2023 Festival Theme – CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
Creating Opportunities reflect VAFF’s commitment to supporting emerging and established filmmakers from Asian-Canadian and Asian diaspora communities by providing them with access to resources, mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities.
Through Creating Opportunities, VAFF aims to showcase a diverse range of films that celebrate the unique voices and perspectives of Asian-Canadian and Asian diaspora filmmakers, while also promoting diversity, inclusion, and cross-cultural understanding in the wider community. This theme will also provide audiences with the opportunity to make their mark and explore a wide range of topics, from cultural identity and social justice to family dynamics and love stories. We encourage the community to take ownership of their stories and create space for themselves by being actively involved in sharing their experiences.
2023 Film Festival
We plan to continue with our ‘Hybrid’ model for our festival this year. This hybrid affair taking place over 11 days and counting. The extended festival kicks off with 4 days of VAFF In-Theatre events (November 2-5), followed by 7 days of VAFF Virtual programs (November 6-12), and the festival’s OVASIAN awards ceremony on November 12. 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. Stay tuned for full details of the entire program, to be announced during the week of October 2, 2023.
2023 Seasons Overview
VAFF is pleased to celebrate its 2023 Season of year-round events and the 27th annual festival celebration of Asian diaspora and diversity in film, set for November 2 – 12, 2023. The 2023 Season begin with our annual Open Call for festival submissions on March 15th.
VAFF FILM FUND (VAFF²) founded by VAFF Lifetime Benefactor Mr. Richard K. Wong and it launched on December 19, 2022 and the recipient(s) will be announced on March 19, 2023.
We will return with hosting a live screening at National Canadian Film Day on April 19, 2023.
In celebration of Asian Heritage Month this May, we are kicking off its 11th VAFF Industry Insights Series with a hybrid model of in-person series & Filmmakers talk and virtual lunch & learn series.
In May, we kick off our 18th annual Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon (MAMM18) summer short film competition, which begins with the open call for team applications to participate in the competition. The selected teams for MAMM18 will take part in our MAMMentorships program during the month of July and receive specialized workshops from industry professionals and mentors. All of this builds up to the MAMM18 Gala Screening and Awards Presentation during the Summer of 2023.
Elimin8Hate is kicking off our Cultivating Anti-Racist Workplaces: Asian Canadian Edition workshops. We’ll be helping workplaces further their EDI journey through deepening the understanding of Asian Canadian experiences. Contact us now at Elimin8Hate@Vaff.org to learn more.
Stay Tuned for updates!
Stay informed about our annual calendar by joining our monthly enewsletter (at the bottom of the page), visiting our website at VAFF.ORG frequently, and by connecting with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter often to keep up with all the exciting updates.
Thank you for being part of the 2022 season and 26th annual film festival. #VAFF #VAFFVIRTUAL
If you miss any of the VAFF Industry Panels and Filmmakers Talk, you can watch it again at our VAFF YouTube Channel.
Support us!
VAFF is entirely organized and produced by a group of dedicated volunteers, and is made possible by generous financial support from corporate sponsors, public funders and private donors. Support us.
For more information, please email info@vaff.org.
Land Acknowledgement
We are grateful to live and work on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), S