VIFF Opens October 1 With 229 Films Across Vancouver
On October 1, the Vancouver International Film Festival opens with its largest program yet: 229 films, including world premieres, Cannes winners, and work from emerging Indigenous and international directors. Tickets go on sale at noon on August 27, with screenings across VIFF Centre, the Cinematheque, and seven partner venues through October 11.
What's Playing
VIFF spans 13 curated series and spotlights, from the Opening Gala featuring Jesse Eisenberg's directorial debut The Debut (with Julianne Moore) to international narratives, documentaries, shorts, and experimental work. The Showcase series includes standouts like Clarissa, which transplants Mrs. Dalloway to contemporary Lagos with Sophie Okonedo and David Oyelowo, and All the Lovers in the Night, an intimate meditation on loneliness adapted from Mieko Kawakami's novel. The Panorama section highlights work from every corner of the globe, while Focus on New German Cinema: Extreme Tension welcomes emerging German directors. Northern Lights celebrates the next wave of Canadian and Indigenous storytellers, and Insights features documentaries reshaping how audiences see the world. Additional series including Vanguard, Spectrum, Portraits, Altered States, Leading Lights, VIFF Short Forum, and MODES round out the program with innovative nonfiction, experimental cinema, and artist portraits.
Accessibility features include closed captioning, descriptive video, open captioning, hearing assistance, relaxed screenings, and subtitles in multiple languages. A U18 May Attend spotlight curates age-appropriate selections for young cinema fans. The festival also hosts Q&As with filmmakers and creators, offering the full festival experience beyond the screen.
Venues and Tickets
Screenings run across VIFF Centre (the festival's flagship cinema on Seymour Street), the Cinematheque, The Rio Theatre, The Park Theatre, Fifth Avenue Cinema, Vancouver Playhouse, SFU Woodwards, and the Lindsay Family Stage at Granville Island. International Village cinemas and Alliance Francaise also host select films. Showtimes vary; the festival calendar allows browsing by date, series, venue, language, country, and genre. Standby tickets are available for select sold-out screenings. Ticket prices and full scheduling are on viff.org.
Why It Matters
VIFF remains North America's largest film festival by attendance and one of the world's most influential. The program reflects a deliberate commitment to Indigenous cinema, emerging voices, and global storytelling rarely seen in mainstream theatrical distribution. Whether you're chasing a Cannes prize-winner, discovering a BC filmmaker, or exploring cinema in languages from Mandarin to Inuktitut, the 10-day festival offers an unmatched range. Film lovers should plan ahead: popular sessions fill quickly, and the festival's Q&As with directors are not to be missed.
