends meet until a discovery of his work led to its acclaim. Having attempted to work as a fisherman during the Depression, he became a war artist during the Second World War and never gave up his passion for painting, even when devotedly caring for his ailing wife.

Drawing from recorded tape interviews and painstaking work from biographer Robert Amos, director Jenn Strom focuses her documentary on Hughes’s personal story while integrating critical receptions to his artwork. Through absorbing explorations into Canadian history and a look at Hughes’s legacy not only as an artist but as a person, a beautiful portrait emerges of a gentle soul who helped to reshape the artistic landscape of British Columbia.

 


The October 11 screening is a Relaxed Screening. Relaxed Screenings are open to anyone who could benefit from a more casual, supportive and laid-back experience. Learn More

 


 

Oct 5, 7 & 8: Q&A

 

Presented by

Supported by

Knowledge Network logo

Media Partner

Community Partner

     

Director
Featuring

E.J. Hughes, Robert Amos, Ian Thom, Charlie Hill

Credits
Country of Origin

Canada

Year

2025

Language

English

Film Contact
Content Warning

Nudity

G

Open to youth

82 min
Art, Music & Photography BC Spotlight Documentary

Book Tickets

Tuesday October 07

3:15 pm
Guests/Q&As Hearing Assistance U18 May Attend
Granville Island Stage
Book now Limited availability

Wednesday October 08

10:30 am
Guests/Q&As Hearing Assistance U18 May Attend
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema
Book now Limited availability

Saturday October 11

3:00 pm
Hearing Assistance Relaxed Screening U18 May Attend
VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre
Sold Out

Credits & Director

Executive Producer

Kevin Eastwood, Patrice Ramsay

Producer

Kevin Eastwood, Jenn Strom

Screenwriter

Jenn Strom

Cinematography

Vince Arvidson, Chad Galloway, Emily Robertson, Milena Salazar, Naim Sutherland, Laurel K. Brown

Editor

Jenn Strom

Original Music

Mark Lazeski

Jenn Strom headshot

Jenn Strom

Jenn Strom is a filmmaker, editor, and animator based in Vancouver. Her previous credits as director include the hand-painted NFB animation Assembly (2012), A Golden Voice (2020; co-directed with Patrick Shannon), and the Nick Bantock artist-profile featured in the Gemini Award–nominated series 12 Takes (2010). Her feature editing credits include back home (VIFF, 2022), Stuffed (SXSW and VIFF, 2019), and the musical NFB documentary The Road Forward (2017), which won the Leo Award for Best Editing.

Filmography: Nick Bantock (2010); Assembly (2012); Bill Reid: A Golden Voice (2020)

 

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