Bianca Rose Cheung on how memories can impact our lives forever

Bianca Rose Cheung on how memories can impact our lives forever

In Bianca Rose Cheung's "My Dad is an Astronaut," lead character, Cami, lives in rural Northern BC alongside her Mother. Set in a picturesque yet gritty winter, Cami must grapple with her mother's deteriorating health, while reconciling with the absence of her Father. In this short from Cheung, Cami's story is representative of the experience of growing up in an "Astronaut family," a term coined for Chinese migrant families in the 80s and 90s, where different members of the family lived in different countries for economic reasons. But what really intrigues Cheung is the emotional impact of this separation from your loved ones, and how the memory of them is embedded in each choice you make for your future. "My Dad is an Astronaut" demonstrates how we live with decisions made for us, not by us, and how the memory of someone, while alive, can still be a grieving process. In this episode of the VIFF Podcast, we chat with the filmmaker about what it was like shooting in the dead of winter, and how the purpose of cinema is so much more than entertainment. 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.

Karina Ripper Embraces the Gray Area When it Comes to the Catholic Church

Karina Ripper's "There's a Devil Inside Me," begins with lead character Teresa, living out her rebellious teens with a bumbling boy in the car, smoking weed, fooling around, and pushing the envelope of her parents' expectations. Ending up at confirmation class, Teresa's curiosity leads her to play dress-up with a nun's habit. Shortly, she's mistaken for a nun herself, and is handed the collections plate from the church. Suddenly in possession of a basket full of cash, the viewer follows Teresa as she decides what to do with it. Ripper herself grew up in Dallas, Texas. As the daughter of immigrants from Mexico, the importance of going to church was ingrained in her from an early age. Finding freedom in film, and representation in storytelling as she grew up "There's a Devil Inside Me," pulls from Ripper's own experiences in the Catholic church as a woman, offering commentary on the pressure to be a saint as a young girl, and some of the unsavoury things that happen when it comes to wealth, and the church. On this episode of the VIFF Podcast, Shorts Programmer Casey Wei talks with Ripper on the beauty of a curveball in a plot, covering dark topics with lightness, and living in the gray area. 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.

Jereme Watt reaches new documentary heights in "Everest Dark"

Many know the visual splendour of Mount Everest, but only through pictures, stories, or tales of these treks that tempt the most ambitious of climbers. But, as the profile of Mount Everest has risen, what's lesser known is the stories of the Sherpas that guide these climbs while risking their lives to recover the bodies of those who did not survive the summit. This side of the story is the catalyst for Jereme Watt's "Everest Dark." Spotlighting one of Nepal's most celebrated high-altitude climbers, Mingma, "Everest Dark" follows this compelling character on his own journey to reclaim Mount Everest from exploitation. In 2015, Nepal suffered a devastating earthquake that cost the lives of many. Mingma believed this to be the wrath of God. "Everest Dark" is a documentary on courage, conviction, faith, and the cost of intruding on what is sacred. In this episode of the VIFF Podcast, Watt sits down with Director of Programming, Curtis Woloschuk, to discuss creating such an arduous project, which also happened to take place during the peak of COVID. From gathering a high-altitude crew to explaining the risks of participation to their parents, creating "Everest Dark" was no small feat. We hear from Watt on his conviction to make it happen. 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 100 SUNSET, Kunsang Kyirong is inspired by 'complicated women'

Kunsang Kyirong's "100 Sunset" follows two young women residing in Parkdale, Toronto. Located in a unique apartment complex, housing a vibrant community of Tibetan immigrants, Kyirong's lens lets us into closeness of communal living, and the pangs of loneliness that perhaps make us observe each other more than we should. In this compelling story, lead character Kunsel finds herself fascinated with others, picking up her camera to spy on her neighbours as she becomes enthralled with their day-to-day. Soon, she meets Passang, quickly challenging her introverted nature, and revealing a curious dynamic. To make this film happen, Kyirong went door-knocking, sourcing cast, and locations to ensure this work put Tibetan lives at the centre, demonstrating how even though we all live close together in modern-day housing, our lives may be vastly different. An incredibly strong feature debut from a Vancouver local, on this episode of the VIFF podcast, we talk with Kyirong about capturing 'complicated women,' on camera, working with non-actors, and platforming immigrant communities. 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.

Igor Bezinović on why his anti-war film arrived at just the right time

The success of Igor Bezinović's third feature, "Fiume o Morte!," is something to marvel at. "Fiume o Morte!," is about the Croatian city of Rijeka, following its occupation by Italy. Blending absurdist re-enactments and documented record, portrayed almost entirely by first-time actors, it has been seen around the world—and was even Croatia's submission for the Academy Awards. Yet, despite the specificity of this story, "Fiume o Morte!" resonates universally in a time where an authoritarian regime is present, or has been present, on every single continent, insisting that war is necessary. That war is natural. But Bezinović rejects that. He flips the script and pokes fun at fascism with playful skits, and wit. In this episode of the VIFF Podcast, Programmer and Program Lead, Sonja Baksa sits down with Bezinović to talk about the weight of telling this story, using creativity to resist hegemony, and Bezinović's most memorable moments in cinema. 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.