Celebrate Canadian and Indigenous Storytelling
VIFF is proud to champion and showcase Canadian and Indigenous filmmaking. The VIFF Centre is a vital hub for this storytelling, presenting over 60 Canadian features in 2024 alone. Today, this commitment is more important than ever. Only Canadian filmmakers illuminate the values, experiences, and stories that define the special character of this place we proudly call home.|
Canadian Film Week spotlights 18 features, including six Vancouver premieres, and four brand new films from BC filmmakers, most of whom will join after the shows for Q&As. The lineup also features returning classics, new favourites, and free screenings on National Canadian Film Day.
The week kicks off with Darrell Dennis’ Sweet Summer Pow Wow, a charming love story about two young people who meet on BC’s Pow Wow circuit. Veteran non-fiction filmmakers Nova Ami and Velcrow Ripper will present Incandescence, a mesmerizing cinematic contemplation of the power of wildfires. Carl Bessai brings his plaintive mid-life crisis film Field Sketches starring Vincent Gale. And Down River director Ben Immanuel returns with Are We Done Now? a wry, self-aware Covid comedy set in a sparsely populated Vancouver.
National Canadian Film Day, April 16 | Free Screenings
Velcrow Ripper and Cari Green join VIFF for the 20th anniversary screening of their non-fiction film ScaredSacred, a special tribute screening to producer Tracey Friesen. And director Sandy Wilson will introduce her coming of age classic My American Cousin, which marks its 40th anniversary this year.
Vancouver Premieres of New Films
Sweet Summer Pow Wow April 11 – Filmmaker Q&A with director Darrell Dennis
Incandescence April 11 – Filmmaker Q&A with directors Nova Ami & Velcrow Ripper
Field Sketches April 11 and 14 – Filmmaker Q&A with director Carl Bessai
Are We Done Now? April 12 and 13 – Filmmaker Q&A with director Ben Immanuel
Also Screening
The Decline of the American Empire
Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story
National Canadian Film Day, April 16 – Free Screenings
ScaredSacred A Tribute to Tracey Friesen
April 16 – Velcrow Ripper and other special guests in attendance
My American Cousin April 16 – Filmmaker Q&A with director Sandy Wilson
All films are being shown at VIFF Centre, 1181 Seymour Street
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