VIFF closes 41st annual edition and announces award winners

VANCOUVER, BC (OCTOBER 17, 2022) The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) successfully closed its 41st edition on Sunday, October 9, after 11 days of in-cinema programming. Kicking off September 29, VIFF 2022 presented more than 230 films and more than 20 talks and events to dozens of packed houses and standing ovations. Additionally, enthusiastic VIFF attendees cast almost 35,000 ballots throughout the festival, determining the audience awards for nine unique film series.

Four world premieres at the festival earned audience awards in their respective series, including Kathleen S. Jayme’s The Grizzlie Truth (Galas & Special Presentations); Chelsea McMullan’s Crystal Pite: Angels’ Atlas (Showcase); Amarsaikhan Baljinnyam’s Harvest Moon (Vanguard); and Marie Clements’ Lay Down Your Heart (Portraits). The remaining audience awards went to Maryam Touzani’s The Blue Caftan (Panorama); Anthony Shim’s Riceboy Sleeps (Northern Lights); Tamo Campos and Jasper Snow-Rosen’s The Klabona Keepers (Insights); Lizzie MacKenzie’s The Hermit of Treig (Spectrum); and Lola Quivoron’s Rodeo (Altered States).

VIFF juried awards were announced throughout the festival including the winner of the inaugural Vanguard award, which recognizes rising talent in international narrative filmmaking. This year’s award winners include: Francesco Sossai’s Other Cannibals (Vanguard); Anthony Shim’s Riceboy Sleeps (Best Canadian Film); Sophie Jarvis’ Until Branches Bend (Best BC Film); Meran Ismailsoy and Anya Chirkova’s Baba (Best Canadian Short); Jacquelyn Mills’ Geographies of Solitude (Best Canadian Documentary); and Charlotte Le Bon of Falcon Lake (Emerging Canadian Director).

“After two years of virtual and hybrid festivals, it was thrilling to be able to gather in person again to celebrate local and international films and filmmakers,” says Executive Director Kyle Fostner. “Gathering together, back inside the theatre, was a powerful reminder of the role cinema can play in creating connection and community. The entire VIFF family is honoured to present a platform for filmmakers to share their stories with the world, while bringing the world to Vancouver.”

Board Chair Lucille Pacey adds: “We could not have presented such a successful event without the team of amazing volunteers, the VIFF staff, and of course, you — the audiences — who have shown us year after year that filmmaking matters. This year’s programming shed light on emerging international filmmakers, Indigenous voices, and returning favourites. There was truly something for every taste and we hope everyone was able to take away a moment of understanding, shared empathy, and heartfelt appreciation for the craft of cinema.”

All the data is not yet in but, roughly speaking, VIFF hosted more than 80,837 attendees for in-cinema screenings, with more than 75 sold-out events. Through 115 in-person Q&As, VIFF audiences had the opportunity to hear behind-the-scenes stories and interact with 285 local and international filmmakers and creators. The festival also engaged hundreds of film professionals through two Industry Days; the VIFF Amp music and film summit; the new Signals program, which explored creative technologies; and creative development programs like VIFF Catalyst and VIFF Labs. Roughly 1,400 people attended VIFF Talks from some of filmmaking’s leading talents and two extraordinary live music events: NOSFERATU 100 by BIG KILL: A Symphony of Horror and An Evening With Michael Abels. More than 3,000 students attended VIFF Ignite high school screenings and benefitted from post-screening discussions and educational resource guides. VIFF also issued roughly 700 free U25 memberships, which allow cinema fans aged 19-25 to access discounted admissions for the festival. For the second year, VIFF Expanded partnered with the Powell River Film Festival’s Patricia Theatre and the Tillicum Twin Theatres in Terrace to present eight festival titles in other regions of BC.

VIFF AUDIENCE AWARDS

Galas & Special Presentations

The Grizzlie Truth (dir. Kathleen S. Jayme)

Showcase

Crystal Pite: Angels’ Atlas (dir. Chelsea McMullan)

Panorama

The Blue Caftan (dir. Maryam Touzani)

Vanguard

Harvest Moon (dir. Amarsaikhan Baljinnyam)

Northern Lights

Riceboy Sleeps (dir. Anthony Shim)

Insights

The Klabona Keepers (dirs. Tamo Campos, Jasper Snow-Rosen)

Spectrum

The Hermit of Treig (dir. Lizzie MacKenzie)

Portraits

Lay Down Your Heart (dir. Marie Clements)

Altered States

Rodeo (Lola Quivoron)

The full list of previously announced juried award winners is below.

Vanguard Award

$5,000 award presented by the Lochmaddy Foundation
Winner: Other Cannibals (dir. Francesco Sossai)
Special Mention: Tortoise Under the Earth (dir. Shishir Jha)

Best Canadian Film

$15,000 award presented by the Directors Guild of Canada
Winner: Riceboy Sleeps (dir. Anthony Shim)
Special Mention: Queens of the Qing Dynasty (dir. Ashley McKenzie)

Best BC Film

$10,000 award presented by Creative BC and $15,000 in post-production services credit supplied by Company 3
Winner: Until Branches Bend (dir. Sophie Jarvis)
Special Mention: The Klabona Keepers (dirs. Tamo Campos and Jasper Snow-Rosen)

Best Canadian Documentary

$15,000 award presented by the Rogers Group of Funds
Winner: Geographies of Solitude (dir. Jacquelyn Mills)
Special Mention: Ever Deadly (dirs. Tanya Tagaq and Chelsea McMullan)

Emerging Canadian Director

$3,000 award presented by the Directors Guild of Canada
Winner: Director Charlotte Le Bon (Falcon Lake)
Special Mention: Director Sophie Jarvis (Until Branches Bend)

Best Canadian Short Film

$2,000 cash award from VIFF and $5,000 equipment credit supplied by William F. White International Inc.
Winner: Baba (dirs. Meran Ismailsoy, Anya Chirkova)
Special Mentions: Heartbeat of a Nation (dir. Eric Janvier) and Agony (dir. Arnaud Beaudoux)