Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) is back for its 36th year of bringing people together to celebrate all things cinema. From September 28th to October 13th VIFF will screen over 300 films from across Canada and around the world, right here in the heart of Vancouver!
Cinephiles and first-time festival-goers alike will find something to enjoy; from works that span drama, documentary and alternative forms of cinema, to live music and VR, VIFF is a multifaceted festival that explores creativity in many forms.
With so many exciting events on offer, it’s hard to believe they fit it all into 16 days! So in order to get you VIFF-ready we’ve put together a list of 14 must-see festival films:
Meditation Park
Directed by Mina Shum
Starring Sandra Oh, Liane Balaban & Tzi Ma
VIFF Sea To Sky Program Stream
Premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival
Meditation Park will kick off the festival as the Opening Gala film on September 28.
https://www.viff.org/Online/article/f24176-meditation-park
Shut Up and Say Something
Directed by Melanie Wood
VIFF Sea To Sky Program Stream
Shut Up and Say Something is also screening at the BC Spotlight Awards Gala on October 7 and is featured in the #mustseeBC filmmaker showcase.
https://www.viff.org/Online/article/f25861-shut-up-and-say-something
The Green Fog
Directed by Guy Maddin, with live score performed by the Kronos Quartet
Premiered at the 2017 San Francisco Film Festival
VIFF M/A/D/ Program Stream
A multi-experiential reimagining of Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo by the iconic Guy Maddin will screen as a special presentation on October 10 with live accompaniment by the world-renowned Kronos Quartet.
https://viff.org/Online/f25668-the-green-fog
Okja
Directed by Bong Joon Ho
Starring Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano & Seo-Hyun Ahn
VIFF Gateway Program Stream
Nominated for the Palme d’Or Award at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.
https://www.viff.org/Online/article/f23392-okja
The Queen of Spain
Directed by Academy Award Winner Fernando Trueba
Starring Penelope Cruz, Cary Elwes & Mandy Patinkin
VIFF Panorama Program Stream
The Queen of Spain premiered at the 2017 Berlin Film Festival.
https://www.viff.org/Online/article/f23662-the-queen-of-spain
Happy End
Directed by Michael Haneke
Starring Isabelle Huppert, Jean-Louis Trintignant & Mathieu Kassovitz
VIFF Panorama Program Stream
Happy End premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the Pale d’Or Award.
https://www.viff.org/Online/article/f21796-happy-end
The Square
Directed by Ruben Ostlund
Starring Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss & Dominic West
VIFF Panorama Program Stream
The Square won the Palm d’Or Award and the Vulcain Prize for Technical Artist at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.
https://www.viff.org/Online/article/f23572-the-square
Killing of a Sacred Deer
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
Starring Alicia Silverstone, Nicole Kidman & Colin Farrell
VIFF Panorama Program Stream
Killing of a Sacred Deer tied for Best Screenplay at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.
https://www.viff.org/Online/article/f23721-the-killing-of-a-sacred-deer
Loving Vincent
Directed by Dorota Kobiela & Hugh Welchman
Starring Saoirse Ronan, Jerome Flynn & Aidan Turner
VIFF Panorama Program Stream
Premiered at & Won the Audience Award at the 2017 Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France.
https://www.viff.org/Online/article/f26185-loving-vincent
Borg Vs. McEnroe
Directed by Janus Metz Pedersen
Starring Shia Labeouf, Stellan Skarsgard & Sverrir Gudnason
VIFF Panorama Program Stream
Will be premiering at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival as their Opening Film.
https://www.viff.org/Online/article/f24679-borg-vs-mcenroe
Call Me by Your Name
Directed by Luca Guadagnino
Starring Armie Hammer, Timothee Chalamet & Michael Stuhlbarg
VIFF Panorama Program Stream
Premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and went on to play at the 2017 Berlin Film Festival.
https://www.viff.org/Online/article/f23416-call-me-by-your-name
Django
Directed by Etienne Comar
Starring Reda Kateb, Cecile De France & Bea Palva
VIFF Panorama Program Stream
Premiered at the 2017 Berlin Film Festival and was nominated for Best First Feature Award & Best Film.
https://www.viff.org/Online/article/f23557-django
A Fantastic Woman
Directed by Sebastien Lelio
Starring Daniela Vega, Francisco Reyes & Luis Gnecco
VIFF Panorama Program Stream
Won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury – Special Mention, Best Screenplay & Best Feature Film at the 2017 Berlin Film Festival Film Festival.
https://www.viff.org/Online/article/f23661-a-fantastic-woman
Human Flow
Directed by Ai Wei Wei
Starring Princess Dana Firas of Jordan, Boris Cheshirkov, Marin Din Kajdomcaj
VIFF Impact Program Stream
Human Flow premiered at the 2017 Venice Film Festival, was nominated for Best Film.
https://www.viff.org/Online/article/f27805-human-flow
Don’t miss the chance to see all of these sensational films at VIFF 2017! https://www.viff.org/Online/default.asp
Got something to add? Sound off @jivepr or @jiveprdigital!
Jive Contributor: Maya Sarin, @mayasarin
