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VIFF Talks 2026: Inside the Craft Behind Cinema’s Biggest Moments

What does it take to turn a Vancouver stage into a masterclass? The Vancouver International Film Festival has an answer this October, unveiling the official program for VIFF Talks, a series that pulls back the curtain on the people shaping this year’s most talked about films.

Running October 3 to 7 as part of the 45th edition, VIFF Talks brings four conversations to Vancouver audiences, alongside two special post-screening events built around British Columbia stories.

School for Defectors

Art Of The Cut

Editor Matthew Hannam, whose credits include The Iron Claw, Babygirl, and White Noise, opens the series on October 3 at the VIFF Centre, tracing a career built from assistant editing work in Winnipeg with Canadian auteur Guy Maddin through to his current standing as one of the industry’s most sought-after editors.

Wish Come True

Producer Haley Johnson takes the stage October 4, reflecting on Obsession, a film made on a shoestring budget that has since surged past half a billion dollars at the global box office. Johnson traces the film’s journey from an intended YouTube release through its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Worlds Within Worlds

Production designers Brandon Toller and Matt Hyland, known for their work on Reservation Dogs and I Saw the TV Glow, discuss their collaboration with director Jane Schoenbrun on Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma October 5 at the Annex.

Stories Behind The Music

DEVO co-founder and composer Mark Mothersbaugh closes the series October 7 at the Rio Theatre, joined by songwriter and composer Robert Kraft for a conversation spanning Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, Thor: Ragnarok, and A Minecraft Movie.

Executive Director Kyle Fostner framed the lineup as a reflection of the industry itself. “This year’s VIFF Talks lineup shines a light across the cinematic landscape of today, from indie break-out hits to massive cultural moments,” he said, adding that hearing directly from these creators is not simply inspiring but essential.

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Special Events

Two additional events extend the program beyond the Talks series. Rick Hansen joins the hometown premiere of Man in Motion: The Rick Hansen Story for an extended question and answer session October 3 at the Vancouver Playhouse. Director Jeremy Workman and producer Daniel Dae Kim follow with a screening and discussion of School for Defectors October 4 at the Lindsay Family Stage on Granville Island.

Tickets for both series are available at viff.org.

Author Profile

Helen Siwak, Luxury Lifestyle Observer: Helen Siwak is the founder of EcoLuxLuv Communications & Marketing Inc and publisher of Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine and PORTFOLIOY.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine. She is a prolific content creator, consultant, and marketing and media strategist within the ecoluxury and luxury lifestyle niches. Helen is the west coast correspondent to Canada’s top-read business magazine Retail-Insider, holds a vast freelance portfolio, and is an EIC for Hire. Connect with her here: [email protected].