VAFF celebrates its 25th edition this year from November 4 to 14, with a bigger and better festival to commemorate this milestone year!
For the first time ever, VAFF is going to be a hybrid affair taking place over 11 days and counting. The extended festival kicks off with 4 days of in-person events (November 4-7), followed by 6 days of online programs (November 8-13), before one final live program and the festival’s closing awards ceremony on November 14.
The eleven-day celebration will highlight an array of unique and outstanding talent, with both emerging and established Asian Canadian and Asian American writers, producers, and directors showcasing their latest work.
The theme of this year’s VAFF is “Past, Present & Possibilities,” as we reflect on the festival’s illustrious achievements in these 25 years, celebrate how far we’ve come in elevating the profile of Asian Canadians in cinema, and look to the future with a mission to keep spreading a message of inclusivity and help take Asian filmmaking to new heights.
Check out our revamped website to learn more about this year’s film screenings and ticket information!
VAHMS Selections
A Chinese immigrant gets caught up in an international crime ring of human smuggling while attempting to make a better life for her family.
Scope G, a Vancouver-based rapper, teams up with local Vancouver-based trailblazers in the hip hop community to create an anthemic musical track called TRAILBLAZN, celebrating Asians in hip hop and to inspire others to blaze their own creative paths.
Two successful online influencers confront the appearance of a mysterious countdown on their mirrors that threatens to reveal what’s behind their, apparently, perfect life.
MEET THE #VAFF25 AMBASSADORS
Curtis Lum
Curtis Lum, actor and producer from Vancouver, BC, known for his work in “Kung Fu”, “Prison Break”, “Supergirl”, and FreeForm’s hit show “Siren”. Recipient of the Best Film Award for “Grandma’s 80th Surprise” at MAMM14 (2019), in addition to the Best Performance Award for “Reverse” at MAMM16 (2021).
You can read VAFF’s exclusive interview with Curtis Lum on our blog.
Nhi Do
Nhi Do grew up in Victoria, BC, the second of three daughters to Vietnamese immigrants. A triple-threat performer, Nhi is known for her work in Watchmen (WB); NarcoLeap (Canadian Screen Award-nominated, Leo Award winning); and Upstairs Amy (Shaftesbury). Recent projects include: Hope and Grace (nominated for Best Actress at the Asian Film Festival, Los Angeles Hollywood); Querencia (APTN Lumi); Maid (Netflix); The Good Doctor (ABC); and Door Mouse (Drive Films). Nhi is an STC graduate of the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.
VAFF’s exclusive interview with Nhi Do can be found on our website.
Hiro Kanagawa
Born in Sapporo, Japan, veteran actor Hiro Kanagawa spent his childhood in Guelph, Ontario and Sterling Heights, Michigan before attending International Christian University High School in Tokyo. As an actor, he has starred in many notable television series, including Altered Carbon, iZombie, The X-Files, and Smallville. As a playwright, he won the Governor General’s Literary Award for English-language Drama for his 2017 play Indian Arm.