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VAFF22

Festival Information

The Vancouver Asian Film Festival (VAFF) is pleased to announce the countdown to its much anticipated 22nd annual celebration of Asian diaspora and diversity in film, set for November 1st to 4th, 2018 at the Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas in Vancouver 88 W. Pender St., in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown district.

Tickets and passes are available online from October 3 at www.vaff.org, or at the theatre box office from November 1 at 6:00 pm. For more information, please email info@vaff.org.

 

The VAFF 2018 theme of INFUSIAN shines a spotlight upon the diverse artists, agitators, thinkers, and innovators who shape the living experience of contemporary Canadians and the array of influences that inform their work. INFUSIAN is an act of creation that helps form an endlessly complex, rich and vigorous society: it tells the stories of individuals and communities blending together old and new, East and West, classic and cutting-edge, myriad ways of living and thinking that draw out the strengths and unique flavours from many different ingredients. It also reflects the undeniable hybridity of modern Canada, with multiple heritages, histories, and cultures both within and outside of the Asian diaspora coming together in countless combinations.

 

Be sure to connect with us on  Instagram, Facebook, and  Twitter often to keep up with all the exciting updates!

For all inquiries before the festival, please email info@vaff.org

For all inquiries during the festival Nov 1 – 4, 2018 inclusive, please email Lynne Lee, Festival Director: lynne.lee@vaff.org.

 

Digital Version of VAFF 22 Festival Program

 

About VAFF 22

The VAFF 22 lineup presents 13 film programs plus 3 industry panels, including the public premiere of the “We Heart Canada + Japan 90” film project with the partnership of Japan Foundation, Toronto and Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver in celebrating of the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Canada and 35 other feature-length and short films of all genres, with English language and/or English subtitles, from the local and international Asian diaspora. Highlights from the feature,s 90% Canadian premieres & 100% first time in Vancouver include:

  • The Canadian premiere of the Opening Night film, “Dead Pigs” , The intertwining fates of five individuals shines a light on class struggle in a rapidly changing modern China, from director: Cathy Yan, the first Asian woman to direct a DC Comics franchise movie “Birds of Prey”:
  • the Canadian Spotlight of  the “Stand Up Man”, the only thing standing between you and your dreams is everything from director’s Aram Collier:
  • the Centrepiece Spotlight is the Vancouver premiere of Filipino-American filmmaker, Alexandra Cuerdo’s “ULAM: Main Dish” – a food documentary following the rise of the Filipino food movement via the chefs crossing over to the center of the American table;
  • the Canadian Female Filmmaker, Domee Shi  “Bao”, global release, – An aging Chinese mom suffering from empty nest syndrome gets another chance at motherhood when one of her dumplings springs to life as a lively, giggly dumpling boy;
  • the Canadian premiere of S. Louisa Wei’s documentary ” Havana Divas”, Two stage sisters living in an era of revolution. Four opera trips crossing the ocean of time.
  • the Vancouver premiere of Indian-American filmmaker, Harleen Singh’s documentary, “Drawn Together: Comics, Diversity and Stereotypes, Drawn Together traces the fascinating journey of three comic creators who challenge the notion of race, appearance, and gender stereotypes through cartoons, comics and cosplay;
  • the Vancouver premiere of the “Badass Beauty Queen: The Story of Anastasia Lin” The story behind Miss World contestant Anastasia Lin using her most powerful weapon, her beauty, to stand up to an oppressive regime by Director’s Theresa Kowall-Shipp; and
  • our Closing Night presentation, the Canada premiere of Alex Chu’s The lives of a recovering queer addict and her single mother change forever when they move in next door to a widowed father and his adult daughter with autism., the award-winning “For Izzy.”

We are proud to bring Vancouver audiences 12 Canadian premieres; 5 World premieres, and an additional six films that are Vancouver premieres. This year, exactly 50% of the Directors are females.  Over thirty filmmakers and panelists, from Canada and internationally, are expected to attend. Organizers anticipate close to 4,000 audience and industry members over the four-day festival.