VIFF screens last Cory Monteith film, Alexander Payne's Nebraska
Monteith film All the Wrong Reasons, Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan among highlights
A treasure trove of recent cinema from around the globe begins to unspool in Vancouver today as the 32nd edition of the Vancouver International Film Festival gets underway.
Organizers have curated a vast program of more than 340 films from 75 countries for this year's edition. More than 500 screenings will take place at seven Vancouver theatres.
The fest officially kicks off tonight with a gala screening of Nebraska, the latest from Oscar-winning writer-director Alexander Payne.
The black-and-white film, which earned warm reviews as well as veteran actor Bruce Dern the best actor honour at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, makes its Canadian debut at VIFF.
The drama follows a cantankerous, alcoholic father and his aimless son as they take a road trip across the American Midwest to claim prize money. During the trip, they encounter other relatives and friends, which leads to surprising revelations from the past.
Another anticipated title is All the Wrong Reasons, New Brunswick director Gia Milani's feature debut and one of the final films starring Calgary-born, Victoria-raised Glee star Cory Monteith, who died this summer in Vancouver. VIFF organizers added a third screening because of high demand.
In the contemporary drama, Monteith plays a big box outlet manager whose marriage is unravelling due to his wife's (Karine Vanasse) struggle with a recent trauma. The couple, who work together, each becomes drawn to others at the store. Milani recently won the $10,000 Grolsch Film Works Discovery Award for the drama at the Toronto International Film Festival.
This year's VIFF lineup is organized into 10 different programs, including galas and special presentations, a spotlight on B.C. filmmakers, East Asian cinema, international shorts and nonfiction features.
The festival will also include a Film and Television Forum, which features a host of industry events as well as an anticipated onstage discussion on Friday with Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan about the series (which ends this weekend) and a screening of his favourite episode.
Organizers will present the festival's 10 awards, including a handful of People's Choice Awards as well as juried honours like best B.C. film, at galas during this year's edition.
The festival continues to Oct. 11.