5 must-see B.C. films to check out at VIFF this fall
This year’s highly anticipated Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) is happening from Thursday, Oct. 2 to Sunday, Oct. 12, and there is plenty of local talent represented this year.
One of the largest film festivals in North America, VIFF 2025 will showcase approximately 170 features and 100 shorts from around the world.
Movie-goers can also enjoy insightful talkbacks, live performances, and other special events throughout the 44th edition of the festival.
And as in every year, there are several films from B.C. filmmakers that you need to add to your cinema calendar.
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“As a film festival, we’re fortunate to be situated in a thriving hub of creativity,” said Curtis Woloschuk, director of programming at VIFF, in a release.
“Beyond serving as a production and post-production centre for film and television, Vancouver also boasts an enviable number of post-secondary film programs and other creative development initiatives. This has equipped and empowered an increasingly diverse group of locally based filmmakers to bring their stories to the big screen.”
To get you ready for this year’s festival, here are some of the must-see B.C. films to check out this year, as curated by Woloschuk.
The Track
The Track
Director Ryan Sidhoo’s documentary, The Track, introduces the audience to three teenage boys in Sarajevo who dream of competing in Olympic luge as a way out of the country, which is still suffering from the wounds of its past.
The film dives into the boys’ lives and dreams as they attempt to forge their own future while overcoming the sins of the past.
In the Room
Writer-director Brishkay Ahmed traces her journey from initially rejecting her heritage, which she previously connected with victimhood, to rediscovering it in celebration of the heroism of Afghan women.
In the Room blends the past and present through interviews with documentary subjects Nelofer Pazira-Fisk, Vida Samadzai, Sahar Parniyan, Mozhdah Jamalzadeh, and Shogofa Sediqi.
A Welcome Distraction
A Welcome Distraction
Brian Daniel Johnson’s debut feature, A Welcome Distraction, is described as a “sprawling character study” that reveals itself over the course of a year.
Ernest (Simon Farrell) is a twentysomething stuck in a rut in Vancouver. A chance meeting with Mallory (Madison Isolina) while hiking leads him to join a Pacific Northwest cult led by a spiritual leader who claims to hear sounds from the Earth. Can Ernest finally find healing amidst all of the change?
Akashi
The world premiere of Akashi, a feature adaptation of writer, director and actor Mayumi Yoshida’s autofictional short of the same name.
Struggling visual artist Kana Yamamoto (Mayumi Yoshida) travels from Vancouver to Tokyo to attend her grandmother’s funeral. Along with rekindling a connection with her ex-boyfriend, Hiro (Ryo Tajima), Yamamoto uncovers a family secret that alters her perspective on what truly matters.
Clan of the Painted Lady
Clan of the Painted Lady
Director Jennifer Chiu dives into her own family’s history to explore the Hakka, described as “a people, a language and a culture,” in Clan of the Painted Lady.
The documentary covers the Hakka’s history in India, using candid interviews with relatives and community leaders to share with the audience the lessons of family secrecy and the costs of assimilation and social marginalization.
“I feel it’s important to think of these artists as international filmmakers who just happen to make their homes and lives in Vancouver,” added Woloschuk. “We’re proud to offer a platform for their work in which it can be presented in dialogue with that of their contemporaries from around the globe.
“We strive to foster a mutually beneficial relationship between our festival and our filmmaking community, where we can support each other and collectively push forward year after year.”
The extensive VIFF 2025 lineup will be screened at 10 venues across the city, including two new cultural partnership locations at the Granville Island Stage (Arts Club Theatre Company) and the Alliance Française.
Check out the full festival schedule online.
Vancouver International Film Festival 2025
When: Thursday, Oct. 2 to Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025
Time: Various times
Where: Various locations
Tickets: Single tickets are $21 for regular screenings, with ticket packs and festival passes also available. VIFF+ Members receive discounts on all VIFF tickets, and the free U25 membership offers additional discounts to those between the ages of 19 and 25. Purchase online
Daily Hive is a proud media sponsor of the Vancouver International Film Festival
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