The pandemic, virtual 39th edition of our city’s — and this year, province-wide — annual Vancouver International Film Festival ends tonight, just before the stroke of midnight, at precisely 11:59pm. Fourteen days, 100+ films from across the globe, available for you to stream at home through the VIFF Connect app, or service, has allowed you to stream the world’s most acclaimed films. As always, VIFF 2020 was a celebration of the best in world cinema. A hearty thank you is due to #VIFF programmers and staff.
Just a few hours left to stream Thomas Vinterberg’s furious and sad, utterly humane and insightful drama, Another Round, a VIFF 2020 standout, and must-see. If you’ve not already screened Another Round, we’re here to tell you that it would be the perfect film to end the bacchanalia of cinema that has visited our shores and invaded your home these past fourteen days.
So what now, you ask? As the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic gains force, fully prepared to keep all of us in its grip through the end of 2021 — and as we continue our regimen of remaining at home to keep ourselves safe — where are we going to turn to envelop ourselves in our crying need for humane cinema? VanRamblings has heartening news.
Last evening, year-round VIFF programmer Tom Charity wrote this to us:
“Our hope at VIFF is to offer as many films as possible, simultaneously at the Vancity Theatre, and available to stream through VIFF Connect, an extension of what VIFF has achieved over the past 14 days. In some cases, that won’t be possible, as with Aaron Sorkin’s future Best Picture Oscar nominee, The Trial of the Chicago Seven, which will open tomorrow (October 8th) at the Vancity Theatre before making its début on Netflix, on October 16th. All of the other films programmed into the Vancity Theatre will be available both as an In-Cinema, and a VIFF Connect home theatre experience. For the foreseeable future, we at VIFF believe this circumstance will be the “new normal”, throughout our COVID times.”
A full list of upcoming Vancity Theatre screenings is available here. Patrons should familiarize themselves with the VIFF Centre Health and Safety Protocols before booking, and attending a Vancity Theatre screening.
Well, that’s it folks. Only hours to go before VIFF 2020 draws to a close. You know what to do. Close the blinds, pull the curtains, and join with thousands of other British Columbians who will tonight let the light of international cinema shine bright for one last, glorious evening of cinema.
Thank you VIFF for once again opening a window on this world of ours.
