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
Media Partner
Community Partner
E.J. Hughes, Robert Amos, Ian Thom, Charlie Hill
Canada
2025
English
Nudity
Open to youth
Book Tickets
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
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)
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Vivaldi and Me
Venice, 1716. Composer Antonio Vivaldi teaches at an orphanage for abandoned girls, and establishes a deep rapport with violinist Cecelia — but their collaboration is threatened by her impending arranged marriage.
Ghost in the Shell
This seminal anime which inspired James Cameron and the Wachowskis, anticipates how AI technology encroaches on the human domain in ways we can scarcely comprehend. "A work of profound and melancholic beauty." Daily Telegraph
