Photo: viffest on Instagram 

Set to run until tomorrow, this year’s Vancouver International Film Festival is set to include about 400 films from over 70 countries. Other than the Toronto International Film Festival, which just wrapped earlier this month, VIFF is also considered one of North America’s largest film festivals. From movie buffs to Hollywood stars, the two week long extravaganza is an opportunity for anyone who loves the silver screen to come together, right in Van City. 

This year, one of the featured films includes Modes 1, which is screened at the Vancity Theatre and claims to explore the concept of existence and “being.” Other options include The Desert Bride  at the Vancouver Playhouse, which is directed by Cecilia Atán and Valeria Balagov from Argentina and Chile. 

Along with movies and documentaries from the latest leading directors and producers, this year’s VIFF has branched out to include other unique platforms for visual storytelling. Through its Buffer Festival Program, attendees are invited to experience the dynamics of virtual and augmented reality. There will be exclusive showings that celebrate the contemporary shift towards innovative work from YouTube’s best content creators. This special event is reported to be the world’s largest showcase of digital-first content on the big screen. 

Unlike the Toronto International Film Festival, which is more tailored towards renowned Hollywood releases, VIFF has carved a niche for itself by giving the spotlight to Canadian releases. A couple notable Canadian films include Jordan Canning’s comedy, Suck It Up, and Robert Morin’s dark thriller, Infiltration.

The True North series at VIFF is dedicated to celebrating Canadian storytellers who demonstrate extraordinary artistic talent and creativity. The festival officially ends on October 13, which means that Vancouver film buffs still have today and tomorrow to enjoy the cinematic offerings.