VANCOUVER, BC (AUGUST 8, 2024) The 43rd Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) announces five selections for the Special Presentations and Showcase sections, and the complete VIFF Live program, curated by Indigenous scholar and media maker Jarrett Martineau. General festival passes, ticket packs, and VIFF Live tickets are on sale to the public August 9th.
The festival’s Special Presentations and Showcase sections feature the year’s most highly anticipated films and titles that will resonate with Vancouver audiences. The first titles revealed for this year’s edition feature several standouts from the prestigious Berlinale and Cannes festivals: All We Imagine as Light (dir. Payal Kapadia, France/India/Netherlands/Luxembourg), Caught by the Tides (dir. Jia Zhangke, China), Dahomey (dir. Mati Diop, France/Senegal/Benin), Flow (dir. Gints Zilbalodis, Latvia/France/Belgium), and My Favourite Cake (dirs. Maryam Moghaddam, Behtash Sanaeeha, Iran/France/Sweden/Germany).
“As we put the finishing touches on the lineup behind the scenes, we’re excited to unveil five official selections,” says Curtis Woloschuk, Director of Programming. “While we’ll be announcing dozens of premieres later this month, we take this opportunity to announce a complement of films that have garnered acclaim with their premieres in Berlin and Cannes. Running the gamut from gripping social realist drama to evocative animation, each of these films offers an enthralling cinematic experience as they investigate colonialism, climate crisis, and other contemporary issues while championing love, friendship, and independence.”
VIFF Live is a series of performances that push the boundaries of traditional film festival programming by intersecting cinema culture with music and storytelling in unique live shows.
This year’s program features a two-part performance by the legendary filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin and once-in-a-generation talent Jeremy Dutcher; JUNO Award-winner Elisapie in her most personal concert yet that incorporates film shot by Émilie Monnet; Japanese singer-songwriter Eiko Ishibashi reframing visual storytelling by performing live to a silent film by Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car); and avant-garde composer William Basinski manipulating analog technology in a longstanding creative partnership with filmmaker James Elaine.
“I’m excited to present artists that work at the outer edges of sound and image,” says VIFF Live Curator Jarrett Martineau. “Each artist experiments with form by exploring the deep relationships between memory, time, history, and presence in their storytelling. This year’s program also features an intergenerational spectrum of voices, from emerging names to renowned icons in the film industry. In their own way, all the artists respond to questions around collaboration, archives, and what we carry forward from the past.”
Registration for the Artist & Industry Pass is now open. This year, VIFF has made it even easier for all film and television industry professionals to take part. The Artist & Industry Pass grants access to Industry-focused programming, VIFF Amp Music in Media Summit panels and keynotes, the Signals Digital Expo (an exhibition showcasing the intersection of art and creative technology), Swapcard, VIFF’s Industry networking and scheduling app, and nightly hospitality and networking opportunities at VIFF’s Hospitality House.
The Artist & Industry Premium Pass takes the festival experience to the next level with access to over 300+ screenings, including Special Presentations, as well as the opportunity to attend VIFF Talks. This pass is available at an early bird price through Aug. 29.
The remainder of the programming for VIFF’s 43rd edition will be announced Wednesday, Aug. 28. VIFF+ Members will have access to advance single ticket sales from Aug. 28 at 12pm. General sales to the public will begin on Aug. 29 at 12pm.
https://viff.org/buy-now/
Festival Passes and Information
Festival Pass $425
Platinum Pass $1,200
Artist & Industry Pass $175
Artist & Industry Premium Pass (Early Bird, through Aug. 29) $350
Artist & Industry Premium Pass $425
VIFF Live & Chan EXP: Elipsapie – Uvattini $16–$60
VIFF Live & Chan EXP: Jeremy Dutcher & Alanis Obomsawin $16–$60
VIFF Live: GIFT: A Film by Ryusuke Hamaguchi X Live Score by Eiko Ishibashi $40
VIFF Live: William Basinski: Arcadia Archives $40
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The movie connected to Germany is: My Favourite Cake with directors Maryam Moghaddam, Behtash Sanaeeha (Iran/France/Sweden/Germany): Mahin lives alone in Tehran since her husband’s death and her daughter’s departure for Europe, until an afternoon tea with friends leads her to break her solitary routine and revitalize her love life. But as Mahin opens herself up to new romance, what begins as an unexpected encounter quickly evolves into an unpredictable, unforgettable evening.
About VIFF | viff.org
Beyond film exhibitions, VIFF strives to engage and empower communities, encourage dialogue and
champion local artists. With decades of experience and an unwavering commitment to creating
exceptional programs, VIFF has transformed into a highly esteemed annual festival and a premier
arthouse cinema.
Founded in 1982, the Greater Vancouver International Film Festival Society is a not-for-profit cultural
society and federally registered charitable organization that operates the internationally acclaimed
Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) and the year-round programming at the VIFF Centre. All
year, VIFF produces screenings, talks, conferences and events that act as a catalyst for the community
to discover the creativity and craft of storytelling on screen.
VIFF is presented on the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam),
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil‑Waututh) Nations.
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