5 Films From VIFF 2024 That Deserve Your Attention

From September 26th to October 6th I attended the 43rd annual Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), during which I saw 21 feature films. VIFF Season is my favourite time of the year because I find myself discovering films I’ve never heard of and probably never would have seen otherwise, oftentimes before a trailer has even been cut for the film.

I’ve been attending VIFF regularly for 7 years now, and have been fortunate enough to see films such as Parasite, Marriage Story, The Whale, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, and Drive My Car months before they reach their theatrical release. Seeing these kinds of films early with a passionate crowd is an electrifying experience, especially when you’re able to get in before the hype train picks up too much steam.

Here are a few films I saw at this year’s festival I think deserve your attention, some of which you may or may not have already heard of.

Anora

Comedy, Drama, Romance

USA | Directed by Sean Baker

If you've heard of one film on this list, chances are this is it. Anora was the obvious big hitter of this year’s festival, having come off a Palme d’Or win at Cannes this summer. It’s Sean Baker’s most ambitious film yet, and is sure to be a contender for every major category come awards season. Mikey Madison commands the screen as Ani, but she’s not alone in the spotlight. Every single supporting cast member brings their A-game, making for a truly well-rounded cast in a film full of memorable lines and moments.

In the Q&A with Sean Baker after the film, he described Anora as “what if Pretty Woman was only the first act of a film”. The film lulls you into a fantasy throughout the first 40 minutes, but then reality hits you like a freight train and things take a turn for the worst. After that point, you simply strap in for the ride and see where the film takes you.

I saw this film with a superbly hot crowd, cackling and applauding throughout at the hilarious situations and snappy dialogue, which only heightened the experience. If you’re a fan of Sean Baker’s other films like The Florida Project, Tangerine, and Red Rocket, you can expect more of the same, but dialed up to 11. The only prerequisite is that you’ll need to be comfortable with a heavy emphasis on nudity and sexuality, and a LOT of foul language.

Anora won the grand prize at Cannes, and is slated for a US release on October 18th. See it as close to opening night as you can. It's sure to be a modern classic.

Flow

Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Latvia | Directed by Gints Zilbalodis

Flow was my biggest surprise of the festival. It’s a European produced, dialogue-free, gorgeously animated feature about a Cat struggling to survive following an apocalyptic flood. Along the way, the cat runs into several other animals doing their best to survive as well, including a capybara, lemur, secretary bird, a golden retriever, and several others along the way. Each animal has a distinct personality, and their wonderfully nuanced animations provide ample expressiveness to drive the plot forward with the absence of spoken words.

It’s heartfelt, funny, action packed, and suspenseful. The story will appeal to children based on the look, but it is hardly a kids movie. There are some truly spooky and tense moments that may leave you white-knuckling your seat. The ending brought tears to my eyes, and ended with one of the largest applauses of the entire festival. Just make sure you stay to the end of the credits!

The initial release for flow is October 30th, 2024. This film has also been selected as Latvia’s entry for Best International Feature at this year’s Oscars.

The Sparrow In The Chimney

Drama

Switzerland | Directed by Ramon Zürcher

I'll admit, The Sparrow In The Chimney is not a film for everyone. It has a distinct style that will alienate some viewers with its offbeat tone. Gun to my head, if I had to draw comparisons to other filmmakers, I’d say it’s a cross between early Wes Anderson and early Yorgos Lanthimos, with a distinct Swiss twist.

It is a claustrophobic dramedy where somewhat estranged family members convene for a birthday party for one of their members. Old tensions bubble and simmer throughout the first two thirds, as acts of abuse, infidelity, and treachery are uncovered by the characters and audience. The film juggles deadpan realism with bursts of abstract imagery and surreal sequences, which leads to an explosive finale that will leave many avenues for interpretation.

The film is the third in the “Animals Trilogy” by the filmmaking duo Ramon and Silvan Zürcher, following The Strange Kitten, and The Girl and The Spider. The Sparrow In The Chimney currently has no wide-release date.

The Girl With The Needle

Drama, Period Piece

Denmark | Directed by Magnus von Horn

The Girl With The Needle was easily the roughest watch of VIFF 2024. It’s a dark, unsettling, and relentlessly tragic period piece set in post-WWI Copenhagen. The film follows a young, pregnant Karoline after she loses her job and home, with her husband presumably dead in the war. She ends up finding herself working as a wet nurse for an older woman named Dagmar, running an underground adoption agency disguised as a candy shop. However, Karoline soon finds that things are not as they seem, leading to a shocking reveal that had the entire auditorium gasping in unison.

The film is shot in stunning black & white, features a nightmarish opening sequence, and contains scenes that will stick with you long after the film ends. The Girl With The Needle is not for the feint of heart, but if you can stomach the misery and disturbing imagery, you may find yourself profoundly affected by Karoline’s resilience.

The film premiered in competition at Cannes, and is slated for European release in January 2025, and is Denmark’s entry for Best International Feature at the Academy Awards.

Rumours

Comedy, Drama, Horror

Canada | Directed by Guy Maddin, Galen Johnson, Evan Johnson

Rumours is the latest film from Canadian auteur, Guy Maddin. It’s an absurd political satire taking aim at the G7, who are meeting in Germany to form a response to an unknown crisis. Each world leader serves as a personification of their respective countries, leaning into stereotypes for comedic effect. Cate Blanchett and Roy Dupuis steal the show as the German Chancellor and Canadian Prime Minister respectively, but also watch out for Charles Dance (who you may know as Tywin Lannister from Game of Thrones) as the President of the United States, who doesn’t even attempt to change his posh English accent in the slightest.

The film is steeped in metaphor. So much so, that the plot may not make a lot of sense upon a first viewing, and begs a second or even a third. It’s sometimes juvenile, but that’s also the point. It pokes fun at our world leaders and calls to light their schoolyard dramatics, insincerity, and untimely actions towards pressing matters. It also features a giant brain the size of a hatchback, bog monsters, and more quotable one-liners that you can throw a shovel at.

The film premiered at Cannes and is set for a US release on October 11th.

Were you lucky enough to catch any of these films on the festival circuit? If not, which one are you most excited for? Let me know in the comments below.