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2025 SELECTION
& Schedule
*Please note that festival programming is subject to change.
FRIDAY
OCTOBER 24
Sunday OCTOBER 26
Celebrating Art 11
OPENING night film: celebrating art in canada
OCT. 24
8:30 PM
click poster for details
The Painted Life of E.J. Hughes
1:26:00 min
For 70 years, E.J. Hughes captured the landscapes of British Columbia in vivid, dreamlike detail. Too shy to attend his own art openings, he struggled in poverty until a twist of fate helped him become one of the most beloved—and highly valued—artists in Canadian history.
Directed by Jenn Strom
Country: Canada; BC
For 70 years, E.J. Hughes captured the landscapes of British Columbia in vivid, dreamlike detail. Too shy to attend his own art openings, he struggled in poverty until a twist of fate helped him become one of the most beloved—and highly valued—artists in Canadian history.
Directed by Jenn Strom
Country: Canada; BC
TICKETS COMING SOON
Animation 11
Animation
Oct. 25
12:00 PM
click poster for details
Before You Go
3:22 min
Before You Go is a short animated 2D film surrounding Grace, a girl who is waiting for a return that will not come—that is, until a storm erupts and she is left with no choice but to move on.
Directed by Nancy Hatoum
Country: Canada; ON
Before You Go is a short animated 2D film surrounding Grace, a girl who is waiting for a return that will not come—that is, until a storm erupts and she is left with no choice but to move on.
Directed by Nancy Hatoum
Country: Canada; ON
Snap Shot
4:33 min
Needing to get out of his house for the day, a boy decides to explore the nearby forest, unaware of the adventure he's about to embark on.
Directed by Kaitlyn Mcaloney
Country: Canada; BC
Needing to get out of his house for the day, a boy decides to explore the nearby forest, unaware of the adventure he's about to embark on.
Directed by Kaitlyn Mcaloney
Country: Canada; BC
ULTIMATE MECHA
2:45 min
In the futuristic cyberpunk city of Ion Zero, a trouble-making pre teen delinquent named Zane steals a deadly Mech. But when the Mech spirals out of control, our main hero Xora steps in to save the day.
Directed by Ryan Russell, Denise Destri Bacic
Country: Canada; BC
In the futuristic cyberpunk city of Ion Zero, a trouble-making pre teen delinquent named Zane steals a deadly Mech. But when the Mech spirals out of control, our main hero Xora steps in to save the day.
Directed by Ryan Russell, Denise Destri Bacic
Country: Canada; BC
Make the Meadow Great Again
2:05 min
Snail and Ladybug are trying to live their life in the increasingly confusing political environment of the Meadow.
Directed by Tatiana Alexeeva
Country: Canada; BC
Snail and Ladybug are trying to live their life in the increasingly confusing political environment of the Meadow.
Directed by Tatiana Alexeeva
Country: Canada; BC
Cat & Fish
2 min
A goldfish in a small container goes to a bigger pond with the help of a cat and the sun.
Directed by Nilram Ranjbar
Country: Iran
A goldfish in a small container goes to a bigger pond with the help of a cat and the sun.
Directed by Nilram Ranjbar
Country: Iran
Our Sand Castle
3:57 min
A brother visiting his sister abroad spends their last day together at the beach where they recreate a childhood photo.
Directed by Yeji (Graham) Kim
Country: Canada; BC
A brother visiting his sister abroad spends their last day together at the beach where they recreate a childhood photo.
Directed by Yeji (Graham) Kim
Country: Canada; BC
Single Use
1:47 min
After being thoughtlessly discarded by a business woman, a gum wrapper goes on a long and harrowing journey throughout its single-use lifespan.
Directed by Ashley Johnsgaard
Country: Canada; BC
After being thoughtlessly discarded by a business woman, a gum wrapper goes on a long and harrowing journey throughout its single-use lifespan.
Directed by Ashley Johnsgaard
Country: Canada; BC
Bee
3:40 min
BEE is a mixed media animated short film that follows a wild bee’s search for pollen as it encounters various landscapes that have been affected by climate change.
Directed by Jessica Hood
Country: Canada; BC
BEE is a mixed media animated short film that follows a wild bee’s search for pollen as it encounters various landscapes that have been affected by climate change.
Directed by Jessica Hood
Country: Canada; BC
TICKETS COMING SOON
Humans Alone Together 11
A WORLD OF EXPERIENCES
OCT. 25
2:00 PM
click poster for details
Why we Pride
8:35 min
A brief history of and testament to the continuing power of Pride in the UK.
Directed by Natalie Scarsbrook
Country: UK
A brief history of and testament to the continuing power of Pride in the UK.
Directed by Natalie Scarsbrook
Country: UK
Wandering Still
13:16 min
A visual diary of the daily events of two twenty-somethings who live completely separate lives, yet their experiences hold universal truths.
Directed by Maggie D Johnson, Cheryl Shiu
Country: Canada; BC
A visual diary of the daily events of two twenty-somethings who live completely separate lives, yet their experiences hold universal truths.
Directed by Maggie D Johnson, Cheryl Shiu
Country: Canada; BC
Smoke & Mirrors
6:21 min
When a novice Magician drops the ball on his first performance, a faint laugh sets into motion a journey of self discovery.
Directed by Nathan Rivers
Country: Canada; BC
When a novice Magician drops the ball on his first performance, a faint laugh sets into motion a journey of self discovery.
Directed by Nathan Rivers
Country: Canada; BC
My Endless Eclipse
14:25 min
A transgender woman has hidden her gender identity all her life. To escape a forced marriage, she is forced to flee her country. But she falls into the hands of human traffickers.
Directed by Bijan Aarabi
Country: Iran
A transgender woman has hidden her gender identity all her life. To escape a forced marriage, she is forced to flee her country. But she falls into the hands of human traffickers.
Directed by Bijan Aarabi
Country: Iran
Dandelion Girl
18:38 min
Mark, a middle-aged man encounters a young, mysterious woman, while staying at his cabin, who claims to be a time traveler from the future.
Directed by Rogan Lovse
Country: Canada; BC
Mark, a middle-aged man encounters a young, mysterious woman, while staying at his cabin, who claims to be a time traveler from the future.
Directed by Rogan Lovse
Country: Canada; BC
TICKETS COMING SOON
Toil and Trouble 11
tales of the unexpected
OCT. 25
5:00 PM
click poster for details
This Never Happened
4:07 min
Beset on all sides by horrible customers and confusing crushes, a daydreaming delivery worker loses her mind but finds herself.
Directed by Abbey St. Brendan
Country: Canada; BC
Beset on all sides by horrible customers and confusing crushes, a daydreaming delivery worker loses her mind but finds herself.
Directed by Abbey St. Brendan
Country: Canada; BC
Smash Away
4:00 min
An Uber Eats driver puts everything on the line for the delivery of his life.
Directed by Joel McCarthy, Mike Doaga, Mattisse Weyler-Hubert
Country: Canada; BC
An Uber Eats driver puts everything on the line for the delivery of his life.
Directed by Joel McCarthy, Mike Doaga, Mattisse Weyler-Hubert
Country: Canada; BC
Garage Sale Massacre
10:00 min
At a strange woman's unassuming garage sale, a cursed clock - harbouring the secrets of time, life, death and morality - awaits in silence. But when a nosy neighbourhood Karen shatters it, evil is unleashed, dooming the neighbours to a swift, supernatural end.
Directed by Warren Dean Fulton
Country: Canada; BC
At a strange woman's unassuming garage sale, a cursed clock - harbouring the secrets of time, life, death and morality - awaits in silence. But when a nosy neighbourhood Karen shatters it, evil is unleashed, dooming the neighbours to a swift, supernatural end.
Directed by Warren Dean Fulton
Country: Canada; BC
The Breaks
13:45 min
2 beer delivery drivers return to the brewery to find something strange and dangerous is lurking around the premise.
Directed by Cody Leo Bisson
Country: Canada; BC
2 beer delivery drivers return to the brewery to find something strange and dangerous is lurking around the premise.
Directed by Cody Leo Bisson
Country: Canada; BC
Yeah, She’s My Wife
4:25 min
Confused about what kind of romantic relationship he wants, Duncan decides to commit himself to something a bit… unconventional.
Directed by Aaron Rota
Country: Canada; BC
Confused about what kind of romantic relationship he wants, Duncan decides to commit himself to something a bit… unconventional.
Directed by Aaron Rota
Country: Canada; BC
Killer Vacancy
9:17 min
A fragile young woman moves into a shared house, where she discovers that her strange roommates have a twisted idea of a practical joke
Directed by Julian Cipriano
Country: Canada; BC
A fragile young woman moves into a shared house, where she discovers that her strange roommates have a twisted idea of a practical joke
Directed by Julian Cipriano
Country: Canada; BC
TICKETS COMING SOON
Humans Alone Together 2 11
at the crossroads
OCT. 25
7:00 PM
click poster for details
Take It Off
10:16 min
Milo has a mask, and every time he puts it on, he is transported to a world full of sunflowers. There, he meets a girl in a white dress who, without realizing it, will lead him to face his greatest fear: taking off the mask.
Directed by Sergio Tovar Uribe
Country: Canada; BC
Milo has a mask, and every time he puts it on, he is transported to a world full of sunflowers. There, he meets a girl in a white dress who, without realizing it, will lead him to face his greatest fear: taking off the mask.
Directed by Sergio Tovar Uribe
Country: Canada; BC
The Call
11:30 min
Iris, a lonely and depressed young adult, just trying to make it through each monotonous day, gets their life upended by a mysterious being. They speak with the wisdom of someone who's walked their path before.
Directed by Silas Howse
Country: Canada; ON
Iris, a lonely and depressed young adult, just trying to make it through each monotonous day, gets their life upended by a mysterious being. They speak with the wisdom of someone who's walked their path before.
Directed by Silas Howse
Country: Canada; ON
The Lonely Ocnus
11:28 min
While Son hesitates to call his ex, he unknowingly neglects both himself and his goldfish.
Directed by Sao Khue
Country: Canada; BC
While Son hesitates to call his ex, he unknowingly neglects both himself and his goldfish.
Directed by Sao Khue
Country: Canada; BC
Chicken Broth Soup
18:00 min
The doctor comes across unusual symptoms at the man said to have died of a heart attack when he examined the corpse.He decides to refer the body to forensic medicine. Thereupon, the mans wife confesses; she said poisoned her husband, who constantly beat her. A big surprise awaits the doctor, who has to make a vital decision for the woman.
Directed by Deniz Büyükkırlı
Country: Türkiye
The doctor comes across unusual symptoms at the man said to have died of a heart attack when he examined the corpse.He decides to refer the body to forensic medicine. Thereupon, the mans wife confesses; she said poisoned her husband, who constantly beat her. A big surprise awaits the doctor, who has to make a vital decision for the woman.
Directed by Deniz Büyükkırlı
Country: Türkiye
Pilloried
13:30 min
Addicted and adrift, a failed New York dancer is coerced into becoming a police informant — a role that offers redemption, but may cost her what little she has left.
Directed by Hannah Wederquist-Keller
Country: USA
Addicted and adrift, a failed New York dancer is coerced into becoming a police informant — a role that offers redemption, but may cost her what little she has left.
Directed by Hannah Wederquist-Keller
Country: USA
TICKETS COMING SOON
Toil and trouble 2 11
in the shadows
OCT. 25
9:00 PM
click poster for details
Breach
3:00 min
A pregnant woman defends her house from two intruders.
Directed by Ross Langill
Country: Canada; BC
A pregnant woman defends her house from two intruders.
Directed by Ross Langill
Country: Canada; BC
The Harpies
4:30 min
Aura is on the run from her ex-boyfriend. She is accompanied by her friend, Matt. Matt has always had an uncomfortable crush on Aura. The pair find themselves seeking shelter in an abandoned lumber mill. Unbeknownst to them; a dangerous harpy calls the mill home.
Directed by Rogan Lovse
Country: Canada; BC
Aura is on the run from her ex-boyfriend. She is accompanied by her friend, Matt. Matt has always had an uncomfortable crush on Aura. The pair find themselves seeking shelter in an abandoned lumber mill. Unbeknownst to them; a dangerous harpy calls the mill home.
Directed by Rogan Lovse
Country: Canada; BC
47:10:100
14:32 min
After his wife’s accident, a man faces a horrifying truth at the hospital: her heart has failed, and an urgent transplant is the only way to save her. But the overwhelming cost forces him to consider an unthinkable offer — selling his only child to a childless couple in exchange for the money needed to buy the heart.
Directed by Serna Amini
Country: IRAN
After his wife’s accident, a man faces a horrifying truth at the hospital: her heart has failed, and an urgent transplant is the only way to save her. But the overwhelming cost forces him to consider an unthinkable offer — selling his only child to a childless couple in exchange for the money needed to buy the heart.
Directed by Serna Amini
Country: IRAN
Marionette
6:27 min
When a reclusive filmmaker notices the actors in his favorite TV show stumbling over their lines, his growing frustration uncovers a disturbing truth, trapping him in the very game he once controlled.
Directed by Milene Curiel
Country: Canada
When a reclusive filmmaker notices the actors in his favorite TV show stumbling over their lines, his growing frustration uncovers a disturbing truth, trapping him in the very game he once controlled.
Directed by Milene Curiel
Country: Canada
Immortal Embrace
7:19 min
Turned into a vampire against her will, 16-year-old Emily must navigate her new reality with the unwavering support of her single mother. Immortal Embrace is a poignant coming-of-age tale that explores identity, family, and the enduring strength of a mother-daughter bond amidst the challenges of the supernatural.
Directed by Reamonn Joshee
Country: Canada; AB
Turned into a vampire against her will, 16-year-old Emily must navigate her new reality with the unwavering support of her single mother. Immortal Embrace is a poignant coming-of-age tale that explores identity, family, and the enduring strength of a mother-daughter bond amidst the challenges of the supernatural.
Directed by Reamonn Joshee
Country: Canada; AB
Voyeur
5:55 min
A girl enters a coffee shop while waiting for her friend. An unknown number sends her a photo of her, taken just before she enters the coffee shop. The unknown person sends the photo several times.
Directed by Maryam Hashempour
Country: Iran
A girl enters a coffee shop while waiting for her friend. An unknown number sends her a photo of her, taken just before she enters the coffee shop. The unknown person sends the photo several times.
Directed by Maryam Hashempour
Country: Iran
TICKETS COMING SOON
Mental Health 11
MENTAL HEALTH: FILMS and panel discussion
OCT. 26
2:00 PM
click poster for details
Buddy Check For Jesse
29:24 min
After losing his incredible son, Jesse Short-Gershman, at age 22 to suicide, Dr. Stu Gershman made a decision: to talk openly about mental health in an unlikely place — the locker room.Through Buddy Check for Jesse, Stu encourages coaches to raise mental health awareness through the power of sport.
Director: Michael Anthony
Country: Canada; BC
After losing his incredible son, Jesse Short-Gershman, at age 22 to suicide, Dr. Stu Gershman made a decision: to talk openly about mental health in an unlikely place — the locker room.Through Buddy Check for Jesse, Stu encourages coaches to raise mental health awareness through the power of sport.
Director: Michael Anthony
Country: Canada; BC
Common Law
26:30 min
A new bipolar diagnosis puts strain on a young man’s relationship, and he must challenge his long-held belief that love is always enough.
Director: Kagan Goh
Country: Canada; BC
A new bipolar diagnosis puts strain on a young man’s relationship, and he must challenge his long-held belief that love is always enough.
Director: Kagan Goh
Country: Canada; BC
TICKETS COMING SOON
Friday
CLOSING NIGHT FILMS:
CANADA ON filM- All that we are and all we can be
Oct. 26
7:30 PM
click poster for details
The Essentials
7:00 min
Join Conservation North’s Director Michelle Connolly and Eh Cho Dene elder Pehcheh, in “The Essentials,” a 7-minute short leading us through the intricate connections that keep the forests of inner British Columbia fully functioning and gorgeous. As long as they remain intact, the forests will continue to work as quiet carbon storage heroes, supporting all manner of wildlife.
Directed by Maya Rani Khosla
Country: USA
Join Conservation North’s Director Michelle Connolly and Eh Cho Dene elder Pehcheh, in “The Essentials,” a 7-minute short leading us through the intricate connections that keep the forests of inner British Columbia fully functioning and gorgeous. As long as they remain intact, the forests will continue to work as quiet carbon storage heroes, supporting all manner of wildlife.
Directed by Maya Rani Khosla
Country: USA
Black Chador
7:16 min
Black Chador follows a diasporic Persian woman as she navigates identity and faith, using the chador to reconnect with her roots and honour her late grandmother.
Directed by Elyana Moradi
Country: Canada; BC
Black Chador follows a diasporic Persian woman as she navigates identity and faith, using the chador to reconnect with her roots and honour her late grandmother.
Directed by Elyana Moradi
Country: Canada; BC
La Casa di Nonna
10:10 min
A young woman inherits her late grandmother's house and discovers that there is still some magic left in it.
Directed by Emma Ciprian
Country: Canada; BC
A young woman inherits her late grandmother's house and discovers that there is still some magic left in it.
Directed by Emma Ciprian
Country: Canada; BC
Walk & Talk
6:35 min
Walk and Talk is a coming-of-age drama about Eve, a wild and aloof 16-year-old girl who takes a spontaneous night walk to escape her overbearing mother. With her thoughts and frustrations pouring out, Eve engages in a conversation with herself, exploring her identity and her place in the world.
Directed by Inanna Cusi
Country: Canada, BC
Walk and Talk is a coming-of-age drama about Eve, a wild and aloof 16-year-old girl who takes a spontaneous night walk to escape her overbearing mother. With her thoughts and frustrations pouring out, Eve engages in a conversation with herself, exploring her identity and her place in the world.
Directed by Inanna Cusi
Country: Canada, BC
A Okay
6:00 min
A-Okay brings attention to the hyper-sexualized and romanticized society we live in and how it’s expectations, stigmas, and stereotypes can be harmful to individuals on the aromantic and asexual spectrums.
Directed by J Fitzpatrick
Country: Canada; ON
A-Okay brings attention to the hyper-sexualized and romanticized society we live in and how it’s expectations, stigmas, and stereotypes can be harmful to individuals on the aromantic and asexual spectrums.
Directed by J Fitzpatrick
Country: Canada; ON
Velvet Secrets
10:15 min
Asha’s life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a revealing red velvet dress in her daughter's room. Her curiosity leads her to try it on, sparking a journey of self-exploration and empathy.
Directed by Shanthini Balasubramanian
Country: Canada; BC
Asha’s life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a revealing red velvet dress in her daughter's room. Her curiosity leads her to try it on, sparking a journey of self-exploration and empathy.
Directed by Shanthini Balasubramanian
Country: Canada; BC
The Brothers Crom
15:00 min
Twin blacksmiths Gonzo and Berny Franco pursue their unconventional dream of forging the finest medieval armour and weapons in the land. From reenactment combat to Hollywood movies, their steel has made an impact.
Directed by Luke Banville
Country: Canada; AB
Twin blacksmiths Gonzo and Berny Franco pursue their unconventional dream of forging the finest medieval armour and weapons in the land. From reenactment combat to Hollywood movies, their steel has made an impact.
Directed by Luke Banville
Country: Canada; AB
TICKETS COMING SOON
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