film: You missed it again: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the VIFF
Justin Mah, Peak Staff
The Vancouver International Film Festival ran from September 29 to October 14.
For those scared of the Vancouver International Film Festival, you'll be relieved to know that it has come to an end; it's now safe to return to Granville 7 cinemas, and the vicinity thereof.
Truth be told, I was once afraid of the festival. And this is coming from someone who loves film. Necessity-wise, it's up there with oxygen. Who knows how many others are out there, waiting to be saved.
Walking by the infested cinemas last year, I felt intimidated by the chaos: people shuffling around, tourists frantically looking at leaflets, innumerable booths serving a function of some kind, and couples arguing over what film to see from a list of a hundreds. Scary, if you ask me.
Fast forward one year. I'm given a glossy media pass for the festival, and for the first time I take on the V.I.P identity. The pass endows me with enough courage to go see a German/Austrian film, Sleeper. It was on this day that I fell in love with the Vancouver International Film Festival.
In retrospect, I realise how irrational my fear of the festival was. I now know that the people in the booths are there to help people who might have any questions - many of them are volunteers, and extremely friendly as well.
To avoid being overwhelmed by the countless films being shown, my advice would be to pick up a festival program prior to the festival. Despite the $8 charge for it, it's well worth it. Doing so will allow you to peruse through the festival's upcoming screenings in the comfort of your home whilst enjoying a cup of chamomile tea, contentedly finding the films that tickle your fancy.
If you enjoy watching films, the festival will probably have something for you. Some of the overarching genres and themes that the festival offers include action, animation, human rights, sex and eroticism, comedy, avant-garde, and extremism. Working this out at home will permit you to schedule around it, and will give you enough gumption to face the chaos at the festival theatres.
Despite the myth surrounding festival lineups, it is, in fact, just a myth. The VIFF lineups were no worse than they usually are when you go see a film: nonexistent on a Monday afternoon, and crazy on a Friday night. Excluding gala screenings, it isn't necessary to pre-purchase tickets either. Merely show up as you would for any other film; come 15 minutes early and buy your $9.50 ticket for the show that you decided upon back at home.
What's also cool about this festival is that you have the opportunity to see some great films before anyone else does - before they get their official theatrical release. It's great to be able to brag to friends that you saw that Oscar-contending film months back, designating their apparently contemporary discourse as pass‚. But more importantly, the festival lets you take a break from those big Hollywood blockbuster films.
This year I had the chance to see the film North Country (2005) at the Vogue Theater - one of the VIFF venues. Seating 800 people, the place offers an intimate and unique experience for the viewer. And at the Vogue's concession you can purchase not only popcorn, but also beer. What more could you want?
Delightful - and perhaps drunken - cinematic experiences are what makes this festival so appealing. Take an experience I had after watching a risqu‚ Canadian film Lie With Me (2005), based on Tamara Faith Berger's erotic novella. There was a Q & A period following the screening, with the director and actors in attendance. As enlightening as it was to listen to the actors answer audience questions, I couldn't help but think to myself, "I just saw you naked. How weird." Chuckle.
To nitpick, the VIFF's one downfall would be that it runs during an inconvenient time for students. Not only does the festival collide with midterms, but also the Thanksgiving holiday.
But, like any love relationship, the ability to compromise is vital. I still love you, Vancouver International Film Festival. I'm just a bit bitter that I didn't get to see more of you while you were around.