The Victoria Film Festival has declared their event is officially back in full force since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Between February 7th and 16th, the festival saw 91 feature films shown, 30 short films screened, a trivia night and a live music accompanying screening.
Most notably, the festival had 40 of its screenings completely sold out.
According to event organizers, this year has been the best since the pandemic shut the world down, which has reinvigorated the confidence in those working at the festival.
“It’s elevating to get back to pre-pandemic size audiences. It’s taken a lot of work and everyone rowing in the same direction to make the program this year so vibrant and full of great films,” said Kathy Kay, Director of the Victoria Film Festival.
“We couldn’t do it without the staff, programmers, sponsors and volunteers. I’m delighted that we could screen three local feature films and 10 shorts this year.”
The festival kicked off with a screening of Bob Trevino Likes It and finished with a special screening of Ari’s Theme in which members of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra played the film’s score live with the film.
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One notable highlight of this year’s festival was that at 37 showings, filmmakers and special guests joined audiences for a live Q&A held after the screening.
Additionally, one director, Sook-Yin Lee stuck around after the screening of Pay For It to do an impromptu merch signing, inking comic books and compact discs of the film’s score for some lucky audience members.
It was a big year for awards at the Victoria Film Festival as well with five awards being handed out in different categories.
Most notably, Frieda’s Case was internationally debuted at the festival and ended up winning the Best Feature Film Award.
All awards handed out were as follows:
- Best Canadian Feature – Vampire Zombies… From Space
- Best Canadian First Feature – The Chef and the Daruma
- Best Documentary – The Day Iceland Stood Still
- Best Short – Inkwo
- Cultural Currents Awards – So Surreal: Behind the Masks
- Audience Favorite Feature – Sweet Summer Pow Wow
The Victoria Film Festival says that without their generous sponsors, the festival is impossible to put on. Additionally, the pink-shirted volunteers, filmmakers and audience members are all pivotal in putting on the annual event.
