VIFF announces the first Vancouver Grizzlies reunion in 20 years and unveils speakers for VIFF Talks and VIFF Live

VANCOUVER, BC (SEPTEMBER 23, 2022) Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) is thrilled to announce the first Vancouver Grizzlies reunion in more than 20 years following the world premiere of The Grizzlie Truth on Oct. 1, in addition to unveiling the speakers for VIFF Talks from Oct. 2–7 and VIFF Live on Oct. 4. VIFF Talks provides a platform for industry professionals to share their expertise, while VIFF Live presents unparalleled experiences that go beyond the screen. All programs will be held in-person with the exception of the talk with Dean Fleischer Camp, director of Marcel the Shell With Shoes On, which will take place online.

“We saw Vancouverites’ warm memories of the Vancouver Grizzlies hit a fever pitch in 2018 with the rapturous reception to Kat Jayme’s Finding Big Country. We’re now ecstatic to be able to bring together some of the former players and other members of the Grizzlies family back to the city,” says Curtis Woloschuk, Director of Programming. “Following the world premiere of Kat Jayme’s new film The Grizzlie Truth, in which she delves into the mystery behind the NBA team’s departure, filmgoers will have the chance to witness the Grizzlies’ legacy with a basketball exhibition at šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn (formerly Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza). There’ll also be the chance to meet the Grizzlies alums.”

“VIFF Talks offers the opportunity to connect with and celebrate some of the most talented people in the filmmaking industry and VIFF Live takes audiences even deeper into the cinematic experience,” says Kinga Binkowska, Talks Programmer, Industry & Events Producer. “We are thrilled to be able to connect industry professionals and local audiences with the creative forces behind some of their favourite films and TV shows. This year’s speakers will provide invaluable insights to everyone in attendance, from casual viewers to diehard fans to aspiring creators.”

VIFF Talks highlights include a special one-night only event with two-time Emmy-nominated composer Michael Abels (Get Out, Nope) featuring the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra; a production design masterclass with Katie Byron of the highly anticipated film Don’t Worry Darling; a conversation with costume designer Deborah L. Scott (Avatar, Avatar: Way of the Water, Titanic); and much more.

This year’s VIFF Live event celebrates the centennial anniversary of the classic masterpiece Nosferatu. Set inside the gothic interior of St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church, F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu will be screened to the hyperpop frenzy of musical duo BIG KILL (former members of We Are the City).

Vancouver Grizzlies Reunion

Supported by Basketball BC and Vancouver Civic Theatres
Saturday, Oct. 1 at 5pm

Venue: šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn (formerly known as the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza)
Join us for the first Vancouver Grizzlies reunion in more than 20 years, featuring former team members Antonio Harvey, George Lynch, Tony Massenburg, the original Vancouver Grizzlies Extreme Dance team, mascot Grizz, announcer Al Murdoch, The Grizzlie Truth director Kat Jayme, and a VERY special guest. The crew will converge for an evening of autographs, photos, and more. The event will take place following a day-long program on the plaza organized by Basketball BC. More details about the program and the special guest will be announced on Monday, Sept. 26.

VIFF TALKS: Creators and innovators share expertise on their craft

Supported by Creative BC
Community Broadcast Partner TELUS STORYHIVE

Brother: In Conversation with Clement Virgo, Director | Sunday, Oct. 2, 6pm
Venue: The Annex
Presented by Directors Guild of Canada
Acclaimed director-writer Clement Virgo is one of Canada’s foremost film directors. His numerous TV credits include Empire, The Wire, The L Word, and CBC’s record-breaking The Book of Negroes, which he directed and co-wrote. Join us for a unique conversation and get new insights into his acclaimed film, Brother, a VIFF 2022 Showcase selection. The talk is moderated by his fellow Canadian Film Centre graduate, Vancouver-based director Mina Shum.

In Conversation with Costume Designer, Deborah L. Scott: Avatar, Avatar: Way of Water, Titanic and more | Monday, Oct. 3, 7pm
Venue: The Annex
Presented by IATSE 891
Best known for her work in James Cameron’s record-breaking blockbuster Titanic, which won her the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Deborah Lynn Scott has earned more than 50 credits for her work, which include the iconic films Back to the Future, Minority Report, and Transformers. Join us for a fascinating conversation about Scott’s process: designing costumes for action movies versus period pieces, the importance of research, and creative collaboration required to pull off a director’s vision.

Don’t Worry Darling: Production Design Masterclass with Katie Byron | Wednesday, Oct. 5, 7pm
Venue: The Annex
Supported by ACFC West
Production designer Katie Byron recently reunited with director Olivia Wilde on one of the most anticipated films of 2022, Don’t Worry Darling, where she created a glamorous look for a 1950s experimental, utopian suburban community. Come hear about Byron’s collaborations, working with directors, and designing the perfect look, feel, and shape of a utopian realm.

An Evening with Michael Abels featuring the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra | Thursday, Oct. 6, 7pm
Venue: The Playhouse
Presented by Scotia Wealth Management
Supported by ASCAP
Two-time Emmy-nominated composer Michael Abels is known for his genre-defying scores for the Jordan Peele films Get Out, Nope, and Us, for which Abels won a World Soundtrack Award, the Jerry Goldsmith Award, a Critics Choice nomination, and multiple critics awards. Join us for an intimate evening of insight, creativity, and performances of Abels’ music, featuring the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, In Conversation with Dean Fleischer Camp, Director | Friday, Oct. 7, 1pm
Venue: VIFF Connect
In 2010, Dean Fleischer Camp, an award-winning filmmaker and New York Times bestselling author, along with Jenny Slate, created a short film about Marcel, an endearingly cheerful talking shell with one eye and little shoes. The little character became a viral hit, leading to a feature adaptation produced by A24. We’re excited to hear Fleischer Camp share his singular process about creating a feature film that combines elements of narrative, documentary, improvisation, and two forms of animation.

VIFF Live: Unparalleled experiences that go beyond the screen

NOSFERATU 100 by BIG KILL: A Symphony of Horror | Tuesday, Oct. 4, 8pm
Venue: St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church
Destructive pop duo BIG KILL (the latest project from We Are the City’s Cayne McKenzie and Andrew Huculiak) resurrects horror centenarian Nosferatu in the gothic setting of St. Andrew’s-Wesley for a spellbinding night of hyperpop frenzy. Cinema’s first adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, F.W. Murnau’s masterpiece casts a long shadow over the history of movie horror. A viral hit, Nosferatu emerged just four years after the 1918 H1N1 pandemic claimed the lives of 50 million souls, fanning fears of the Other.

Tickets and Information

Single Tickets: $15 / $13 Seniors / $10 Students
Special Presentations: $17
VIFF Connect Tickets: $10
Platinum Pass: $1,000
Festival Pass: $350 / $300 Seniors / $120 Students
Festival 6 Pack: $84 / $72 Seniors / $54 Students
Festival 10 Pack: $135 / $110 Seniors / $80 Students
VIFF Talks and Industry Panel Tickets: $18–$25
VIFF Live Tickets: $18
Signals: Free

More ticket details at viff.org/ticket-info.

To explore VIFF’s complete 2022 programming, visit viff.org.

VIFF’s health and safety protocols — in strict compliance with provincial health orders — can be viewed HERE.

Follow VIFF on social media:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/VIFFest
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/VIFFest
Twitter: http://twitter.com/viffest
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/viffest/

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