VIWFF 2022
The 17th Annual VIWFF took place virtually from March 8-13 and in person from August 26-27. The program included 33 films from 12 countries made up of 17 Canadian films with 9 from local BC filmmakers.
The festival opened with an exclusive one-night-only presentation of Donkeyhead followed by a live Q&A with director Agam Darshi. There were also two special presentations: Querencia the web series created by Mary Galloway and Kimmaplypitssini: The Meaning of Empathy directed by Elle-Maija Tailfeathers. The Closing Feature was Run Woman Run directed by Zoe Leigh Hopkins.
VIWFF 2022 was proud to present a slate of select live-streamed events, including an International Women’s Day Panel on March 8, featuring major players in diversity and inclusion efforts. The annual Screenplay Competition Panel and Awards Ceremony were both held virtually. After the online component concluded on March 13, VIWFF 2022 returned for an inaugural Summer Fest on August 26-27 at VIFF Centre.
VIWFF 2022 Official Trailer
Awards
A First Farewell
Set in an Uyghur village in northwestern China, A First Farewell is an award winning film told through the eyes of a young boy. The depth and delight of his relationships to friends and family are movingly captured, as is their slow and unstoppable unravelling as the people chase ‘a better future’. An important film told by a filmmaker raised in the area.
Black Conflux
The lives of a promising, disillusioned, teen and a self-loathing outcast are intertwined in this well-crafted, haunting, film. Set in suburban Newfoundland in 1987, the story explores growing up isolated in a world of toxic masculinity. Compelling performances deliver the story. Selected as one of TIFF’s Top Ten for the year.
Shorts
Program Two
Program Three
Program Four
Events
Incite Inclusion Panel
VIWFF hosted a conversation with major government film and television funding agencies and organizations as we challenge ourselves—and the systems that support our film and television industry in Canada—to become more inclusive and representative.
Moderated by Ana de Lara, former WIFTV Co-President and Filmmaker.
Panelists included:
Barb Williams, Executive Vice-President, CBC
Cathy Wong, Vice President, DEI and Official Languages, Telefilm Canada
Claude Joli-Coeur, Commissioner and President, National Film Board of Canada
Doreen Manuel, MFA, Director, Bosa Centre for Film & Animation
Joan Jenkinson, Executive Director, Black Screen Office
Lisa Valencia-Svensson, Managing Director, REMC – Racial Equity Media Collective
Robert Wong, Vice President, Creative BC
Valerie Creighton, C.M., S.O.M., President and CEO, Canada Media Fund
Special Presentation: Querencia
VIWFF in association with Women in the Director’s Chair was pleased to host for the first time a limited web-series at our 2022 film festival.
Directed by Mary Galloway, Querencia follows the story of two opposite Indigenous women, Daka and Abe, as they navigate their dreams and newfound relationship with each other.
Following the screening of Querencia, was a live virtual panel with the series creators to answer questions about the series’ production.
Screenplay Competition Finalists
A conversation with the ten finalists of this year’s VIWFF Screenplay Competition.
Moderated by Joan MacBeth with special guest Felicity Wren from International Screenwriters’ Association (ISA).
Panelists included:
Alyssa Biller
Ashley Brown
Jordan Phillips
Mugs Cahill
Nicole Donadio
Sandra Fox-Sohner
Maria Sigrist
Tita Magdeline Kyrtsakas
Dee Raffo
Mary Robbins
Emily Schoen
Bridget Visser
Awards Ceremony
VIWFF was excited to present a range of awards to our filmmakers, including but not limited to the following:
- Best Direction in a Feature Film
- Best Editing in a Feature Film
- Best Performance in a Short Film
- Best Feature Film
- Impact Award
Awards
VIWFF proudly presents a range of awards that champion established and emerging cis women and Two-Spirit, trans and nonbinary filmmakers from around the world. Here are the winners of 2022:
Feature Film Awards
Best Feature
Run Woman Run (Zoe Leigh Hopkins)
Presented by IATSE 891
Best Direction
Agam Darshi (Donkeyhead)
Presented by DGC
Best Performance
Dakota Ray Hebert (Run Woman Run)
Presented by UBCP/ACTRA
Best Cinematography
Helena Müller, Murat Temel (Do You Remember Me?)
Presented by Sim
Best Screenplay
Zoe Leigh Hopkins (Run Woman Run)
Presented by Chandler Fogden Aldous Entertainment Law
Short Film Awards
Best Short
I Am Leo (Tajo Hurrle)
Presented by Finale/Picture Shop
Best Direction
Hanael Allam (Mazel Brouk)
Presented by Matrix Production Services
Best Performance
Amélie Onzon (Clinch)
Presented by Lucas Talent
Best Editing
Ellemieke Middelhoff (Clinch)
Presented by Ron Heaps
Honourable Mention: Hayley Sawatzky (Wildflower)
Best Documentary
Do You Remember Me? (Desiree Pomper)
Presented by Pacific Backlot
Honourable Mention: Granni-E-minem
Impact Award
I am Leo (Tajo Hurrle)
Presented by Pacific Screenwriting Program Honourable Mention: On the Fence (Paula Ner Dormiendo)
Screenplay Competition
Best Screenplay
Sandra Fox-Sohner & Maria Sigrist (The Professor )
Presented by LintBucket
