VIFF Preview: 10 Films To See
The Vancouver International Film Festival
September 26 – October 6, 2024
Vancouver, British Columbia
By Tim Basaraba
My IFF trifecta (SIFF, TIFF, and VIFF) is almost complete, and I couldn’t be more grateful that the last jewel in my IFF crown is the beautiful city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Last year, we covered the Vancouver International Film Festival VIFF from top to bottom and saw some incredible films. You can check out last year’s highlights here:
- 14 Films We Absolutely Must See at VIFF
- Come and See the Green Border
- Evil Does Not Exist: Japanese Slow Cinema
- VIFF 2023: Impressive First Impressions
- Review: Animalia
- Romance Does Not Float Tim’s Boat at VIFF
- Review: Gamodi
- Creature: The Art of Dance Meets the Magic of Cinema
- Review: Puan
- Isadora Chavez Steals the Show in Octopus Skin Amidst Breathtaking Ecuadorian Scenery
This year, we’re down one writer and will only be spending a few days in Vancouver, but never fear—our coverage will be what you’ve come to expect: succinct, thoughtful, and non-spoiler in nature.
10 Films I Must See at VIFF 2024 (and Maybe You Should Too)
Fréwaka
Directed by Aislinn Clarke
A follow-up to her period piece found-footage film The Devil’s Doorway (2018), Clarke now shifts her focus to a more traditional horror film. Told predominantly in the Irish language, I feel that watching Kneecap earlier this year has prepared me to only read half of the subtitles. Fréwaka will be playing at the Rio Theatre on Thursday, October 3.
Toxic
Directed by Saulė Bliuvaitė
This is the debut feature from young Lithuanian filmmaker Bliuvaitė. According to the director, “The core subject of this film is the human body. It explores the ways we relate to our bodies and deal with our imperfections.” This statement alone is enough to entice, but the press photo adds to the intrigue. Catch Toxic on Friday, September 27, at 6:30 p.m. at The Cinematheque.
She Loved Blossoms More
Directed by Yannis Veslemes
Bringing one’s mother back from the dead is an intriguing premise. Yannis Veslemes’ third feature is said to fit comfortably within what’s now called the Greek Weird Wave. So, if watching Poor Things earlier this year left you wanting more Yorgos Lanthimos, maybe this film from one of his contemporaries will scratch that itch. If not, try reading Dimitris Papanikolaou’s book Greek Weird Wave: A Cinema of Biopolitics. She Loved Blossoms More plays on Friday, October 4, at 9 p.m. at the Rio Theatre.
Angela’s Shadow
Directed by Jules Arita Koostachin
The world premiere of Angela’s Shadow is on Wednesday, October 2, at 6:15 p.m. at VIFF Centre – Vancity Theatre. Expect a packed house for Vancouver’s own Koostachin, who was raised by her Cree-speaking grandparents in Moosonee and her mother in Ottawa—a warrior of the Residential school system. Jules is a band member of Attawapiskat First Nation, the ancestral lands of the MoshKeKo AsKi InNiNeWak.
Cherub
Directed by Devin Shears
In Cherub, we follow Harvey, a lonely young man yearning for connection in a world that feels overwhelming. Shot on a $10,000 budget, Devin Shears crafts a visually stunning film using a 4:3 aspect ratio and vivid editing. The film’s minimalist dialogue lets its imagery and ambient score speak volumes, leading to a pitch-perfect ending. A true indie gem, Cherub deserves your attention at VIFF 2024. Catch it Thursday, October 3, at 6:30 p.m. at The Cinematheque, or Friday, October 4, at 3:45 p.m. at International Village 8.
Read Tim’s full review here.
Black Tea
Directed by Abderrahmane Sissako
This multilingual film features Mandarin, French, and Portuguese. The VIFF descriptor had me at Wong Kar-wai. “This long-awaited new feature from Oscar-nominated auteur Abderrahmane Sissako (Timbuktu) sweeps us off our feet with sleekly edited montages and sublime visual compositions. With the aesthetic flavor of Wong Kar-wai, steeped in a vibrant city nightscape of food stalls and beauty salons, the film explores the African diaspora’s search for cross-cultural harmony in China through its intriguing ensemble cast of characters. Black Tea serves up a bittersweet, metaphysical blend of unresolved dreams and desires.”
Cat’s Cry
Directed by Sanja Živković
In her follow-up to Easy Land (2019), Živković again focuses on family intimacy. This time, they’re not refugees on the run but residents of the Serbian town of Karagujevac. The story centers on a grandfather fighting for custody of his newborn granddaughter, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder known as Cat’s Cry syndrome. Catch the world premiere on Tuesday, October 1, at 6:30 p.m. at VIFF Centre – Vancity Theatre, followed by a Q&A with director Sanja Živković, producer Vladimir Paskaljevic, and actor Jasmin Geljo.
Read Tim’s full review here.
The Heirloom
Directed by Ben Petrie
“Cringe comedy” is a subgenre I’ll always seek out to watch in a theater full of fellow cringers. There’s just something about a room of people experiencing secondhand embarrassment together. Join your fellow cringe-seekers on Saturday, September 28, at 6:30 p.m. at The Cinematheque to see the second film from Canadian filmmaker Petrie.
Matt and Mara
Directed by Kazik Radwanski
A comedy about writers! Was this made for me? Probably not, but from the description, it seems to be a study on the tightrope between camaraderie and artistic differences. Fellow writers, come to the SFU Woodwards Theatre on Saturday, September 28, at 8:45 p.m., but bring your Moleskine notebook to jot down some thoughts after the credits roll.
Read Tim’s full review here.
Most People Die on Sundays
Directed by Iair Said
In his directorial debut, Argentinian Said focuses on the Argentine Jewish milieu in this dark comedy. If this film is even half as good as the Argentine comedy I caught last year at VIFF, it’ll be worth attending the North American premiere on Wednesday, October 2, at 1:45 p.m. at International Village 8. What was last year’s Argentine film I loved? Glad you asked; you can read all about it here.
