With so many exciting films available to watch at this year’s VIFF, it can be a little intimidating to narrow your choices. That’s why we’re here! We’ve matched some of our upcoming featured titles with other content from various mediums in the hopes that you’ll find one to your taste and shed some light on this incredible program.
Here are five matches across different types of content to help you navigate this year’s stacked festival lineup:
1. If you liked Blue Valentine (2010)…
You’ll like Marriage Story.
Blue Valentine (2010) was a poignant and heart-wrenching romantic drama about a marriage slowly falling apart. Marriage Story tells the story of Nicole (Scarlet Johansson) and Charlie (Adam Driver) as they go through a coast-to-coast divorce. When they realize their devotion to their own creative endeavours over their relationship, the couple goes struggles through their separation in the hopes of moving on. Pivoting between warmth and devastation, director Noah Baumbach has once again delivered a must-watch.
Watch the trailer. Purchase your tickets for Thursday, October 10 at 8:45 pm at The Centre.
2. If you liked Netflix’s Chef’s Table (2019)…
You’ll like A Seat at the Table.
What makes Netflix’s Chef’s Table stand out is the way it intersects an individual chef’s biography and profile with the way they cook and improve their craft. The show illustrates how a chef’s upbringing, personalities, and passions directly influence their food. How the hot summers of their hometown lead them to perfect creating gelato or how their relentless curiosity drives them to bake the best pastries in the country. This same connections are explored in A Seat at the Table, a documentary about New Zealand’s wine renaissance. Directors David Nash and Simon Mark-Brown make the case to place New Zealand as home of the top wines of the country, showcasing the country’s unique agricultural innovation blended with classic French techniques.
Watch the trailer. Purchase your tickets for Friday, October 4 at 7:00 pm at International Village 10 or Sunday, October 6 at 3:30 pm at International Village
3. If you liked Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)…
You’ll like White Snake.
Beyond the impressive stop motion animation we’ve come to expect from Laika Studios, Kubo and the Two Strings perfected the tonal balance between a fantastical adventure and an introspective confrontation with death. This rare feat is promised with White Snake, an animated feature prequel to the Legend of the White Snake, a Chinese folklore that’s been recreated for thousands of years. When Blanca the snake demon falls in love with a mortal, the lovers face military rules, violent creatures, and other obstacles to their love. Erotic, bold, and touching, the thematic maturity combined with the dazzling animation is sure to wow audiences.
Watch the trailer. Purchase your tickets for Saturday, Sept. 28 at 3:30 pm at the Playhouse, or 9:30 pm at the Playhouse.
4. If you like the art of Mary Pratt…
You’ll like It Was All So Wonderful: The Everyday Magic of Mary Pratt
Mary Pratt’s work have been a cornerstone of Canadian art. From her warm still-life paintings to her more provocative portraits, The Everyday Magic of Mary Pratt showcases the world-famous artist on the big screen. You won’t want to miss seeing her creations come to life, and to peek behind the curtain of her life’s highs, lows, and everything in between.
5. If you like Eleanor and Park…
You’ll like Port Authority.
At its core, the story behind Rainbow Rowell’s bestselling young adult novel is one of love and joy compromised by societal constraints: boy meets girl. Class, race, and other societal constraints keep them apart and challenge their relationship. Boy and girl give everything to keep what they’ve found.
In this regard, Port Authority shares the same DNA. When Paul falls in love with Wye deep in New York’s drag performance scene, things get complicated when he finds out she’s trans. Tender and vibrant, director Danielle Lessovitz tells this story with a type of brilliance the audience won’t soon forget.
Watch the trailer. Purchase your tickets for Saturday, October 5 6:30 pm at International Village 9 or Sunday, October 6 at 1:45 pm at International Village 10.
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