Opening highlights from VIFF in Vancouver with Kyle Foster, Danis Goulet & more

by Zoran Dragelj, Screenmancer Canada

Last night we gathered on unceded lands on the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, also known as Vancouver, Canada, to celebrate the opening of The 40th Vancouver International Film Festival. The Nations welcomed festival-goers with three unique greetings, while more than 110 feature films, over 75 shorts, various talks and conferences are set to engage audiences at VIFF 2021 that began on Oct. 1 and ends Oct. 11.

This year’s VIFF edition rolls out 260 screenings, and brings the magical world of cinema both online and in person, and marks the first live red carpet in Vancouver in almost 20 months due to COVID restrictions.

The opening ceremonies and remarks were followed by a screening of “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy, and directed by Will Sharpe.

Earlier in the evening the red carpet event was hosted the Cree-Métis director, Danis Goulet whose chilling and provocative debut feature, “Night Raiders,” confronts the history of indigenous residential schools.

Night Raiders is produced by Taika Waititi. It is powerful and compelling post-apocalyptic narrative.

NIGHT RAIDERS – FIRST LOOK

Phyllis Jack-Webstad (orange shirt) with Sean Stiller director of “Retuning Home” also made appearances.

Mexican director José Luis Isoard Arrubarrena with the star, Rafael Martínez Sánchez of Father Pablo were also red carpet stars. VIFF’s executive director  Kyle Fostner is pictured here, and spent the exciting evening with these honored guests and more. 

The three indigenous greetings are condensed and translated into English here, but the full text and native language versions can be found on VIFF’s site linked below. 

Indigenous Greetings at VIFF

Along with our relatives Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh, for thousands of years, Musqueam people have used storytelling as a way to share our teachings from generation to generation. Storytelling is an intrinsic part of who we are as Indigenous people.

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This is the land of our Squamish People and the Musqueam People and Tsleil-Waututh People.

For many generations Squamish People have created a culture of oral literature to teach our history, values, and advice to the next generation. Our storytelling traditions is how we inspire ourselves and our children to be a good person, to treat family, land, and waters with respect, and work together as a people.

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Friends and Relatives, Welcome to the territory of the Tsleil-Waututh people, Along with our relatives Squamish and Musqueam.

Congratulations to the Vancouver International Film Festival on the launch of its 40th season. Storytelling is at the heart of VIFF and it is also at the heart of our Tsleil-Waututh community.

BRIEF HISTORY of VIFF (Vancouver International Film Festival)

Founded in 1982, The Greater Vancouver International Film Festival Society is a not-for-profit cultural organization that operates the internationally acclaimed Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) and the year-round programming of the theatres at the VIFF Centre.

Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at VIFF

VIFF recognizes that diversity reflects the society we serve, and as such it is our goal to ensure our programming, and our organization mirror our community.

One of VIFF’s core mandates is to “encourage understanding of the world’s cultures through the art of cinema”. VIFF seeks out programming that encourages our members and community to express themselves, their cultural perspectives, and their sense of being, through the shared experience of the moving image.

VIFF will make every effort to identify and remove barriers to inclusion as well as create an inclusive approach in all of our operations.

VIFF believes in treating all people with respect, dignity, and fairness and welcomes individuals, organizations and communities of all backgrounds including: of any race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, ability, neurodivergence, citizenship, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, same sex partnership, age, marital status, family status, immigration status, receipt of public assistance, history of mental health issues, health status, political affiliation, learning difference, level of literacy, accent, first language, body type, physical appearance and abilities, stature or socio- economic status.

VIFF is not complacent about its progress to date and recognizes that there is more work to be done to achieve diversity in all its activities.

Both in terms of admissions and number of films screened, VIFF is among the five largest film festivals in North America. Screening films from more than 70 countries on nine screens, VIFF’s program includes the pick of the world’s top film fests and many undiscovered gems.

Three main programming platforms make our festival unique: we screen one of the largest selections of East Asian films outside of that region, we are one of the biggest showcases of Canadian film in the world and we have a large and vibrant documentary program.

In 2016, VIFF underwent a bold restructuring of its traditional film and industry programming. Reflective of an engaged community with an appetite for more than film, VIFF expands the frame to create multi-experiential streams that include curated screenings fused with related talks and events in a unique ‘film plus’ model. Drawing on a rich 36-year history of showcasing innovation in film, television and digital media, the new VIFF presents VIFF Hub, a central location for experiences beyond film including interactive screen-based experiences, talks, sessions and events with leaders in creative industries that are designed to educate and inspire public and industry attendees alike.Attracting a large, attentive and enthusiastic audience the festival remains accessible, friendly and culturally diverse. As the critics say, VIFF is very much a festival “designed for the benefit of people who love films and people who make them.”

Visit VIFF.org for more details, the festival continues in Vancouver, Canada through Oct. 11, 2021.

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