Upcoming Event: Vancouver International Film Festival, October 1 – 11, 2026
Wendy Underwood
The Vancouver International Film Festival returns for its 45th edition running from October 1 through 11. We love that events aren’t all insider and industry-targeted, but aimed at all film enthusiasts with a hardly a velvet rope to keep us from being part of the festivities. Unlike some other festivals, VIFF has never leaned heavily on star-studded actor attendance to generate buzz. VIFF is for movie lovers and industry as much as for those seeking social circuit notoriety!
Festival highlights
VIFF offers access to a wide array of cultural programming. The festival opens with Jesse Eisenberg’s The Debut, starring Julianne Moore as a meek housewife who auditions for a local theatre production. Another highlight is Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine—the festival’s closing screening—with a star-studded cast including John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits, and Parker Posey. Other much-anticipated films include the Canadian premieres of Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson’s Wicker, Hong Sangsoo’s Nowhere to Lay My Eyes and Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth!.
VIFF by the numbers
- – 160 feature films, 91 short films and two episodic series
- – 12 world premieres
- – 6 international premieres
- – 15 North American premieres
- – 49 Canadian premieres
- – 76 nations represented
More than just movies
Of course, screenings are just a part of the festival. The VIFF Talks series features some of the world’s foremost creators in conversation, while this year’s special events include a 40th anniversary screening of Man in Motion: The Rick Hansen Story followed by a Q&A with Hansen himself. VIFF Live 2026 is a collection of live events that push the boundaries of what cinema can be with live performance.
From dedicated film buffs to casual movie fans, live music lovers and film industry professionals, the Vancouver International Film Festival offers cinema for all.
Ready to book your Vancouver stay? Visit our booking page for great rates no matter the season.
Photo Credit:
VIFF Website
