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Vancouver International Film Festival

VIFF Festival Film

The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) is one of the city’s biggest cultural events, taking place every fall in downtown Vancouver. The festival typically runs from late September to early October, showcasing films at the VIFF Centre on Seymour Street as well as at several other partner theatres across the city.

For the official schedule and tickets, visit viff.org.

Visit viff.org for full details about the Vancouver International Film Festival.

 

About the Vancouver Film Festival

Recognized as one of the largest film festivals in North America, the VIFF presents up to 300 screenings each year and attracts over 100,000 film lovers. The lineup includes everything from award-winning international releases to independent and emerging films.

The festival is especially known for its wide range of programming. It features:

  • The biggest selection of Asian films outside of Asia
  • One of the largest showcases of Canadian cinema
  • Movies from 70+ countries, presented in their original languages with English subtitles

Audiences can enjoy a diverse mix of genres including dramas, comedies, documentaries, action, science fiction, horror, and more.

 

Festival Highlights

Each year, the VIFF screens around 200 films, with many premieres and exclusive showings. In recent editions, the festival has included over 80 short films, 140 feature-length productions, and more than 120 premieres, including world, North American, and Canadian premieres.

On the festival’s website, films are organized by date, genre, content type, venue, and country of origin, making it easy for attendees to plan their experience.

 

Film Festival Venues

While the VIFF Centre at 1181 Seymour Street is the festival’s main hub, screenings take place at several other venues, such as:

  • Fifth Avenue Cinemas – 2110 Burrard Street
  • International Village Cinemas – 88 West Pender Street
  • Rio Theatre – 1660 East Broadway (19+ licensed venue)
  • SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (Woodward’s) – 149 West Hastings Street
  • The Cinémathèque – 1131 Howe Street
  • Vancouver Playhouse – 600 Hamilton Street
Vancouver International Film Centre

 

VIFF Centre (Vancouver International Film Centre)

The VIFF Centre, also known as the Vancouver International Film Centre, is the year-round home of the festival. Located at 1181 Seymour Street, the venue houses both the Vancity Theatre and Studio Theatre, where films, special screenings, and cultural events take place outside of festival season.

The festival is organized by the Greater Vancouver International Film Festival Society, a non-profit dedicated to promoting film culture and year-round programming at the VIFF Centre.

Visit viff.org for full details about the Vancouver International Film Festival.

 

Useful Information for Attendees

  • Festival Memberships are valid all year at the VIFF Centre.
  • Since most films are unrated, attendees generally need to be 18+. (At the Rio Theatre, guests must be 19+ due to liquor licensing.)
  • All films are presented in their original language with English subtitles.

 

Other Information

Whether you’re a fan of international cinema, Canadian filmmaking, or independent productions, the Vancouver International Film Festival is a must-see event that transforms the city each fall.

Check out the Vancouver International Film Festival website for more information about the event.

To learn about another film-related attraction, see our Flyover at Canada Place article.