With a mere three weeks until the Vancouver International Film Festival kicks off for its 35th year, filmmakers, media and staff gathered to get excited about what’s to come.
VIFF Executive Director Jacqueline Dupuis took to the stage at the Vancouver International Film Centre on Wednesday morning to lead the press conference. The day’s agenda included an overview of the new VIFF program structure, the debut of VIFF HUB and the announcement of the Opening and Closing Gala films.
Frank Guistra, President of the Radcliffe Foundation, was also in attendance to announce the three finalists for the Refugee Crisis short film competition. The Radcliffe Foundation partnered with VIFF this year to launch the competition in an effort to raise awareness for the global refugee crisis and support independent filmmakers. Learn more in an upcoming post!
And now for press conference details:
The Irish/Canadian coproduction Maudie will launch the festival and Terrence Malick’s epic creation story The Voyage of Time: The IMAX Experience will close it.
Directed by award-winning writer/director Aisling Walsh, Maudie tells the story of famous Nova Scotian folk artist Maud Lewis: her struggles, rise to fame and marriage. The film stars Sally Hawkins as Maud and Ethan Hawke as her husband Everett Lewis. It’s a moving story about perseverance and is sure to win hearts at the festival this year.
The Voyage of Time is a stunning portrait of the birth of the universe from the creative mind of filmmaker Terrence Malick. The film was shot in 35 mm and has been nearly four decades in the making, a feat Malick calls “one of his greatest dreams.” Narrated by co-producer Brad Pitt, it’s a visual spectacle that will wow guests when screened in Science World‘s immersive IMAX theater.
To accompany film screenings, VIFF invites hundreds of industry guests to the festival each year. This year’s attendees include director Aisling Walsh (Maudie), novelist Eckhart Tolle (Milton’s Secret) and Canadian actor Tatiana Maslany (The Other Half). X-Files creator Chris Carter will open the Sustainable Production Forum at VIFF HUB on October 7 and Canadian musician and actor John Mann will attend the BC Spotlight Awards Gala screening of Spirit Unforgettable on October 8.
VIFF 2016 begins on Thursday, September 29th and runs until Friday, October 14. Get excited!
