VIFF Podcast

Filmmaker Emilija Gašić joins VIFF’s Vanguard series programmer Sonja Baksa to discuss 78 Days, a found-footage film that won the Vanguard Award at VIFF 2024. Shot on hi-8 tapes in her native Serbia, the film follows three sisters documenting their lives during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999. Inspired by her own childhood memories, Gašić’s decision to use analog tape lent to the "docufiction" quality of the film. In this conversation, Sonja and Emilija unpack the film’s unconventional process and the Vanguard series’ focus on "films that are pushing the boundaries of cinema", and how Gašić’s journey from Lord of the Rings fan to NYU Tisch grad shaped her voice as a director. This episode was recorded during the 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival.  This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival. Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

In this episode of the VIFF Podcast, program manager and senior programmer PoChu AuYeung sits down with acclaimed Canadian animator and filmmaker Ann Marie Fleming to discuss her latest film, Can I Get a Witness?, which screened at VIFF 2024. Set in a near future where citizens are required to exit life at 50 to combat climate change and inequality, the live-action film stars veteran Vancouver actor Sandra Oh, along with newcomers Keira Jang and Joel Oulette. Ann Marie reflects on the emotional and ethical questions at the heart of the story, as well as the film’s themes of sustainability, technology reduction, and community care.  This episode was recorded during the 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival.  This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival. Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

In this episode of the VIFF Podcast, programmer Alan Franey interviews American filmmaker Connie Field about her documentary feature Democracy Noir, which explores the rise of Viktor Orbán in Hungary and its global implications. The film follows three women—a journalist, a nurse, and a politician—who fight against Orbán's regime, highlighting Orbán's manipulation of democracy to maintain power, including changing the constitution to require a two-thirds parliamentary majority for amendments. Field discusses the parallels between Orbán's tactics and those of other authoritarian leaders (such as Trump) and the broader impact on global democracy. Despite its relevance, distribution challenges persist, particularly in the U.S. This episode was recorded during the 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival.  This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival. Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

Musqueam filmmaker Faith Sparrow-Crawford joins VIFF short programmer Casey Wei to talk about Uncommon Ground, her haunting sci-fi short set in 2171. They dig into themes of ancestral connection, mental health, and the deep bond between main character Tawny and her aunt. Faith shares how storytelling runs in her family, why the short film format speaks to her, and how she's collaborating with her father on a larger TV series. Plus: a glimpse into her next project exploring Musqueam traditions around grief. This episode was recorded during the 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival.  This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival. Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

In this episode of the VIFF Podcast, Curtis Woloschuk sits down with Canadian filmmaker Josephine Anderson to talk about her latest documentary Curl Power. Having premiered at VIFF 2024, Curl Power follows five teenage girls chasing curling glory while navigating the emotional terrain of adolescence. Anderson reflects on the challenges of long-term observational filmmaking, the power of trust between subject and filmmaker, and the unexpected mentorship of Olympic champion mothers. Plus, Josephine and Curtis discuss how experimenting with virtual reality can expand creativity and deepen the approach to storytelling. This episode was recorded during the 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival.  This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival. Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.