With a slate full of exciting titles coming to VIFF, a number of films are celebrating their Canadian premiere at this very festival! Here are some of the films with upcoming Canadian Premieres at VIFF, each in this list representing each feature stream presented at this year’s festival. The list extends far beyond these five titles, so be sure to check out viff.org!

Panorama

The world’s boldest creators and their exceptional works. The year’s most anticipated international films curated specifically for VIFF Year Round audiences. 

Babysplitters

Sam Friedlander’s fresh and sunny comedy tells the story of two Los Angeles couples decide to raise a baby together. The diverse and talented cast — including Community’s Danny Pudi and The Vampire Diaries‘s Emily C. Chang — lead the audience through the typical roller coaster of parenthood…with added twists and turns.

Watch the trailer. Purchase your tickets for Friday, September 27 at 9:30 pm at International Village 10 or Wednesday, October 2 at 3:45 pm at International Village 10.

True North

A celebration of the extraordinary and craft being demonstrated by Canadian storytellers from coast to coast. 

Tito

Tito’s isolated life in his suburban home is upended when a kindly but intrusive neighbour offers Tito drugs, food, and company. Tito’s newfound companion starts to show him the outside world, from which he recoils. Tito challenges the dominant narratives of predator and prey, fictionalized and performed psychologies, vulnerable emotional realities.

Watch the trailer. Purchase your tickets for Tuesday, October 1 at 6:30 pm or Thursday, October 10 at 8:45pm at the Cinematheque.

Gateway

Journey into the compelling cinematic worlds envisioned by some of East Asia’s most adventurous artists.

Birthday 

300 lives perished when the MV Sewol sank. This tragedy shook Korean society to the very core, and director Lee Jong-un explores the grief and trauma that shattered the nation. Birthday boasts an impressive cast along with Lee Jong-un’s impressive directorial debut, promising both devastation and catharsis when it reaches Canadian screens.

Purchase your tickets for Friday, September 27 at 2:45pm at International Village 8 or Sunday, September 29 at 6:00 pm at Vancouver Playhouse.

M/A/D

Music, art, and design receive their deserved big-screen treatment in this aesthetically alluring stream that’s enhanced by exhibitions and live performances. 

Years of Construction 

German director Heinz Emigholz documents a contemporary art museum in western Germany as it undergoes a five-year construction. Years of Construction offers the audience a look at an artistic institution in transition, and how cities change over time. Dialogue-free and masterfully composed, this film examines and challenges every day spaces. 

Purchase your tickets for Tuesday, October 8 at 8:30 pm and Thursday, October 10 at 1:15 pm at Vancity Theatre.

ALT

Genre-bending features that defy traditional classification and creators who push short form storytelling to its limits. 

The Death of Dick Long 

Swiss Army Man director Daniel Scheinert is back with another instant cult classic, operating in the same weird and enthralling frequency. A night of drug-induced redneck revelry revolving around a mysterious death leaves viewers with “a symphony of stupidity”. The film masterfully ratchets up both the absorbing tension and absurd comedy.

Watch the trailer. Purchase your tickets for Saturday, September 28 at 9:45 pm and October 5 at 7:00 pm at the Rio Theatre.