Diverse films and music from local artists to look forward to
Photo via of victoriafilmfestival.com
Next month brings the Victoria Film Festival (VFF), where exciting new films from around the world will be shown in local theatres. The Martlet will be covering the event, but if you want to see for yourself what the 2025 VFF has in store, enjoy this preview of some exciting new films that will be showing in Victoria next month!
Films by Indigenous Filmmakers
This year’s VFF boasts a number of exciting films by Indigenous filmmakers, including Moloka’i Bound, Red, White & Brass, The Stand, and Sweet Summer Pow Wow. These films are directed by Darrell Dennis, whose feature debut, The Great Salish Heist, released last year.
Those interested may also want to check out Forbidden Music, a documentary about the professional relationship between Kwakwaka’wakw Chief Mungo Martin and ethnomusicologist Dr. Ida Halpern as well as Fairy Creek, which offers “an intimate look behind the scenes of the protest, capturing the relentless struggle of the activists.”
Music at VFF 2025
The VFF is showcasing a number of movies about music this year, including: Ari’s Theme, Gloria!, Paul Anka: His Way, Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat, Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story, It’s All Gonna Break, Blue Rodeo – Lost Together, Forbidden Music, Midas Man, and (s)Kids.
A special event on February 16, Ari’s Theme, will feature a live performance of the film’s score (composed by Ari Kinarthy) at the Alix Goolden Performance Hall, performed by Victoria Conservatory students and faculty, who also feature in the film.
Films at Cinecenta
VFF is also showing a number of films at UVic’s on-campus movie theatre, Cinecenta. A full list of films screening at Cinecenta are available on their website, but a few standouts are The Penguin Lessons, Gloria!, Really Happy Someday, and Incandescence.
Documentary Films
VFF’s 2025 offerings also include a number of exciting and important documentaries, exploring a range of issues. This includes the ecological impact of the clothing industry, the theft of Indigenous masks by Surrealist artists in the mid-twentieth century, and the destruction of homes and communities in the West Bank.
If these topics intrigue you, check out Dust to Dust, So Surreal: Behind the Masks, or No Other Land.
The Festival also has options for cheap tickets. They offer student rush tickets, which are six dollars for ages 19 – 30 with student ID. They can only be purchased at the venue, ten minutes before the screening. The Student All Panels Pass, which is $20, includes access to the Panels + Industry Lounge — for ages 19 – 30 with student ID.
A list of all films being screened can be found on the VFF website.
