VIFF Podcast

In this episode of the VIFF Podcast, feature film coordinator Natalie Murao interviews filmmaker Jerome Yoo about his debut feature film Mongrels, which follows a Korean immigrant family in rural Canada dealing with grief amid trying to belong in their new home country.

Yoo shares about how he found talent in Korea, his casting process, and the challenges of working with 14 dogs while shooting the film. Plus, they discuss the importance of natural emotions and incorporating traditional Korean instruments into the film's score.

This episode was recorded during the 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival.

This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

In this episode of the VIFF Podcast, Short Forum programmer Casey Wei interviews filmmaker Deborah Devyn Chaung about her short film Strawberry Shortcake, a genre-defying Freudian fantasy that explores a teenage girl’s relationship with her mother.

Chuang shares the deeply personal inspirations behind the film and the challenges of directing intimate scenes. Plus, they discuss the film’s intricate set design, the symbolism of “strawberry shortcake” as both innocent and provocative, and Chuang’s aspirations to develop the short into a feature.

This episode was recorded during the 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival.

This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

On this episode of the VIFF Podcast, Laura Arboleda sits down with filmmaker Thea Loo, director of the documentary Inay (Mama).

Thea shares the creative process behind the film, which explores the mental health impact of migration from the Philippines to Canada on the children of caregivers. Hear about the film’s evolution from a five-minute concept to a feature-length documentary, the challenges of blending personal storytelling with archival research, and collaboration with her husband, Jeremiah.

This episode was recorded during the 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival.

This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

On this episode of the VIFF Podcast, Director of Programming Curtis Woloschuck sits down with filmmaker Mads K. Baekkevold, director of The Chef & the Daruma.

Mads shares his creative process and talks about the journey of capturing Chef Hidekazu Tojo’s life and legacy. Tune in to hear about Mads’ influences, from Tampopo to Jiro Dreams of Sushi, the serendipitous beginnings of the film, and the power of authentic voices.

This episode was recorded during the 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival.

This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

In this episode of the VIFF Podcast, filmmaker Asher Penn talks about his debut feature documentary, Physician, Heal Thyself, with VIFF Year Round Programmer Tom Charity.

The film is a searingly intimate portrait of the celebrated expert on addiction, stress, and trauma, Dr. Gabor Maté. Physician Heal Thyself follows Gabor's life's journey, from his start as a young contrarian to a contemporary icon.

This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

In this episode of the VIFF Podcast, BC-based film producer Mike Johnston talks about his his transition from directing to producing with VIFF Director of Programming, Curtis Woloschuck.

He highlights the complexities of financing and managing co-productions, with Beehive and Wild Goat Surf as turning points, and an upcoming international co-production with Colombia, Memoria. Together, Mike and Curtis reflect on the resilience and future of the Vancouver film community.

This conversation was recorded remotely during VIFF 2023.

This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

In this episode of the VIFF Podcast, filmmaker Zarrar Kahn talks about his debut feature film, In Flames, with VIFF Director of Programming Curtis Woloschuk.

In Flames, which premiered at Cannes 2023 and screened at VIFF 2023, follows a mother and daughter navigating loss and supernatural forces in Karachi, Pakistan. After the death of the family patriarch, a mother and daughter's precarious existence is ripped apart. They must find strength in each other if they are to survive the malevolent forces that threaten to engulf them.

This conversation was recorded remotely.

This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

In this episode of the VIFF Podcast, documentary filmmakers Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux and Kirk Thomas along with legendary streetball player Joel Haywood talk with VIFF Director of Programming Curtis Woloschuk.

Handle With Care: The Legend of The Notic Streetball Crew chronicles the rise, fall and rebirth of The Notic, an upstart streetball collective. While their creative basketball moves brought them global fame as teenagers, it set them at odds with the status quo in a battle involving self-expression, race and rejection. Driven by a twenty year quest to finish their mixtape trilogy, the documentary charts how a group of friends from Vancouver, Canada played outside the confines of the NBA but left an imprint on the game forever.

This conversation was recorded remotely.

This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

In this episode we welcome filmmaker Kim Albright, director of With Love and a Major Organ, and producer Madeleine Davis in  conversation with VIFF programmer Tom Charity.

Struggling artist by night, virtual insurance broker by day, Anabel has a heart problem: it’s just too big for this world. Rejected and derided by her more sophisticated “friends”, Anabel falls for George, a stranger with a penchant for reading yesterday’s newspaper with all the bad news redacted. But George still lives with his overly protective mum, and both will take some persuading that Anabel is his heart’s desire. Filmed right here in Vancouver, Kim Albright’s directorial debut strikes a lo-(sci-)fi surrealist vibe vaguely reminiscent of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It’s whimsical, unpredictable, but more than anything it’s true enough to hit close to home.

This conversation was recorded as part of VIFF's Year Round programming.

This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

In this episode we welcome Canadian filmmaker Pier-Philippe Chevigny, director of Richelieu in  conversation with  VIFF Director of Programming Curtis Woloschuk.

Drawing from neo-realist traditions, beautifully photographed and elegantly constructed, Richelieu paints an undeniable portrait of a crisis unfolding across North America. Director Pier-Philippe Chevigny avoids didacticism and delivers an assured, emotionally resonant first feature which announces the arrival of a new Canadian talent.

This conversation was recorded during the 2023 Vancouver International Film Festival.

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This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival.
Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.