General Information

Event Dates

The 24th annual Vancouver International Film Festival will be held September 29 - October 14, 2005. The festival began in 1982.

Scope

More than 150,000 people attended 500 screenings of over 300 films from more than 50 countries. For 2004, the VIFF lineup included 248 feature and mid-length films and 118 shorts.

Purpose

The festival’s purpose is to encourage the understanding of other nations through the art of cinema, to foster the art of cinema, to facilitate the meeting in British Columbia of cinema professionals from around the world, and to stimulate the motion picture industry in British Columbia and Canada.

Main Sections

The broad spectrum of fiction and nonfiction films from around the world is divided into the following sections:

• Cinema of Our Time—Featuring the best new cinema from around the world. Last year's program features 70 films from 37 countries, 8 of which were North American or International Premieres.
• Canadian Images—one of the biggest showcases of Canadian film in the world. At VIFF 2004 there were 106 Canadian films, including 33 features, nine mid-lengths and 64 shorts.
• Dragons and Tigers: The Cinemas of East Asia—the largest annual exhibition of East Asian films outside Asia; 95 films were in the program last year, including one world premiere, 21 international premieres, 18 North American premieres, 11 Canadian premieres, and two English-Canadian premieres.
• Nonfiction Features - Vancouver film fest-goers love documentary films – this series is perennially one of our most popular. The 2004 VIFF included 78 Nonfiction films, including 29 that were part our special series, "Changing the World". “Changing the World” encompassed award-winning films on topics as diverse as the war in Iraq, genetic engineering, terrorism, globalization and the environment.
• Spotlight on France — This annual sidebar celebrates the unique achievements of France’s strong national cinema.

In addition to our main sections, for younger filmgoers the VIFF offers the High School Outreach Program. Now in it's seventh year, this program provides a unique opportunity for Vancouver-area students to experience the best that international cinema has to offer. We also classify a number of other films for younger viewers to attend. Please check the Classified Films page for further information, or check back during Festival time for more details.

Theme

Same Planet. Different Worlds

Awards

• The People's Choice Award for Most Popular Film
• The Federal Express Award for Most Popular Canadian Film
• The Dragons & Tigers Award for Young Cinema (Cash prize)
• The Citytv Western Canada Feature Film Award (Cash prize)
• The Bravo!FACT Award for Best Young Western Canadian Director of a Short Film (Cash prize)
• The National Film Board of Canada Award for Best Documentary Feature (Cash prize)
• Women in Film and Video Vancouver Artistic Merit Award

Venues

For last year's event, films were screened at the following venues:

• Cineplex Odeon Granville Cinemas (7 screens)
• The VISA Screening Room at the Vogue Theatre
• Ridge Theatre
• Pacific Cinémathèque

In 2005, our exciting new facility - the 175-seat Vancity Theatre at the Vancouver International Film Centre - will be added to this list.

Trade Forum

The 20th annual Film and Television Trade Forum is September 28-30 and brings together some of the world's leading experts in the field. New Filmmakers’ Day is October 1. For venue, program and price details visit the Trade Forum pages.

Information

• Starbucks Hotline—604-683-FILM (3456), will open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, September 8 to October 14. This number is for information only; for ticket purchase, see below.
• VISA Charge-by-phone line - call for tickets, noon to 7pm daily from September 10 until October 13 at 604-685-8297.
• On-line guide, up-to-the-minute news, ticket purchase and more at www.viff.org.
• Souvenir Program Guides will be available from noon, September 17. Check back here during Festival time for locations.

Organization

The Vancouver International Film Festival is operated by the Greater Vancouver International Film Festival Society, a provincially registered, non-profit, education and cultural organization incorporated under The Society Act of British Columbia, and a federally registered charity under the Canadian Income Tax Act.

Annual Membership - $2

As a registered non-profit society, the Vancouver International Film Festival screens films that have not been seen by the B.C. Film Classification Board. Under B.C. law any person wishing to see these unclassified films must belong to the Film Festival Society and be 18 years or older. By joining the society, you are also entitled to attend the Annual General Meeting (April 19, 2005 at the Vancouver International Film Centre - 1181 Seymour St.).

Membership is valid until August 31, 2006. The VIFF Membership card does not provide membership to the Vancouver International Film Centre but can be shown for a discount towards VIFC membership. If you are planning to join the VIFC, please keep your card.

As a ticket-holder, you will be required to show your membership card at each screening you attend. If you cannot produce a valid membership card we will ask you to purchase one at that time. Pass-holders must purchase their memberships when they purchase their Passes but are not required to present their membership cards at the theatres, only their valid passes.

Certain films have been classified for the sake of children under 18, who are prohibited by law from becoming members of the Greater Vancouver International Film Festival Society. Adults must still be members to attend these Festival screenings.