Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF)

Overview

The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) is one of the largest film festivals in North America by program volume. The 44th edition ran October 2 to 12, 2025, screening films from 70 countries with 27 world premieres, 11 international premieres, 38 North American premieres, and 57 Canadian premieres across 11 days. The 45th edition is scheduled for October 1 to 11, 2026, with approximately 150 features and 90 shorts, plus talks, creative development programs, performances, and other events.

VIFF's programming reflects Vancouver's position on the Pacific Rim and its large Asian-Canadian population. The festival has historically been a key North American discovery platform for Asian cinema, and its documentary programming is among the strongest of any Canadian festival. For Canadian filmmakers, VIFF is one of the three most important domestic festivals alongside TIFF and Hot Docs.

The festival operates the VIFF Institute, which runs year-round industry and development programs. New programs for 2026 include a Co-Production Forum and a Works-in-Progress program, both with open applications. The Catalyst program, a cohort-based mentorship initiative, provides participants with tools and experiences to develop their cinematic voices. The Centre for Artistic Excellence (CFA) also accepts applications.

For filmmakers, VIFF combines a large-audience public festival with a growing industry platform. Submissions are open to both Canadian and international filmmakers through FilmFreeway.

Submission Details

VIFF accepts submissions via FilmFreeway. Submissions for the 2026 edition (45th VIFF) opened January 20, 2026.

Canadian Submission Fees and Deadlines:

International Submission Fees and Deadlines:

Submission fees are non-refundable. Each film must be submitted and paid for separately.

Eligibility rules:

• Films must have been completed after June 1, 2025. Films debuting in 2026 are prioritized.
• Submitted feature films must not have been broadcast, streamed, distributed on VOD/home video, or screened in-person at another festival or theatrically in the Vancouver area.
• The competitive Vanguard section is restricted to World, International, North American, and Canadian premieres.
• Priority for shorts is given to films not previously screened online or in-person at another festival in the Vancouver area.
• All non-English language submissions must have English subtitles.
• Accepted feature films can be exhibited theatrically on DCP.

International submission categories:

• International Narrative Features: non-Canadian narrative films over 40 minutes
• International Documentaries: non-Canadian nonfiction films over 40 minutes
• International Shorts: non-Canadian narrative, nonfiction, animation, and experimental films of 40 minutes or less

Key Sections

• Galas and Special Presentations - highly anticipated films screening in the marquee venue
• Showcase - films by established directors, major award winners, and current cultural moment work
• Panorama - narrative films from around the globe
• Vanguard - rising international talents with singular visions (competitive, premieres only)
• Northern Lights - the next wave of Canadian and Indigenous storytellers
• Insights - documentaries that change how audiences see the world
• Spectrum - innovative nonfiction filmmaking
• Portraits - artists, performances, and cultural icons
• Altered States - boundary-pushing and genre work
• VIFF Short Forum - short-form storytelling from around the world
• MODES - international short works exploring the limits of cinematic form

What Filmmakers Should Know

Program volume and reach: The 2025 edition screened cinema from 70 countries with 27 world premieres, 11 international premieres, 38 North American premieres, and 57 Canadian premieres. The 2026 edition will present approximately 150 features and 90 shorts. VIFF is one of the largest festivals in North America by number of films programmed, giving selected filmmakers exposure to a broad Vancouver audience over 11 days.

Industry programs: The VIFF Institute operates year-round. New 2026 programs include the Co-Production Forum (applications open) and Works-in-Progress (applications open). The Catalyst mentorship program runs as a cohort-based initiative. The Centre for Artistic Excellence (CFA) also accepts applications. These programs provide Canadian and international filmmakers with development resources, networking, and co-production opportunities.

Key dates for 2026: Program launch and tickets on sale to VIFF+ members on August 26, 2026. Tickets on sale to the public on August 27, 2026. Festival runs October 1 to 11, 2026.

Canadian filmmakers: VIFF is one of the three most important domestic festivals alongside TIFF and Hot Docs. Northern Lights is dedicated to Canadian and Indigenous storytellers, providing a major platform for domestic work reaching Canadian audiences and press.

International filmmakers: The Vanguard section is the primary competitive section for international work, restricted to World, International, North American, and Canadian premieres. Selection in Vanguard carries competitive recognition and industry visibility.

Major Awards

VIFF presents awards across multiple categories. The 2025 award winners are published on the VIFF website. The 2026 awards are expected to be confirmed by early summer 2026. Award categories typically include:

• Vanguard Award - for the best film in the competitive Vanguard section
• Best Canadian Film - jury and/or audience recognition for Canadian cinema
• Best Documentary - for nonfiction filmmaking
• Audience Award - voted by festival audiences across categories
• FIPRESCI Prize - awarded by the International Federation of Film Critics when a FIPRESCI jury is convened
• Emerging Talent Award - for new filmmakers

Festival History

VIFF was founded in 1982 and has operated continuously for 44 editions. The festival grew from a modest regional event into one of North America's most comprehensive film festivals, known for its large program volume, strong documentary programming, and historical strength in Asian cinema.

The Dragons and Tigers program, established in 1994, was for years one of the most respected Western festival sections dedicated to emerging Asian cinema and served as a key discovery platform for directors who subsequently became major figures in world cinema. The festival has since restructured its sections to reflect broader international programming while maintaining its Pacific Rim identity.

The VIFF Institute expanded the festival's year-round role in filmmaker development, adding programs like Catalyst, the Co-Production Forum, and Works-in-Progress to complement the annual festival. The 2025 edition marked the 44th year of continuous operation.

See Also

For festival circuit planning, see Film Festival Strategy. To calculate whether festival submission fees make sense for your budget, use the Festival Entry Fee ROI Calculator. For international film markets, see International Film Markets.