From here on in, VanRamblings and Showbiz Shayne will schedule more tried-and-true Festival fare, and although we’ll continue to screen the ‘darker’ films on offer at VIFF30, to some greater degree we’ll turn our attention to more of VIFF’s insightful ‘cinema of the world’ family dramas, or the many warm and irresistibly humane black comedies, the challenging noir thrillers, or the sumptuous South American ‘travelogue’ films.
Two days into VIFF30, where ‘deeply disturbing‘ has turned into an early ‘theme’ of the 30th VIFF for Mr. Know It All and Showbiz Shayne, we are ready for a break from violence, anomie and the psychologically wounding, physically devastating film fare that has defined our Festival thus far.
Still, it hasn’t all been devastating, deeply disturbing pitch black dark fare:

Continue reading VIFF 2011, Day Two: 30th Annual VIFF Off To A ‘Disturbing’ Start →

The 30th annual Vancouver International Film Festival got off to a rough start first thing Thursday morning, with buzz in the line-up for tickets that the VIFF administration planned to proceed with the Opening Gala reception at the Rocky Mountaineer Station — even given that Vision Vancouver councillors had raised the profile of Rocky Mountain owner Peter Armstrong’s lockout of 108 onboard attendants after unionized workers had served strike notice, turning the lockout into a hot button political issue.

When the Vancouver Film Festival Director told the Globe and Mail …

“We had used that site several times before and when our staff went to look at it there was no picket line up,” said VIFF director Alan Franey. “We have since learned there was a picket line somewhere else that day … but I didn’t learn about this issue until after working hours yesterday.”

Continue reading VIFF 2011, Day One: Rough, But Rewarding, First Day →

Wish you could hop on a plane to Gotham City so you could catch the heavily juried and prestigious 49th annual New York Film Festival?
Have we got a treat for you. You can have your own NYFF here in town!
Yes, this year, of the 22 films playing this early autumn at the New York Film Festival (which, by the way, kicks off tomorrow), an unprecedented 17 of those films will screen at the 30th annual Vancouver International Film Festival! Wondering why we didn’t include the award-winning films below in our postings the past couple of days, well here’s your answer: we held off til today to bring you this surprise, a listing of NYFFestival films at VIFF30.
Without further ado, then, here’s what’s playing at VIFF and the NYFF.

Continue reading VIFF 2011: The New York Film Festival Brought To Vancouver →

We’re only hours away from the kick-off to the 30th annual Vancouver International Film Festival, 16 days of cinematic glory on our west coast shores, a time when we might immerse ourselves in the best of film from across the globe. With so much to see, how to make sense of the tsunami of cinema that will wash over us between now and Friday October 14th?
Yesterday, we provided some insight into 16 of the films that will screen at VIFF30, the work of talented filmmakers that have garnered accolades and awards on some far distant shore, as well as those buzz films that taken the critics by storm. Today we present 16 more films for your cinematic edification, replete with linked reviews and insight. So, here we go …

Continue reading VIFF 2011: Award-Winning & Festival Buzz Films, Part Two →