Now in its 16th year, the Vancouver International Women in Film Festival (VIWFF) showcases an impressive line-up of short and feature-length films (narrative, documentary, experimental and animation) by established and emerging women filmmakers from around the world.
“Women” includes all those who identify as a woman.
This six day celebration is organized by Women in Film and Television Vancouver, a member-driven not-for-profit society which addresses systemic barriers to women’s equal participation in the production and dissemination of screen-based media.
VIWIFF provides a platform for challenging gender imbalance and the lack of diversity in the screen-based media industry through a combination of film screenings, discussions, and professional development opportunities as well as incorporating International Women’s Day events into its programming.
The festival will be held March 4-9, 2021 and will screen films with women in at least three of the following eight key creative roles: Writer, Producer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Composer, Lead Performer and Production Designer. Films completed after March 2018 are eligible.
Not only does VIWFF showcase films made by women from around the world, the festival also offers:
- Moderated Q&A sessions
- Panel discussions
- Artist talks
- Networking events
- Workshops
- Pitch sessions
- Opportunities for awards, granted during the closing awards ceremony
- Gala and industry events
- An international screenplay competition
In addition to offering independent filmmakers an opportunity to screen their film for the local community, international audiences, industry professionals and media, the festival pays filmmakers' exhibition fees and all films are entered to win cash awards. The pride of our festival is its intimacy fostering dialogue, exchange, inspiration and future collaborations.
We are excited to learn more about your films and would be honoured to consider them for our festival.
Submissions contact: submissions@womeninfilm.ca
Please note that due to restrictions caused by the COVID 19 pandemic, the festival may be held online as a virtual festival. This will necessarily change how the festival is delivered but we will remain committed to creating a platform for the voices of women from around the world.
All films with women in the following categories are eligible to compete for awards, with each awardee receiving a small cash award:
Best Feature
Best Performance
Best Performance in Short
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography in Short
Best Screenplay
Best Editing
Best Editing in Short
Best Direction
Best Short
Best Documentary
Best Musical Score
Impact Award
A Matrix Award is also presented to the top three BC short films in the festival.
To see past winners and award categories visit: https://www.womeninfilm.ca/VIWFF_2020_Awards.html
The festival also offers a screenplay competition. To submit to the Vancouver International Women in Film Festival Screenplay Competition visit: https://filmfreeway.com/VIWIFFScreenplayCompetition