VIFF Announces 40th Edition Lineup- Return To Cinema Showings & Expanded VIFF Connect Access

40th Vancouver International Film Festival October 1 – 11, 2021

VANCOUVER, BC (SEPTEMBER 8, 2021)

Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) celebrates its 40th edition with a vibrant festival program that includes more than 110 feature films, 77 shorts, and 20 events. All films will be presented in cinema, in strict compliance with provincial COVID-19 health and safety protocols, and select titles will be available for streaming across the province and Canada-wide on the festival’s online streaming platform, VIFF Connect. VIFF’s 2021 lineup showcases a kaleidoscopic collection of revelatory work, from provocative documentaries to elevated genre films. VIFF Talks take viewers behind the camera, and Totally Indie Day, VIFF AMP, and VIFF Immersed conferences support the local creative communities.

VIFF 2021 FAST FACTS 40th Vancouver International Film Festival October 1 – 11, 2021

This year’s VIFF program features: ● 188 films ○ 111 features ○ 77 shorts ○ 78 narrative features ○ 33 documentary features ● 51 countries represented ● 77 women directors ● 24 world premieres ● 4 international premieres ● 25 North American premieres ● 43 Canadian premieres ● 28 Canadian feature films ○ 6 features by BC filmmakers ● 36 Canadian shorts ○ 16 shorts by BC filmmakers ● 33 works by Canadian women filmmakers ○ 8 features ○ 25 shorts ● 28 Canadian BIPOC directors ● 27 talks and events ● 9 theatres at 8 venues (2 theatres at VIFF Centre) ● 100 staff ● 600 volunteers

The inaugural VIFF in 1982 featured: ● 39 films ● 6 staff ● 7 volunteers ● 1 venue

VIFF’s 40th edition will officially open with an in-cinema screening of the inventive biopic Electrical Life of Louis Wain, from U.K. director Will Sharpe, starring Benedict Cumberbatch who gives a bravura performance as the Victorian illustrator who found lasting fame with his knack for drawing cute cats. The festival will mark its closing with an in-cinema screening of Petite Maman, the latest from French director Céline Sciamma. A simple, subtle fairy tale about the mysterious bond between mother and daughter, the poetic film is realized with supreme delicacy and tact. "Perhaps more than any other art form, film has helped us through these past 18 months," says Kyle Fostner, Executive Director. "Isolated in our homes, we turned to movies for a connection to a larger world, full of perspectives, ideas, and culture. Our milestone 40th edition will be a celebration of cinema that shares the singular joy of experiencing incredible storytelling safely together, basking in the warm glow of the big screen.

At the same time, we’ll continue to offer the opportunity and accessibility gained with last year’s model — with 85 percent of our festival's vast and varied offerings available online via VIFF Connect. And for the first time, a large selection of films will also be available online across Canada." VIFF Board Chair Lucille Pacey adds: “VIFF has always been a festival rooted in community and cinematic excellence.

Below is the sizzle reel, here it gives you a quick glimpse at what they have organized for their 40 annual International Film Festival.

We mark this special edition by reconnecting with those who have supported us through the past four decades and with those who are only just discovering all that VIFF has to offer. VIFF’s remarkable team has programmed an extraordinary lineup that highlights the voices of today and looks to the future of filmmaking.” “For our 40th edition, our programmers have curated a diverse selection of international cinema that includes work from dozens of countries and countless communities here in Canada,” says Curtis Woloschuk, Associate Director of Programming. “It’s a lineup that truly offers a plurality of perspectives.

Many of this year’s selections are born of this era, as they share stories of reconnections with family and community, and employ structures that bend time. There are powerful narratives from Indigenous filmmakers, poignant stories from female perspectives, and bold work that confronts critical issues such as colonialism, racism, and the climate crisis. Likewise, there are films that testify to the transportative power of creativity and remind us that, even when it’s darkest, we can dream.”

Tickets are now on sale at viff.org. Single tickets are $15 for in-cinema presentations, $17 for in-cinema Special Presentations, and $10 for VIFF Connect. All-access VIFF Connect passes are $80 and will provide access to a selection of film titles and VIFF Talks streamed online. The Limited Edition Festival Pass is $725 and will provide access to all in-cinema and online screenings.

While a selection of the film programming via VIFF Connect will 1 remain geo-blocked to the province, a vast majority of films will be available across Canada. VIFF Talks, VIFF AMP, Totally Indie Day, and VIFF Immersed will be live-streamed Canada-wide and internationally, providing an unprecedented level of access to filmmakers and fans around the globe.

To view the in-cinema presentation schedule and a complete list of titles available on VIFF Connect, visit viff.org. VIFF 2021 FILMS Films streamed on VIFF Connect will include a selection of recorded Q&As from filmmakers and creators supported by Creative BC.

OPENING FILM The Electrical Life of Louis Wain dir. Will Sharpe (UK)

CLOSING FILM Petite Maman dir. Céline Sciamma (France)

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS:

Highly anticipated titles by the world’s top filmmakers

(Still from "All My Puny Sorrows")

All My Puny Sorrows dir. Michael McGowan (Canada)

Belfast dir. Kenneth Branagh (UK)

Benediction dir. Terence Davies (UK)

Bergman Island dir. Mia Hansen-Løve (France/Belgium/Germany/Sweden)

Drive My Car dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Japan)

Everything Went Fine dir. François Ozon (France)

Memoria dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Thailand/Colombia/UK/Mexico/France/Germany) Mothering Sunday dir. Eva Husson (UK)

Night Raiders dir. Danis Goulet (Canada/New Zealand)

Official Competition dirs. Mariano Cohn, Gastón Duprat (Spain)

One Second dir. Zhang Yimou (China)

Red Rocket dir. Sean Baker (USA) | Canadian Premiere

The Sanctity of Space dir. Renan Ozturk, Freddie Wilkinson (USA) | World Premiere

The Worst Person in the World dir. Joachim Trier (Norway/France/Sweden/Denmark)

CONTEMPORARY WORLD CINEMA:

Narrative films from around the globe Azor dir. Andreas Fontana (Switzerland/France/Argentina) | Canadian Premiere

(Still from "The Beta Test")

The Beta Test dirs. Jim Cummings, PJ McCabe (USA/UK)

Bone Marrow dir. Hamid Reza Ghorbani (Iran) | International Premiere

The Book of Delights dir. Marcela Lordy (Brazil) | North American Premiere

Brighton 4th dir. Levan Koguashvili (Georgia/Russia/Bulgaria/Monaco/USA) | Canadian Premiere

Brother's Keeper dir. Ferit Karahan (Turkey/Romania) | Canadian Premiere

Bye Bye Morons dir. Albert Dupontel (France)

Celts dir. Milica Tomović (Serbia) | North American Premiere

Clara Sola dir. Nathalie Álvarez Mesén (Sweden/Costa Rica/Belgium/Germany) | North American Premiere

Compartment No.6 dir. Juho Kuosmanen (Finland/Germany/Estonia/Russia)

2 Fabian - Going to the Dogs dir. Dominik Graf (Germany) | North American Premiere

Father Pablo José Luis Isoard Arrubarrena (Mexico) | World Premiere

The Girl and the Spider dirs. Ramon Zürcher, Silvan Zürcher (Switzerland)

Girlfriends dir. Carol Rodríguez Colás (Spain) | North American Premiere

Godavari dir. Nikhil Mahajan (India) | World Premiere

Havel dir. Slávek Horák (Czech Republic) | Canadian Premiere

Him dir. Guro Bruusgaard (Norway) | North American Premiere

Hit the Road dir. Panah Panahi (Iran)

The In-Laws dir. Kuba Michalczuk (Poland) | World Premiere

Lamya’s Poem dir. Alex Kronemer (USA/Canada) | North American Premiere

Miracle dir. Bogdan George Apetri (Romania/Czech Republic/Latvia) | North American Premiere Paris, 13th District, dir. Jacques Audiard (France)

Queen of Glory dir. Nana Mensah (USA) | Canadian Premiere

The Siamese Bond dir. Paula Hernández (Argentina) | Canadian Premiere

Small Body dir. Laura Samani (Italy/France/Slovenia)

Souad dir. Ayten Amin (Egypt/Tunisia/Germany) | Canadian Premiere

A Tale of Love and Desire dir. Leyla Bouzid (France/Tunisia) | Canadian Premiere

Unclenching the Fists dir. Kira Kovalenko (Russia)

What Do We See When We Look at the Sky? dir. Alexandre Koberidze (Germany/Georgia) | Canadian Premiere

TRUE NORTH:

A celebration of the creativity and craft demonstrated by Canadian storytellers Presented by Telefilm Canada

(Still from "Be Still")

Be Still dir. Elizabeth Lazebnik (Canada) | World Premiere | BC Feature

The Boathouse dir. Hannah Cheesman (Canada)

Bootlegger dir. Caroline Monnet (Canada) | World Premiere

Coextinction dirs. Gloria Pancrazi, Elena Jean (Canada) | Canadian Premiere | BC Feature Damascus Dreams dir. Émilie Serri (Canada) | North American Premiere

Darkroom dir. Lukas Maier (Canada) | World Premiere | BC Feature

The Drunken Birds dir. Ivan Grbovic (Canada)

Handle With Care: The Legend of the Notic Streetball Crew dirs. Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux, Kirk Thomas (Canada) | World Premiere | BC Feature

Hands That Bind dir. Kyle Armstrong (Canada)

Islands dir. Martin Edralin (Canada)

The Last Tourist dir. Tyson Sadler (Canada)

Learn to Swim dir. Thyrone Tommy (Canada)

Night Blooms dir. Stephanie Clattenburg (Canada)

Portraits From a Fire dir. Trevor Mack (Canada) | BC Feature

Quickening dir. Haya Waseem (Canada)

Returning Home dir. Sean Stiller (Canada) | BC Feature

See for Me dir. Randall Okita (Canada)

Sin La Habana dir. Kaveh Nabatian (Canada)

Ste. Anne dir. Rhayne Vermette (Canada)

The White Fortress dir. Igor Drljača (Canada/Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Wildhood dir. Bretten Hannam (Canada)

Zo Reken dir. Emanuel Licha (Canada)

VIFF SHORT FORUM:

A showcase of the myriad perspectives and approaches that are redefining Canadian short filmmaking Community Broadcast Partner TELUS

(Still from Ajjigiingiluktaaqtaugut)

Ajjigiingiluktaaqtaugut (We Are All Different) dir. Lindsay McIntyre (Canada) | Canadian Premiere | BC Short

Bad Seeds dir. Claude Cloutier (Canada)

Big Things dir. Eric Peterson (Canada)

The Blactor dir. Rukiya Bernard (Canada) | BC Short

Boobs dir. Marie Valade (Canada)

Canucks Riot I dir. Lewis Bennett (Canada) | World Premiere | BC Short

chocolate dir. Charlene Moore (Canada)

Defund dirs. Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah, Araya Mengesha (Canada)

Evan's Drum dir. Ossie Michelin (Canada)

Flower Boy dir. Anya Chirkova (Canada)

Hatha dir. Asia Youngman (Canada) | World Premiere | BC Short

Heavy Petting dir. Brendan Prost (Canada) | Canadian Premiere

The Horses dir. Liz Cairns (Canada) | BC Short Indigenous

Dads dir. Peter Brass (Canada) | World Premiere

The Isobel Imprint dir. Ali Grant (Canada) | BC Short Jean

Swanson: We Need a New Map dir. Teresa Alfeld (Canada) | BC Short

Kiri and the Girl dir. Grace Dove (Canada) | World Premiere | BC Short

Like the Ones I Used to Know dir. Annie St-Pierre (Canada)

Mary Two-Axe Earley: I Am Indian Again dir. Courtney Montour (Canada)

Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics dir. Terril Calder (Canada)

Militant Mother dir. Carmen Pollard (Canada) | BC Short

The Mohel dir. Charles Wahl (Canada)

Nalujuk Night dir. Jennie Williams (Canada)

News From Home dir. Sara Wylie (Canada) | World Premiere | BC Short

On Either Side dir. Elisa Julia Gilmour (Canada) | World Premiere

Personals dir. Sasha Argirov (Canada) | North American Premiere | BC Short

Prometheus dir. Marie Farsi (Canada) | World Premiere

A Safe Distance dir. Gloria Mercer (Canada) | BC Short

4 Solitary Skies dir. Amanda Cassidy (Canada) | World Premiere | BC Short

Srikandi dir. Andrea Nirmala Widjajanto (Canada/Indonesia) | BC Short

Things We Feel but Do Not Say dir. Lauren Grant (Canada) | World Premiere

Tla-o-qui-aht Dugout Canoe dir. Steven Davies (Canada) | World Premiere | BC Short

Together dir. Albert Shin (Canada/South Korea)

Twelve Hours dir. Paul Shkordoff (Canada)

The Untouchable dir. Avazeh Shahnavaz (Iran/Canada) | World Premiere

A Void dir. Dominique van Olm (Canada)

Without You dir. Mina Shum (Canada) | World Premiere | BC Short

IMPACT: Uncompromising films that spark action and change the way we see the world

(Still from "Ayukawa")

Ayukawa - The Weight of Life dirs. Tu Neill, Jim Speers (New Zealand/UK/Japan) | World Premiere

Behind the Headlines dir. Daniel Andreas Sager (Germany)

Blue Box dir. Michal Weits (Israel/Canada/Belgium)

From the Wild Sea dir. Robin Petré (Denmark) | Canadian Premiere

Her Socialist Smile dir. John Gianvito (USA)

Little Palestine: Diary of a Siege dir. Abdallah Al-Khatib (Lebanon/France/Qatar) | North American Premiere

Secrets From Putumayo dir. Aurélio Michiles (Brazil)

M/A/D: Music, art, and design receive an aesthetically alluring big-screen treatment

Charlotte dirs. Eric Warin, Tahir Rana (Canada/France/Belgium)

The Endless Moment - The Painter Rolf Kuhlmann dir. Claudia Schmid (Germany/Greece) | International Premiere

Keep Rolling dir. Man Lim Chung (Hong Kong) | Canadian Premiere

Nine Sevilles dirs. Gonzalo García Pelayo, Pedro G. Romero (Spain/France) | Canadian Premiere Records dir. Alan Zweig (Canada) | World Premiere

Rock Bottom Riser dir. Fern Silva (USA) | Canadian Premiere

To the Moon dir. Tadhg O'Sullivan (Ireland) | Canadian Premiere

White Cube dir. Renzo Martens (Netherlands/Belgium) | Canadian Premiere

INSIGHTS: Nonfiction films that investigate essential subject matter

(Still from Daughter of a Lost Bird)

Daughter of a Lost Bird dir. Brooke Pepion Swaney (USA)

Faya dayi dir. Jessica Beshir (Ethiopia/USA/Qatar)

The First 54 Years: An Abbreviated Manual for Military Occupation dir. Avi Mograbi (France/Finland/Israel/Germany) | Canadian Premiere

Flee dir. Jonas Poher Rasmussen (Denmark/Sweden/Norway/France)

Just a Movement dir. Vincent Meessen (Belgium/France)

The King of North Sudan dir. Danny Abel (USA/China/Egypt/Thailand) | World Premiere

Maya dirs. Jamshid Mojaddadi, Anson Hartford (UK/Iran) | Canadian Premiere

My Childhood, My Country - 20 Years in Afghanistan dirs. Phil Grabsky, Shoaib Sharifi (Afghanistan/UK) | International Premiere

The Six dir. Arthur Jones (China) | North American Premiere

Taming the Garden dir. Salomé Jashi (Switzerland/Germany/Georgia)

The Velvet Queen dirs. Marie Amiguet, Vincent Munier (France) | Canadian Premiere

Venetian Molecules dir. Andrea Segre (Italy)

GATEWAY: Compelling cinematic worlds envisioned by East Asia's most adventurous artists

(Still from Barbarian Invasion)

Barbarian Invasion dir. Tan Chui Mui (Malaysia/Hong Kong/Philippines) | Canadian Premiere

A Chat dir. Wang Xide (China) | International Premiere

Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko dir. Ayumu Watanabe (Japan)

In Front of Your Face dir. Hong Sangsoo (South Korea) | Canadian Premiere

Money Has Four Legs dir. Maung Sun (Myanmar) | Canadian Premiere

Moneyboys dir. C.B. Yi (Austria/France/Taiwan/Belgium) | North American Premiere

Sinkhole dir. Kim Ji-hoon (South Korea) | Canadian Premiere

Spaghetti Code Love dir. Takeshi Maruyama (Japan) | Canadian Premiere

Three Sisters dir. Lee Seung-won (South Korea) | Canadian Premiere

Time dir. Ricky Ko (Hong Kong)

Wife of a Spy dir. Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Japan)

Yuni dir. Kamila Andini (Indonesia/Singapore/France/Australia)

ALTERED STATES: Fantastic cinema that defies traditional classification

(Still from Bipolar)

Bipolar dir. Queena Li (China) | Canadian Premiere

Kicking Blood dir. Blaine Thurier (Canada)

Saloum dir. Jean Luc Herbulot (Senegal)

The Scary of Sixty-First dir. Dasha Nekrasova (USA) | Canadian Premiere

Strawberry Mansion dirs. Albert Birney, Kentucker Audley (USA)

Tin Can dir. Seth A Smith (Canada)

Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror dir. Kier-La Janisse (USA)

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS: Filmmakers pushing the boundaries of the short form Animation

(Still from Anyhow, Anyway)

Anyhow, Anyway dir. Catarina Romano (Portugal) | North American Premiere

Charlotte dir. Zach Dorn (USA)

Fall of the Ibis King dirs. Mikai Geronimo, Josh O'Caoimh (Ireland) | North American Premiere Flowing Home dir. Sandra Desmazières (France/Canada)

Granny’s Sexual Life dirs. Urška Djukić, Émilie Pigeard (Slovenia/France)

The Monkey dirs. Lorenzo Degl´Innocenti, Xosé Zapata (Portugal/Spain) | North American Premiere Nuevo Rico dir. Kristian Mercado Figueroa (USA) | Canadian Premiere

6 Unnecessary Things dir. Dmytro Lisenbart (Ukraine) | Canadian Premiere

Wake dir. Mark Boston (UK) | North American Premiere

Have We Ever Learned? The Black Disquisition dir. Quincy G. Ledbetter (USA)

Chants From a Holy Book dirs. Cassiana Der Haroutiounian, Cesar Gananian (Brazil) | World Premiere

The Following Year dir. Miguel Campaña (Spain) | Canadian Premiere The Night I Left America dir. Laki Karavias (USA)

A Quiet Man dir. Nyima Cartier (France) | North American Premiere

A Roll in the Hay dir. Geoffrey Fighiera (France)

Your Street dir. Güzin Kar (Switzerland)

Life Labs Apart, Together dir. Olivia Hang Zhou (USA/China)

Carrier dir. Max Ovaska (Finland) | Canadian Premiere

Goodbye Tornio dir. Emilia Hernesniemi (Finland)

MeTube: August Sings 'Una Furtiva Lagrima' dir. Daniel Moshel (Austria) | Canadian Premiere

Neko and Flies dir. Tsao Shih Han (Taiwan) | North American Premiere

Quality Time dir. Omer Ben-David (Israel) | Canadian Premiere

Seniors Day Al-Sit dir. Suzannah Mirghani (Sudan/Qatar)

All Dogs Die dir. Ninna Pálmadóttir (Iceland) | North American Premiere

Charon dir. Yannick Karcher (France)

Don vs Lightning dir. Big Red Button (UK) | Canadian Premiere

Dona dir. Marga Melià (Spain)

Roy dirs. Tom Berkeley, Ross White (UK) | Canadian Premiere

The Saverini Widow dir. Loïc Gaillard (France)

MODES: Works that subvert the dominant gaze and offer gestures of resistance

MODES 1

(Still from In Flow Of Words)

In Flow of Words dir. Eliane Esther Bots (Netherlands) | Canadian Premiere

I've Been Afraid dir. Cecelia Condit (Mexico)

Motorcyclist’s Happiness Won’t Fit Into His Suit dir. Gabriel Herrera (Mexico)

Neon Phantom dir. Leonardo Martinelli (Brazil) |

North American Premiere New Abnormal dir. Sorayos Prapapan (Thailand/South Korea/Singapore)

Once Upon a Screen: Explosive Paradox dir. Kevin B. Lee (Germany/USA)

MODES 2

(Still from The Canyon)

Adversarial Infrastructure dir. Anna Engelhardt (Russia) | North American Premiere

The Canyon dir. Zachary Epcar (USA)

7 The Coast dir. Sohrab Hura (India) | North American Premiere

Corps Samples dir. Astrid de la Chapelle (France) | North American Premiere

Happiness Is a Journey dirs. Ivete Lucas, Patrick Bresnan (USA/Estonia) | North American Premiere Show Me Other Places dir. Rajee Samarasinghe (Sri Lanka/USA) | Canadian Premiere

VIFF EXPANDED Presented by Creative BC, Supported by TELUS, Community Partner Knowledge Network The VIFF Expanded initiative creates a thriving cinema culture throughout the province through partnerships with independently operated theatres.

For our 40th edition, two partner venues will present a selection of festival films: Patricia Theatre | Powell River, BC | 12 screenings Tillicum Twin Theatres | Terrace, BC | eight screenings

TALKS & EVENTS VIFF TALKS: Creators and innovators share expertise on their craft Supported by Creative BC Community Broadcast Partner TELUS

Directing Master Class with Craig Zobel | Monday, Oct. 4, 5pm PDT Presented by the Directors Guild of Canada Craig Zobel, Director, Mare of Easttown Host: Zach Lipovsky, Director, Freaks Venue: VIFF

Connect Creating the Look: Jade Healy | Monday, Oct. 4, 7pm PDT Presented by ACFC West Jade Healy, Production Designer, The Green Knight Host: Sophie Jarvis, Production Designer, The Body Remembers When The World Broke Open Venue: VIFF

Connect Creator Talk: Sierra Teller Ornelas | Tuesday, Oct. 5, 5pm PDT Supported by Pacific Screenwriting Program Sierra Teller Ornelas, Co-Creator/Showrunner, Rutherford Falls Venue: VIFF

Connect Editing Masterclass: Fred Raskin | Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2:30pm PDT Presented by IATSE 891 Fred Raskin, Editor, The Suicide Squad Host: Matthew Hannam, Editor, Possessor Venue: VIFF Connect In Conversation With Jonas Poher Rasmussen | Wednesday, Oct. 6, 5pm PDT Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Director, Flee Venue: VIFF

Connect Doc Talk: My Name is Pauli Murray | Thursday, Oct. 7, 3pm PDT Julie Cohen, Director, My Name is Pauli Murray Host: Kevin Eastwood, Director, British Columbia: An Untold History Venue: VIFF

Connect 8 Made in BC: In the Writers’ Room with Family Law | Thursday, Oct. 7, 6pm PDT Supported by Pacific Screenwriting Program Susin Nielsen, Creator and Showrunner, Family Law Sonja Bennett, Creator/Showrunner, Family Law Jordan Hall, Writer/Junior Story Editor, Family Law Ken Craw, Writer/Junior Story Editor, Family Law Miriam van Emst, Executive Producers' Assistant/Writers' Assistant, Family Law Sarah Dodd, Writer/Executive Story Editor, Family Law Corey Liu, Writer/Supervising Producer, Family Law Host: Jennica Harper, Co-Creator/Showrunner, Jann Venue: VIFF Centre (1181 Seymour St.)

The Many Saints of Newark: Directing Masterclass with Alan Taylor | Friday, Oct. 8, 6pm PDT Presented by the Directors Guild of Canada Alan Taylor, Director, The Many Saints of Newark Host: Tim Southam, Director, The Good Doctor Venue: VIFF

Connect Creator Talk and Screening: British Columbia: An Untold History | Friday, Oct. 8, 8pm PDT Presented by British Columbia’s Knowledge Network, Supported by Rogers Group of Funds Trish Dolman, Writer/Director, British Columbia: An Untold History Kevin Eastwood, Executive Producer, British Columbia: An Untold History Leena Minifie, Producer, British Columbia: An Untold History Host: Naveen Girn, Community Engagement Strategist Venue: VIFF Centre (1181 Seymour St.)

VIFF Leading Lights: Paying tribute to luminary filmmakers whose work has captivated VIFF audiences and demonstrated the power of cinema Kore-eda Hirokazu (Shoplifters) with Bora Kim (House of Hummingbird) | On-Demand via VIFF Connect For more than a quarter of a century, Kore-eda Hirokazu has been a mainstay at VIFF: Maborosi, his feature debut, scored the festival’s prestigious Dragons & Tigers Award in 1995, the director visited in 1998 to screen After Life, and both Like Father, Like Son (2013) and Shoplifters (2018) won our festival’s audience award. On the occasion of our 40th edition, we invited Kore-eda to nominate an emerging director to join him in conversation. He elected Bora Kim, whose decorated first feature, House of Hummingbird, scored more than 50 awards following its premiere at the 2018 Busan International Film Festival. Over the course of their lively conversation, these filmmakers discuss inspiration, creating on-set chemistry, the importance of storyboarding, and how to distinguish between craft and art. This VIFF Leading Light tribute talk is available for free on our VIFF Connect streaming platform from Oct. 1–11. Like Father, Like Son and House of Hummingbird are available for rental on VIFF Connect from Sept. 17–Oct. 11.

VIFF AMP: Explore the essential role of music in film Supported by Creative BC, FACTOR Canada, and Music BC Community Broadcast Partner TELUS Oct. 8–10 | In-person at the VIFF Centre (1181 Seymour St.) and live-streamed via VIFF Connect AMP Opening Keynote | Friday, Oct. 8, 2pm PDT Linda Perry, Grammy, Golden Globe, and Critics Choice Award-nominated producer, Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee, Composer Moderator: Jane Aurora, Producer, Musician, and Mix Engineer, Arrival Sounds AMP's Stages to Screens: The Sequel | Saturday, Oct. 9, 2pm PDT Dean "DC" Charles, Composer, Producer, The Boondocks, CSI: Miami Dan “The Automator” Nakamura, Producer, composer, engineer, and DJ, Booksmart and Always Be My Maybe 9 Isabella “The Machine” Summers, Songwriter / Composer, Little Fires Everywhere, Physical, Sex/Life Moderator: Tarun Nayar, Manager/Artist, Snakes X Ladders AMP’s

The Art of Music Supervision: Theatrical Trailers | Saturday, Oct. 9, 4pm PDT Brian Vickers, Music Supervisor, Walt Disney Studios’ Reuben Sears, SVP, Trailers and Promos, SILO Music Evelin Garcia, Music Director, Wild Card Creative Group Moderator: Tony Scudellari, Senior VP Television Music, Sony Pictures Entertainment

MUSIC BC's SOUNDOFF | Saturday, Oct. 9, 7:30pm PDT Presented by Music BC Aamina Gant, Music Supervisor Janine Scalise Boyd, Music Supervisor, Moxie Music Evelin Garcia, Music Supervisor, Wild Card Creative Group Everton Lewis, Jr., Music Supervisor Moderator: Rob Calder, AMP Curator, Secret Study Moderator: Tony Scudellari, Senior VP Television Music, Sony Pictures Entertainment AMP Master Class: The Music for Daughter of a Lost Bird | Sunday, Oct. 10, 2pm PDT Laura Ortman, Composer, Daughter of a Lost Bird Brooke Pepion Swaney, Director, Daughter of a Lost Bird Host: Rob Calder, AMP Curator, Secret Study Host: Tony Scudellari, Senior VP Television Music, Sony Pictures Entertainment

AMP’s The Art of Composition: Scoring Epically | Sunday, Oct. 10, 4pm PDT Laura Karpman, Composer, Ask Your Mama, What If...?, Lovecraft Country Natalie Holt, Composer, Loki Host: Adrian Ellis, Composer and Sound Composers Guild of Canada Vice President AMP Closing Keynote | Sunday, Oct. 10, 7:30pm PDT Laura Karpman, Composer, Ask Your Mama, What If...?, Lovecraft Country Moderator: Angela Elster, President & CEO, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

VIFF TOTALLY INDIE DAY: Indie filmmakers share their stories, gain insights and learn about the art and business of cinema Supported by the Canadian Media Producers Association, WarnerMedia Access Canada, and William F. White International Community Broadcast Partner TELUS

Oct. 2, 10am–5pm | In-person at the VIFF Centre (1181 Seymour St.) and live-streamed via VIFF Connect Case Study: Portraits From A Fire | 10am PDT Presented by UBCP/ACTRA Trevor Mack, Director/Writer/Producer, Portraits From a Fire Kaayla Whachell, Producer, Portraits From a Fire Kate Kroll, Cinematographer, Portraits From a Fire Elad Tzadok, Editor,

Portraits From a Fire Deep Dive: The Beta Test with Jim Cummings & PJ McCabe | 11:15am PDT Jim Cummings, Director/Writer/Actor/Editor, The Beta Test PJ McCabe, Director/Writer/Actor, The Beta Test Host: Albert Shin, Writer/Director,

Together Opportunity Knocks: Below-the-line Talent | 1:30pm PDT Presented by WarnerMedia Access Canada Graysen Sangster, Assistant Location Manager, Superman & Lois 10 Maya Mani, Costumer Designer, Batwoman Amanda McGowan, Key Makeup Artist, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow Roxanne Rejfek, 2nd AD, Superman & Lois Host: Erika Kumar, Program Manager, WarnerMedia Access to Action Canada Host: Marnie Gee, BC Film Commissioner + Director of Production Services Behind the Scenes of Cryptozoo | 2:45pm PDT Dash Shaw, Writer/Director, Cryptozoo Host: Ann Marie Fleming, Writer/Director, Window Horses Indie Spirits | 4pm PDT Nicole Riegel, Writer/Director, Holler Megan Park, Writer/Director, The Fallout Jessica Beshir, Writer/Director, Faya Dayi Nana Mensah, Writer/Director, Queen of Glory Host: Curtis Woloschuk, Associate Director of Programming,

VIFF IMMERSED: Deep dive into exceptional XR storytelling Supported by Western Economic Diversification Canada Community Broadcast Partner TELUS VIFF Immersed Exhibition | Oct. 1–11 Curated by StoryTech Immersive Immerse yourself in exceptional VR and AR story-driven content from around the globe at the VIFF Immersed Exhibition, available to experience for free across VeeR, Museum of Other Realities, Oculus TV, rad., YouTube 360 and Facebook 360. Included in the exhibition are the finalists from the International VIFF Immersed Competition as well as a showcase of content produced in the creative nexus that is BC, home to the second-largest XR ecosystem in the world. The VIFF Immersed Exhibition is curated by StoryTech Immersive. VIFF Immersed XR Market | Oct. 4–5 Presented by the Canada Media Fund Produced by Artizen The VIFF Immersed XR Market provides a platform for creators to connect with industry leaders through a series of pitches, networking opportunities and inspiring presentations, aimed at fostering production, financing, and distribution of story-driven immersive content.

Tickets and Information VIFF Connect Single Tickets for Films and Talks $10 VIFF Connect Festival Pass $80 Regular / $110 Household VIFF In-Cinema Single Tickets for Films and Talks $15 VIFF In-Cinema Special Presentations $17 VIFF Limited Edition Festival Pass $725 40th Anniversary 4-Ticket Pack $48 Regular / $32 Student / $44 Senior VIFF AMP Pass In-person $75 Regular / $25 Student VIFF AMP Pass Online $25 Regular / $15 Student Totally Indie Day In-person $45 Regular / $25 Student Totally Indie Day Online $25 Regular / $15 Student VIFF Immersed Free Single tickets and passes available at viff.org. To explore VIFF’s complete 2021 programming, visit viff.org. 11 VIFF’s health and safety protocols — in strict compliance with provincial health orders — can be viewed HERE. With the generous support of these partners: Social Media facebook.com/VIFFest youtube.com/VIFFest twitter.com/VIFFest instagram.com/VIFFest #VIFF2021 About VIFF | viff.org 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. 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. For its 40th edition, VIFF takes place both online and in-cinema, from Oct. 1–11, 2021, showcasing the top international, Canadian, and BC films along with creators and industry professionals from around the globe. VIFF is presented on the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil‑Waututh) Nations