Shorts from: Canada, China, UK.
Oct 3 & 4: Q&A
This short film program includes the following films:
Le Tour De Canada
John Hollands, Canada (6 min)
Rivals go head to head in a cross-country cycling race.
Weekend One
Mykea Fairweather Perry, UK (15 min)
After his divorce, a father’s first weekend with his sons proves challenging.
No Matter the Weather
Florence Lafond, Canada (15)
Lafond documents her relationship with her grandmother Renée, who is recovering from a broken ankle.
Paradaïz
Matea Radic, Canada (10 min)
Through absurdist animation and archival images, a young woman visits her slippery and surreal homeland.
A Soft Touch
Heather Young, Canada (20 min)
After a friend stops replying to her messages, 81-year-old Ellen must find a way to recover the money she loaned them.
No One Knows I Disappeared
Hanxiong Bo, China (17 min)
Systemic issues of state surveillance and migrant labour exploitation collide when the sudden disappearance of an elderly woman sends her caregiver, Lin, on a relentless search.
Winkie
Daniel Duranleau, Canada (24 min)
Upon discovering a young orphaned girl, a caring monster decides to raise the child as his own.
Supported by
Community Partner
Various
Various
2024 & 2025
Various
Racist language
Book Tickets
Missing VIFF? Check Out What's Playing at the VIFF Centre
The 39 Steps
In our new film studies series, FRAMEWORK, film scholar Michael van den Bos explores the work of Alfred Hitchcock, across four monochrome masterworks. This week: The 39 Steps (1935), a witty and fast-moving spy thriller from Hitchcock's English period.
American Doctor
One of the most powerful documentaries of the year, this puts us smack in the open wound that is Gaza, filtered through the eyes of three American surgeons (of Palestinian, Jewish and Zoroastrian backgrounds) compelled to do their utmost to alleviate harm.
La Bola Negra
A big, old-school historical melodrama gets a thrillingly modern, queer makeover from Spanish duo Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, who artfully juggle three gay protagonists across stories set in 1932, 1937, and 2017. Winner: Best Director, Cannes. Screening on 35mm.
The History of Concrete
After attending a workshop on pitching saccharine Hallmark movies, John Wilson tries to apply all the same best practices to his documentary about concrete. Frequently absurd and endlessly entertaining detours, asides, and digressions ensue.
The Great McGinty
Preston Sturges' first film as writer-director is an omnivorous satire on endemic political corruption, the tale of a tramp who gets his entry into politics by casting 37 votes for mayor at $2 a pop. Eventually he'll be on the ticket himself...
To Be Or Not To Be
Strange but true: one of the greatest comedies of Hollywood's golden era was inspired by Hitler's annexation of Poland in 1938. Jack Benny is the renowned theatre actor whose performance of Hamlet is interrupted by the Germans.