Vancouver Foreign Film Society
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Snake Feature -VIBFF
Title: Snake Year: 2024 Country: South Africa Language: Afrikaans with English subtitles Director: Meg Rickards Review & Awards: Cast: Trailer: This thriller is based on a novel” Snake” by Tracey Farren. It is a good story with a remarkable performance by the lead role of nine-year-old Lamiyah Barnard as Stella. It has emotional depth, and the full power of storytelling to make its way to some International Film Festivals films
Our Sponsored Films – VIFF2025
Our Sponsored Films VIFF2025 Late Shift (Heldin) Wind, Talk to me (Vetre, pricaj sa mnom) Year: 2025 Director and writer: Petra Biondina Volpe. Full Cast Awards Trailer Runtime: 92 Minutes Country of Origin: Switzerland/Germany Language: In German with English subtitles Synopsis As nurse Floria (Leonie Benesh, The Teacher’s Lounge) patrols a Swiss hospital’s surgical ward, her preternatural composure is rivalled only by the devotion she demonstrates
Our Participation in VIFF 2025
We are excited to once again participate in VIFF 2025. It is our 11th year! History of our involvement Our society was formed in May 2014. We are pleased to have sponsored international screenings as a community partner ever year at VIFF since then excepting Covid 2019 . We began reviewing films for VIFF in 2019, and continue to do so. In 2017 our society began co-presenting films with VIFF
Benefit Event for Ukraine
Another Special Film Benefit for Ukraine Are You a Foodie and love films? | Would you like to support Ukraine? Join us on September 25 at 7PM at Alliance Française Vancouver for a delightful “Romantic-Foodie” benefit film screening for Ukraine 50% of ticket proceeds will support Maple Hope Foundation’s medical aid projects in Ukraine TRAILER A Charming feel good movie about a young woman who turns her passion for cooking
Single Post Template – VIFF Reviews
Title: Foreign Title: Year: 2025 Country: Language: Awards: Director: Cast: Trailer:
Compassionate Light: Stories of Tibet by Pema Tseden
VIFF Promotions of International / Foreign films to our subscribers In March 2024 our society began offering a periodic promo code for ticket discounts to a Foreign / International film to our subscribers on our mail list. The selected film will be part of the year round films programmed by the VIFF team Compassionate Light:Stories of Tibet by Pema Tseden May 16 – 29 | Curated by Shelly Kraicer Tibetan director
2 International Documentaries sponsored as a “Community Partner at Doxa
We are pleased to sponsor 2 International Documentaries as a “Community Partner” with DOXA THE TREE OF AUTHENTICITY (L’arbre de l’authenticité) BC Premiere 89 mins | Belgium, The Democratic Republic of Congo | 2025 Click the Image for Tickets and More Info on the Film TRAILER | AWARDS | REVIEW EIGHT POSTCARDS FROM UTOPIA (Opt ilustrate din lumea ideala) 71 mins | Romania | 2024 Click the Image for Tickets and More Info on The Film TRAILER | AWARDS | REVIEW
Ukrainian Special Film Benefit Screening “BUCHA”
Ukrainian Special Film Benefit Screening “BUCHA” Please Join us for A Special Film Screening Benefit Purchase TICKETS at EVENTBRITE Event Schedule 6:30 p.m. – Doors open6:50 p.m. – Film presentation by producer Margarita Soldatova7:00 p.m. – Film screening9:00 p.m. – Q&A online with Kostyantyn Gudaukas Kostyantyn Gudaukas, risked his life to evacuate more than 200 people from Bucha, which was occupied by Russian forces. His very story has been adapted into
SAFFCANADA-2024
Nov 7- 17 2024 Opening Night and Gala SFU GoldCorp Centre for the Arts Nov 7 Doors Open 6:30 pm Film starts 7pm “Music is My Life” For Tickets: Click Image Below Our Sponsored Film “Death of a Whistleblower” World Premiere TIFF 2023 On- Line at Eventive – Click on Image to Book Screening or Purchase a Virtual Pass for all Films on Eventive
Our Society is looking for Volunteers / Board Members
We are actively looking for volunteers to assist with social media, reviews, and web maintenance in our society. If you love Foreign / International Films (features and documentary) this may be an opportunity to join our society and watch incredible films from around the world year-roundWe are a B.C. registered non-profit formed in 2014, to fulfill a lack of Foreign / International films being shown year-round in our theatres.Our Society’s
Remembering David House
Sadly, David House passed away on April 24th 2024, at Vancouver General Hospital. He had been suffering with a recurring bout of Leukemia and other cancer related symptoms since the latter part of 2023. We spent quite some time over that period in and out of hospital where I learnt more about David’s past, more than when I first met him. David grew up in Ontario and what I did
Sponsored VIFF2024 Film-2 Julie Keeps Quiet
TRAILER | AWARDS | REVIEW Interview with Director Leonardo Van Dijl ROTTEN TOMATOES Synopsis Leonardo Van Dijl’s debut feature Julie Keeps Quiet never judges the young woman whose lifelong dream to become a tennis star comes perilously close to shattering. Julie (a brilliantly fierce and athletic Tessa Van den Broeck) is a student at the elite Les Hirondelles Tennis Academy in Belgium. She is about to take the next step to
Sponsored Film VIFF2024 -1 Marco, The Invented Truth
TRAILER | AWARDS | REVIEW | OFFICIAL SITE From the director team of Aitor Arregi & Jon Garaño THE ENDLESS TRENCH in 2019 Having watched their earlier film “The Endless Trench” at the start of COVID in 2020, we are expecting another superb film SYNOPSISBased on true events, the film explores the story of a concentration camp deportee from Spain who turned out to be fictitious. This is the account of the life of the immensely charismatic
The Teacher’ Lounge – Oscar 2024 Nomination and Our Sponsored Film VIFF 2023 now screening at VIFF Sat Feb 10th at 1:30pm to Thursday Feb 15th, 2024
Happy to have sponsored this Oscar Nominated Film at VIFF 2023 and hope it wins For Best International Feature Film The 96th Oscars will be held onh Sunday, March 10 2024 The Teacher’s Lounge (Das Lehrerzimmer) Screening at VIFF Sat Feb10th at 1:30pm to Thursday Feb 15th, 2024Check More Dates / Screening Times Here 11 wins & 19 nominations IMDB Rating 7.5 /10 (6.8k reviewers)Click here for more details at VIFF
VIFF’s December Holidays and Early January Special Series and Screenings
Special Holiday Series The Wonders: Fairy Tales, Folklore & Fantasy Dec 20 – Jan 4 Best of 2023 Dec 26 – Jan 4 Rouge :4k digital Dec 20 – Jan 1 New Spanish Cinema Jan 5 – 8
Promo Code For $5 Off VIFF Connect On-Line For “Society of the Snow” Open Post To Subscribe To Our Society’s Emails And Get The Promo Code
VIFF Promotions of International / Foreign films to our subscribers Our society offers promo codes for ticket discounts to a Foreign / International film to our subscribers on our mail list. The selected film will be part of the year round films programmed by the VIFF team December VIFF Feature Promo “Society of The Snow“ $5 off with Ticket Promo Code (Excludes First Friday Screening Jan 22nd at 1.30pm) Fri Dec
We are pleased to once again be a Community Partner and Sponsor with the South African Film Festival Canada 2023
Gala Presentation and Opening Film SFU Goldcorp Centre As the original curator to the Vancouver South African Film Festival, way back in 2011, we take pleasure in covering the entire festival each year with reviews and promotions. All proceeds support Education without Borders (EwB). Gala Tickets and Opening Film and In Person Tickets ———————– On-Line Virtual Tickets Our Community Partnered Film for 2023 this year is Trailer | Review |Awards
VIFF 2023 Additional Films we liked at the festival
David House The Rapture The Delinquents The Settlers Monster Fallen Leaves Ian Merkel Monster. Four Daughters Toll They Shot The Piano Player Tsugaru Lacquer Girl Numb Seven Winters in Tehran Between Revolutions Raging Grace Just The Two Of Us Totem
Our Society’s Top Foreign language / International Films-VIFF2023
Our Society had 4 Film Reviewers this year These reviews are the personal opinions limited to films seen This page works best with a Full screen or a Tablet David House Ian Merkel Lisa Naiberg Arash Taheri The Zone of Interest UK ,US, Poland Special Presentations Anatomy of a Fall France Special Prentations A Normal Family South Korea Special Presentations Terrestrial Verses Iran Focus: Women, Life and Freedom The
VIFF2023 – Capsule Reviews – International Shorts – 3
FAR FROM THE TREE Reviewed by Lisa Naiberg Far From the Tree Country – Czech Republic This study of a middle-aged woman’s struggle to survive in bleak circumstances also portrays her fractured relationship with her rebellious teen daughter. The title appears ironic, as the daughter – who finds her ambition thwarted – may have more traits in common with her mother than she realizes. The two discover a bond through
VIFF2023 – Capsule Reviews – International Shorts-2
IN TOO DEEP Reviewed by Ian Merkel In Too Deep United Kingdom Category: Family Adventures This disturbing UK short about a couple grieving the death of their young daughter won a number of best awards in various Short Film festivals both in Canada and the US. The Awards were for Best Director, Best Score, Best Cinematography and Best Short A couple loses their young child and are separated. They
VIFF2023 – Capsule Reviews – International Shorts -1
SPASM Reviewed by Arash Taheri Spasm Islamic Republic of Iran Category: Nothing Comes Easy Spasm is probably one of the most powerful audition tapes you will see. This short film is about Shekufeh, an avid actress whose aim is to get her first cinematic role since her initial experience was unsuccessful and chaotic. Although this film is only about 30 minutes with no cuts and no
VIFF2023 – Capsule Reviews – 2 Iranian Documentaries
SEVEN WINTERS IN TEHRAN Reviewed by Ian Merkel Seven Winters in Tehran Multiple Festival Awards Berlin International Film Festival 2023 Winner Compass-Perspektive Award Best Film Steffi Niederzoll 2023 Winner Peace Film Award Seven Winters in Tehran is a documentary based on the secret filming of footage and taped recordings smuggled out of Iran to Germany. Reconstruction of many scenes were made in Germany, using mostly miniatures. In the summer of
VIFF2023 – Capsule Reviews – “Chronicles Of A Wandering Saint” and “Octopus Skin”
CHRONICLES OF A WANDERING SAINT Reviewed by Lisa Naiberg Chronicles of A Wandering Saint Awards SXSW Film Festival 2023 Winner SXSW Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award Tomás Gómez Bustillo This is a leisurely, quirky and poignant comedy, suffused with magical realism, which revels in its defiance of expectations. Rita, a pious, elderly church janitor in a rural Argentine town, strives to distinguish herself in the eyes of the local priest. Upon discovering
VIFF2023 – Capsule Reviews – “Animal” and “Numb”
ANIMAL Reviewed by Lisa Naiberg Animal Awards Locarno International Film Festival 2023 Winner Best Performance Dimitra Vlagopoulou 2023 Nominee Golden Leopard Best Film Sofia Exarchou Styled as a slice-of-life portrait of Kalia, a dancer and the leader of an entertainment troupe of foreign workers, this understated depiction of two widely divergent social classes makes quiet, disquieting observations. Shy, new Polish recruit Eva learns to copy her mentor’s continual forced smile and disco-themed
VIFF2023 – Capsule Reviews – “The Rapture and Terrestrial Verses
THE RAPTURE Reviewed by David House Rapture Awards Cannes Film Festival 2023 Winner SACD Award Critics’ Week Iris Kaltenbäck This film opens with Lydia rushing home with a birthday cake, only to be greeted by her partner Julien telling her that he had slept with another woman last night. Tearfully, she dashes off from this breakup scene to a birthday party for Salome, her best friend. At the party Salome and
VIFF2023 – Capsule Review – “Lonely Oaks” and “Restore Point”
LONELY OAKS Reviewed by David House Lonely OaKs Awards Berlin International Film Festival 2023 Nominee Compass-Perspektive Award for Best Film 2023 NomineeBerlinale Documentary Award Directors: Fabiana Fragale, Kilian, Kuhlendahl, Jens Mühlhoff This is an observational documentary about environmental activists in Germany It is filmed over a 2 year period, 2018-2019, by Steffen Meyn, an investigative journalist and film student. The setting is the Hambach forest which is next to a
Our Community Partnered Films VIFF 2023 –
Once again we are pleased to participate as a Community and Media Partner with VIFF2023 We are pleased to announce that as a community partner we will be sponsoring 2 films this year This year’s program has one of the most outstanding collections of foreign feature films since Covid The Teachers Lounge Screening Times 6:30 pm Friday September 29 Park Theatre 12:30pm Sunday October 01 Vancouver Playhouse 3:30pm Thursday October 05 SFU
BlackBird BlackBird Blackberry-Sponsored Film-2023
Rating 7.4 Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry Screening Times 3:15 Friday October 06 International Village 9 9:00pm Sunday October 08 International Village 9 Watch an interview with Director Elene Naveriani‘s “Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry” on Read our review of Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry on our home page by scrolling down to VIFF 2023 Special Festival Reviews Additional Review with Elene Naveriani Submitted by David House Click this Link
Promo Code For $5 Off VIFF Connect On-Line For “The Beasts” Open Post To Subscribe To Our Society’s Emails And Get The Promo Code
VIFF Promotions of International / Foreign films to our subscribers Our society offers promo codes for ticket discounts to a Foreign / International film to our subscribers on our mail list. The selected film will be part of the year round films programmed by the VIFF team August VIFF Feature Promo “The Beasts” $5 off with Ticket Promo Code Sat Aug 19 to Fri Aug 25 (Check Dates and Times to
Past Sunday Morning Movie “The Man in the Basement” (L’Homme de la cave) Co-Presented with VIFF
“The Man in the Basement” (L’homme de la cave) !Vancouver Premiere! Screening Again May 31 VIFF Vancity Studio Theatre at 8:10 pm Director Philippe Le GuayWriters: Philippe Le Guay | Gilles Taurand | Marc WeitzmannCast: François Cluzet | Jérémie Renier | Bérénice BejoSee Full Cast and crew!Country of Origin: France Language; French with Eng Subs Year :2021 Age: 19+ Buy Tickets online. Trailer Awards Review Synopsis When a retired history teacher (François Cluzet) agrees to rent out
Past Monthly Sunday Morning Movie Co-Presentation with complimentary Bagels/Coffee “The Last Bus” April 23rd 11am
Our Next Sunday Movie with Complimentary Bagels and Coffee Screening Sunday April 23rd VIFF Vancity Theatre at 11:00 am. Bagels served from 10:30 am. “The Last Bus” !Vancouver Premiere! 7.2 on IMDB Director Gillies MacKinnon Writer: Joe Ainsworth Cast: Timothy Spall | Phyllis Logan | Natalie Mitson See Full Cast Country of Origin: UK and UAE Language; English Year :2021 Drama Runtime 83 minutes Age: 19+ Buy Tickets online. Trailer Awards Review
Discount Passes Offered on a New International Virtual Film Festival
We are pleased to promote and offer discount passes to a new INTERNATIONAL FEATURE VIRTUAL FILM FESTIVAL Screening on-line through Eventive April 6 – April 23 CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS (individual tickets are US$14) CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE DISCOUNT PASSES DISCOUNT CODES for PASSES (applies to all our subscribers / members and followers on social media and meetup) 50% discount of the US$100 pass (12 films) = US$50 Code is 16XSH14T3DOKBAX 40%
Promo Code For $5 Off VIFF Connect On-Line For “One Fine Morning” Open Post To Subscribe To Our Society’s Emails And Get The Promo Code
VIFF Promotions of International / Foreign films to our subscribers Our society offers promo codes for ticket discounts to a Foreign / International film to our subscribers on our mail list. The selected film will be part of the year round films programmed by the VIFF team February VIFF Feature Promo “One Fine Morning” $5 off with Ticket Promo Code Friday 10th :7:30 screening to February 16th Subscribe here to our mail list
Past Monthly Sunday Morning Co-Presentation with Bagels/Coffee “Madeleine Collins” March 5th 11am
Our Next Sunday Bagels, Cream Cheese, Coffee & a Movie “Madeleine Collins” !Vancouver Premiere! Efira puts in a terrific performance in Antoine Barraud’s taut relationship pic that veers into thriller territory. Anna Smith Deadline Hollywood Daily “she is the best current actress that you have probably never heard of” – Ottawa Life “Want your mind blown? Then Madeleine Collins in select theatres including TIFF Bell Lightbox is this week’s go-to.