Audiences + Creators Connect at VIFF 2017 The 36th edition of the Vancouver International Film Festival kicked off on a triumphant note with a gala screening of Mina Shum’s Meditation Park, the first Vancouver-shot and set feature to ever open the festival. The rapturous response of the capacity crowd set the stage for what would be an inspiring 16 days of audiences engaging with the world’s finest films and the creators responsible for them. By the time our festival had wrapped, we’d showcased 321 films at 458 public screenings, including 29 World Premieres, 18 International Premieres, 56 North American Premieres and 65 Canadian Premieres. The lineup included favourites from the festival circuit plus discover- ies curated specifically for Vancouver film-lovers. More than 200 film- makers enhanced the screening experience for our audiences with enriching Q&As that delved into their motivations and creative pro- cesses. In turn, VIFF celebrated their achievements by offering more than $100,000 in prizes to both emerging and established filmmakers, ensuring that they’re able to continue creating such exceptional work. Our unique Films+ programming continued to expand the frame by welcoming episodic, “digital-first” and virtual reality creators to take part in our annual celebration of cinematic storytelling. The master- minds behind celebrated television series such as Game of Thrones and The Handmaid’s Tale participated in extended Creator Talks, while some of YouTube’s most innovative directors received the big screen treatment. Totally Indie Day highlighted evolutions in storytelling, in- dustry initiatives and distribution, while other conferences focussed on digital entertainment and virtual reality. With the Sustainable Production Forum remaining the preeminent event of its kind in the world, we added VIFF AMP, which highlighted the creative intersec- tion between film and music. Plus: we pumped up the volume with a live music series headlined by Kronos Quartet’s unforgettable live score for The Green Fog. Our programming team is already uncovering more cinematic gems and inspiring experiences. We can’t wait to share them at VIFF 2018! Jacqueline Dupuis EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Still Night, Still Light — Sophie Goyette, VIFF 2017 VIFF 2017 REPORT TO COMMUNITY 3 Contents 321 Panorama ........................ 6 Films Sea to Sky ........................ 8 True North ......................10 Impact ..........................12 75 Countries Gateway ........................14 M/A/D . 16 ALT .............................18 458 NEXT ...........................20 Screenings VIFF Year Round .................22 VIFF High School Program .......25 Awards..........................26 130, 215 admissions Supporters ......................28 VIFF 2017 Reach ................30 VIFF 2017 Financials.............31 475 Sponsors........................32 creators and industry Volunteers ......................34 professionals welcomed to the city 1,521 High School students attend VIFF’s High School program VISION Celebrating excellence in screen- based storytelling. Suck it Up — Jordan Canning, VIFF 2017 MISSION We produce screenings, talks and events as a catalyst for a diverse community to discover, discuss and share the creativity and craft of storytelling on screen. 2017 Report to Community 4 VIFF 2017 REPORT TO COMMUNITY 5 2 3 4 5 6 Panorama The world’s boldest creators and their exceptional works. The year’s most anticipated international films and new discoveries curated specifically for VIFF audiences. This stream included Galas and Special Presentations, as well as the popular film series 7 8 Contemporary World Cinema, Spotlight on France and Documentaries. 1. VIFF partnered with Telefilm’s Movie Nights 7. Agnès Varda and JR’s Faces Places. Winner: Across Canada initiative to present Mina Shum’s Most Popular International Documentary, VIFF Vancouver-set/shot Meditation Park for our 2017; Oscar Nominee opening gala 10 8. John Carroll Lynch’s Lucky (USA) featured the 2. Opening Gala — Cast of Meditation Park final performance by legendary character actor 9 Harry Dean Stanton Ruben Östlund’s The Square (Sweden/Ger- 11 3. many/France/Denmark). Winner: Palme d’Or, 9. Alexandra Dean’s insightful portrait Bombshell: Cannes 2017; Oscar Nominee The Hedy Lamarr Story (USA) 4. Luca Guadagnino’s festival circuit standout Call 10. Robin Campillo’s BPM/Beats per minute (France). Me by Your Name (Italy/France). Oscar Nominee Winner: Grand prix, Cannes 2017 5. Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman’s hand- 11. VIFF hosted a binge-worthy marathon of Jane painted animated feature Loving Vincent Campion and Ariel Kleiman’s celebrated episodic (Poland/UK). Winner: Most Popular International series Top of the Lake: China Girl (New Zealand/ Feature, VIFF 2017; Oscar Nominee Australia) 6. The closing gala featured the Canadian Pre- miere of Todd Haynes’ Wonderstruck (USA) VIFF 2017 REPORT TO COMMUNITY 6 VIFF 2017 REPORT TO COMMUNITY 7 12 13 14 16 Sea to Sky A showcase of the inspired works emerging from the creative nexus that is British Columbia. Presented by TELUS, the BC Spotlight film series invited the latest work by our province’s brightest filmmakers to take centre stage, and left audiences thrilled by our homegrown talent. 15 Presented by STORYHIVE, Totally Indie Day brought together emerging content creators 17 with industry professionals and offered targeted business, creative and personal development opportunities. 12. Stephen Campanelli’s deeply moving adaptation 17. Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers’ revelatory c’ sna m: 18 of Richard Wagamese’s Indian Horse. Winner: the city before the city, produced in collabora- 20 19 Super Channel People’s Choice Award, VIFF tion with the Musqueam First Nation and the 2017 UBC Museum of Anthropology 13. Indian Horse’s cast and crew took part in a high- 18. World Premiere — Shut Up and Say Something, ly emotional Q&A after their VIFF screening Melanie Wood’s documentary portrait of spoken word artist Shane Koyczan. Winner: Most Popu- 14. Kathleen Hepburn’s accomplished debut Nev- lar Canadian Documentary, VIFF 2017 er Steady, Never Still won the Sea to Sky, BC Emerging Filmmaker and Emerging Canadian 19. An enthusiastic Shane Koyczan fan expressed Director awards at VIFF 2017 her admiration during a post-screening Q&A 15. Hepburn scored the Sea to Sky Award, which 20. World Premiere — LaTiesha Fazakas and Na- recognized the outstanding work of a female talie Boll’s Meet Beau Dick: Maker of Monsters, key creative on a BC-produced film an intimate portrait of the late internationally acclaimed Kwakwaka’wakw artist 16. Wayne Wapeemukwa’s unflinching documen- tary/narrative hybrid Luk’Luk’I. Winner: Best BC Film, VIFF 2017 VIFF 2017 REPORT TO COMMUNITY 8 VIFF 2017 REPORT TO COMMUNITY 9 23 22 24 25 26 27 28 True North As part of VIFF’s ongoing commitment to Canadian creators, 19 Canadian feature films were selected to screen as part of the True North stream. Presented by Telefilm Canada, the True North stream celebrated the extraordinary creativity and craft being demonstrated by Canadian storytellers from coast to coast. The World’s largest Annual 29 Showcase of Canadian Cinema. 30 22. Charles Officer’s involving, essential Unarmed Future//Present Series Verses. Winner: Best Canadian Documentary, VIFF 2017 Diverse independent filmmakers from across Can- ada who demonstrate originality and vision while 23. Lea Pool’s provocative Worst Case, We Get challenging the medium. Married 24. Denis Côté’s musclebound documentary/spec- 29. Cory Bowles’ incendiary satire Black Cop. Win- 31 tacle A Skin So Soft ner: Best Canadian Film, VIFF 2017 32 25. Pascal Plante’s disarming debut feature Fake 30. Blake Williams’ awe-inspiring 3D odyssey PRO- Tattoos TOTYPE 26. World Premiere — Fake Tattoos’ writer/direc- 31. After winning Emerging Canadian Director at tor and cast at the world premiere VIFF 16, Sofia Bohdanowicz returned with the endearing Maison du Bonheur 27. Master documentarian Alanis Obomsawin vis- ited VIFF with Our People Will Be Healed, her 32. Antoine Bourges’ Fail to Appear, a fascinating 50th film, and was introduced by Heritage Min- portrait of those who fall through the cracks. ister Mélanie Joly World Premiere 28. Jordan Canning’s wickedly funny, emotionally impactful dramedy Suck It Up . VIFF 2017 REPORT TO COMMUNITY 10 VIFF 2017 REPORT TO COMMUNITY 11 34 33 Impact Uncompromising films and insightful discussions that spark action and change the way we see the world. 2017’s selection ranged in subject matter from the depth of our 35 36 endangered oceans to the plight of refugees, going beyond the headlines to address 37 the personal, political and environmental challenges facing us. Crooked cops, political scandals, war photography and Aboriginal culture—those were just some of the highlights. With these films, audiences gained new knowledge, experienced different perspectives and learned about the paths toward change. 33. Karina Holden’s beautifully shot BLUE (Austra- 37. Barbet Schroeder’s The Venerable W (France/ lia) charted the drastic decline in the health of Switzerland) profiled a Buddhist monk who’s our oceans. Winner, Impact Award, VIFF 2017 also an unrepentant Islamophobe and avowed Trump admirer 34. Renowned artist/activist Ai Wei Wei’s stunning- ly cinematic documentary Human Flow (Germa- 38, 39, 40. Curated by Zena Harris of Green Spark ny/USA) was filmed in 40 refugee camps around Group, VIFF’s Sustainable Production Forum 38 40 the globe showcased Vancouver as a world-class desti- nation for sustainable screen-based