The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) launched their 40th season on Friday, October 1, 2021.
VIFF invites Musqueam community members to attend this year’s festival for FREE. Film screenings are happening both in-person and online, and Musqueam members have access to both types of screenings.
Contact Mack Paul, Protocol Coordinator, for the access codes or more information: [email protected] or 236-788-4779
There are 3 ways to attend VIFF!
OPTION 1: VIFF Connect Festival Pass (ONLINE)
For members who are interested in viewing multiple films, there are four codes for full-access online VIFF passes.
All of the films available online are accessed through VIFF’s online streaming platform: VIFF Connect – Virtual Cinema.
You will need to redeem your Online Pass and associate it with an individual account, using a person’s name and email address.
Your Online Passes can be used to ALL access films, talks, and conferences that are available on VIFF Connect from noon on October 1 through 11:59pm on October 11. Online Passes CANNOT be used for in-theatre screenings/events.
Similar to other streaming services, the login information can be shared with others, however, films/events can only be viewed by one person at a time if a subscription is being shared.
OPTION 2: Promo code for IN-PERSON Screenings (one-time code)
For members who are interested in seeing one or two VIFF films in-person at a cinema in the city, there are 20 codes available single tickets.
OPTION 3: Promo code for ONLINE Screenings (one-time code)
For members who are interested in seeing one or two VIFF films online, there are 30 codes available for single tickets.
How to access festival pass and ticket codes
Contact Mack Paul, Protocol Coordinator, at [email protected] and specify which code you would like.
Free access for Indigenous folks to other VIFF events
The below conferences, talks and events are available for free for Indigenous folks. Simply click through the “book tickets” buttons on the selected events (whether access is provided through a ticket or pass) and select the Indigenous Peoples option to proceed. Online access can be identified by events with the venue labelled as “VIFF Connect – Virtual Cinema”.
- Totally Indie Day
- Web link: https://viff.org/Online/article/totallyindie
- Date: Saturday, October 2
- Access type: Day pass
- VIFF AMP
- Web link: http://goviff.org/amp
- Date: October 8 – 10
- Access type: Conference pass
- VIFF Creator Talks
- Web link: http://goviff.org/talks
- Date: various from October 1 – 8
- Access type: Individual tickets need to be selected for each event.
- Short Forum Film Programmes
- Web link: http://goviff.org/2021-short-forum
- Date: available from October 1 -11
- Access type: Individual tickets needed for each shorts program
Indigenous films at VIFF
Indigenous filmmakers are crafting eye-opening, pulse-quickening, humorous, and at times deeply evocative stories this year. Bringing to life stories from the past, present and future these offer powerful and vital examples of Indigenous storytelling on the big screen for audiences at VIFF this year. Explore over two dozen films made by Indigenous filmmakers locally and around the globe, including many films streaming on VIFF Connect Virtual Theatre and some in cinema.
Some of the top titles to see include:
- Night Raiders
- Returning Home
- Portraits from a Fire
- Daughter of a Lost Bird
- Wildhood
- Bootlegger
Message from Chief in the VIFF program guide
This year, VIFF invited Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh to provide welcome messages for their program guide.
ʔa: si:y̓ém̓ nə siyéy̓ə
Friends & Relatives
ʔəm̓i ce:p kʷətxʷiləm ʔi ʔə tə n̓a šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaʔɬ təməxʷ, tə šxʷʔam̓əts tə shən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓qən
Welcome to the ancestral territory of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking Musqueam people
ʔiʔ ƛ̓əw tə šxʷʔaləqʷaʔ ct tə sqʷχʷaməx ʔiʔ tə səl̕ilwətaʔɬ məsteyəxʷ
Along with our relatives Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh
For thousands of years, Musqueam people have used storytelling as a way to share our teachings from generation to generation. Storytelling is an intrinsic part of who we are as Indigenous people. We are also social innovators, continually adapting and utilizing new technologies to build upon ancestral knowledge and practices that have sustained us for millennia.
Through film and other media, Musqueam and other Indigenous peoples are finding new ways to share our stories, experiences and struggles, and celebrate our successes. By actively supporting Indigenous creators – producers, writers, directors and actors – the film sector makes space for us to share our unique perspectives.
When film organizations and festivals centre and prioritize Indigenous films, wider audiences have opportunities to learn the diverse stories and teachings of Indigenous peoples around the world. These platforms amplify Indigenous voices – voices that have been silenced for far too long – and helps to ensure that new generations of Indigenous filmmakers will be inspired to continue creatively telling these important stories through film.
Musqueam acknowledges that the Vancouver International Film Festival works hard to bring diverse local, national and international stories to our beautiful territory, while also featuring Indigenous films during the festival and all year round.
Congratulations, VIFF, on your 40th festival! We look forward to continuing to build our relationship and inspiring new Musqueam filmmakers.
Chief Wayne Sparrow
On Behalf of Musqueam Indian Band
