Eight VIFF Films That Deserve a Closer Look

From Matthew Rankin’s psychedelic take on Brian Mulroney to an aging blues musician facing eviction, these films explored politics, displacement and identity from unexpected angles

By Katherine Brodsky

Katherine Brodsky

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The 45th Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) featured some high-profile titles, including Jesse Eisenberg’s “The Debut,” which has been generating awards buzz for star Julianne Moore, and Martin McDonagh’s closing-night black comedy “Wild Horse Nine,” starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell. Peter Farrelly’s “I Play Rocky” took home the Audience Award in the Special Presentations category.

Yet beyond the marquee titles, VIFF’s lineup spanned 76 countries and offered plenty of discoveries from established auteurs and emerging filmmakers alike. From Matthew Rankin’s experimental take on Brian Mulroney to Tizza Covi’s portrait of an aging blues musician facing eviction, these eight narrative and documentary films approached familiar subjects from unexpected angles or offered a glimpse into lives rarely captured on film.

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