One of the largest film festivals in North America, the Vancouver International Film Festival is returning to venues throughout the city from Thursday, September 26th to Friday, October 11th.

The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) has been taking place at the end of September every year for nearly four decades. During the festival, more than 300 films are shown at half a dozen theatres throughout Vancouver to an audience of well over 100,000 people. It is a celebration of cinema featuring related talks and events designed to enrich your appreciation and knowledge of film.

VIFF presents an opportunity to see not only the best in Canadian cinema but to see films from all around the world as well. A truly international event, the festival regularly screens films from over 70 different countries. Organizers also do a fantastic job of showcasing films from a wide range of genres, including drama, comedy, action, science fiction, and horror. There is always a great selection of documentary films as well.

The festival presents an opportunity for dedicated filmmakers to earn recognition and even monetary awards for their work. The BC Spotlight Awards and the Canadian Awards offer top prizes of $10,000 and $15,000 respectively, along with numerous categories with awards ranging from $3,000 to $7,500. There is also a VIFF Impact Award of $5,000 as well as a Super Channel People’s Choice Award determined by festivalgoers.

To see a film at VIFF, all you have to do is show up at the box office of the venue and purchase your ticket there. Regular screenings cost $15 for adults (18+), $10 for youth, and $13 for students (18+) and seniors (65+). Special presentations cost $17 per ticket and gala screenings $22 a ticket.

If you’re planning on seeing multiple films at VIFF, then you can save money on the cost of individual tickets by purchasing one of the many available Ticket Packs. Among the most popular options are the 6 Ticket Pack for $84, the Student 5 Pack for $50 and the Senior 5 Pack for $60. Packs of 10, 20, and 30 tickets great for larger groups are also available.

In addition to film screenings, VIFF runs a Films+ program for those who are in or interested in the film industry. Through the festival’s Creator Talks and DGC Master Class Series, attendees will also get the chance to learn from some of the leading film creators and innovators in the world. These industry professionals will be sharing their expertise at informative panel sessions and more intimate fireside chats.

Likewise, independent content creators can check out Totally Indie Day on September 28th to learn more about the motion pictures business. From September 28th to 29th, VIFF Immersed will feature discussions and workshops about virtual and augmented reality. There is also the two-day VIFF AMP summit from October 4th to 5th, which is all about the role of music in film and television.

VIFF is a welcoming and accessible festival designed for passionate film aficionados and casual movie fans alike. Come discover and discuss a variety of cinematic gems from Canada and around the world over two exciting weeks in the beautiful city of Vancouver.